Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Kinnare.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Courtney. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I never really grew up saying I was going to be an artist. I was all over the place – I thought I’d be a marine biologist or a crime scene investigator, even though I had such a creative side. I’ve actually had a lot of training in printmaking but I was convinced that artists couldn’t support themselves financially.
I went to school at UC Berkeley and studied Environmental Economics & Policy a few years ago. From my prior internships, it was looking like cubicles and cold calls compared to the colorful and creative life I craved deep down. While sustainability and the environment were important values to me, I was still lost in my career path and the choice between what I thought would equate to success versus what I truly dreamt of.
I barely made any art in college but the moment I graduated it began pouring out – literally. I made my first pour painting for a friend’s birthday gift when I finally had the time to experiment creatively. When I posted it to Instagram, suddenly everyone wanted one. I already had plans to avoid adult life and spend a year in Australia – so I didn’t even really consider what this kind of attention might lead to later on.
Long story short, the whole art thing kind of fell into my lap. I got back from my time abroad without a job and started taking on commissions for friends and family. This was fall of 2019, and I haven’t taken a break since. It’s cheesy, but I do believe everything happens for a reason. I still incorporate sustainability in my practice and maintain a day job in that field, but planning on transitioning to art full-time next year!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I think one of the hardest things so far has been carving the pathway to create a career with my artwork. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial side, so that’s come in handy with navigating my art as a business. But stepping into the art world without any formal training and the pressure of proving myself as more than just an “Instagram artist” has been a struggle – more internally than anything.
Naturally, we are our own biggest critics and I often catch myself comparing my work to young, successful fine artists with years of experience and education. There can be a stigma in the fluid art world with how saturated the market is on Instagram and YouTube – that it’s easy or anyone can do it.. that you’d never find a fluid artist in the same ranks as world-renowned fine artists. In reality, I’ve gone through months and many sleepless nights of researching, learning, and trial and error. I create with intention and have perfected my technique and personal style to get to where I am. There’s still a lot of work to be done as I’m constantly learning and growing, but I am proud to call myself an artist without the pressure to define it any further.
Of course, Covid has presented its own struggle as well. I’ve had projects fall through, plans get canceled, and my first solo exhibition postponed. However, it’s also given me much more downtime to focus on my craft and in turn sales have never been higher. I’ve actually just heard that my exhibition is back on schedule for December 4th at the Solana Beach Culture in San Diego so look out for that!
Please tell us more about your art.
I’m mainly known for my abstract acrylic and resin paintings. A signature of my work is the stark contrast of negative space and real gold detailing. I utilize these components to guide the eyes in a particular way – highlighting areas of interest and navigating around the canvas. I aim to draw viewers closer and interact with my art beyond a passing glance. The fluid art community is already such a crowded space, so differentiating myself and my personal style from the beginning has always been important to me.
My inspiration is drawn from natural phenomena and otherworldly places. It is deeply rooted in the earth – colors, textures, and patterns influenced by gems and stones or aerial landscapes. I think this fascination has come from my curiosity towards the world and affinity to preserve its natural beauty. I hope to communicate a sense of both place and feeling in my work.
I think I’m most proud of how far I’ve come in just over a year of practice. I was underestimating my worth earlier on and have finally gotten to a point where I’m confident in my pricing and capabilities. I’ve found ways to incorporate plastic-free packaging when shipping my work as sustainability is still at the forefront of my values. I create with a lot more intention and have developed a unique set of skills that I can’t wait to keep building upon. I have also expanded my line of work beyond just paintings – prints, coasters, sculpture, digital graphics, murals and more. Keep your eyes peeled for furniture, homeware, and some holiday specials coming soon!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
This is a tough one – because I feel like I’m a lot harder on myself than I should be. I am a list-maker (obsessively!) – I set big goals and like to cross each one off as I go. One thing that’s been the most helpful for me in defining success and taking time to appreciate my accomplishments has been setting 1, 5, and ten year goals. By envisioning what my aspirations and dreams are for the future, I’ve been able to add some more tangible direction to the path I’m headed.
I think success is a feeling more than anything. I feel most successful when I hear clients’ reactions to their finished commissions. I truly care about their input and story, gathering as much as I can to interpret into a piece that’s both unique to my style and communicates their ideas. Although it is nerve-racking presenting a client their final piece, the positive response I receive time after time reminds me how much I love what I do and pushes me to succeed.
I dream big – I want to make it into international galleries and shows and spread my art across the world in so many different forms. I want to add value to the world beyond just pretty paintings. Check in with me in a few years and we’ll see how far I’ve dug into that five years plan – and what I think success means then!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.courtneykinnare.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneykinnare.art
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/courtneykinnareart
Image Credit:
Lindsey Ruth
Courtney Kinnare
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