Daily Inspiration: Meet Courtney Knight

Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Knight.

Hi Courtney, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I studied illustration in Boston, MA making a bunch of work that I didn’t like yet. I moved with some of my art school friends to Portland, OR back in 2015 and kept on making art all while working bad industrial sewing jobs, barista jobs, nannying, retail, selling my eggs, selling my art and finally landing some shows and illustration gigs at places that were on my wish list. Now I’m prepping for my move back east ~ but to NYC this time. I’m seeking more of an art community 🙂

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One thing I struggled with is when people would gatekeep information, wouldn’t help each other out or suggest other people’s work when appropriate – all this is a scarcity mindset instead of uplifting, connecting, and spreading success.

Like not wanting to share a technique or type of material they use- as if someone could recreate their work. To me sharing that is fine, no one will be sharing the same dreamlike narratives in their head as me or you.

When people start talking about projects or a group show they want to do I link them over to a person I follow that seems like a good fit. I always want to be suggesting artists and gigs to artists, helping people get to where they want to be. And I hope some people think of me too.

Some days it feels hopeless and tiring but I like to spend once a week applying to gigs, grants, calls to artists and cold emailing people, because they don’t know you exist. Then there’s the other times when people hit me up to do projects when I’m in the flow of making a series of works~ that’s the sweet spot.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Lately, I tend to explore topics of playfulness, intimacy, sex, jealousy, romance and fertility. I just took down a show titled Sugar. This show was an experiment where I’d only listen to one song (Sugar (remix)) on repeat, over and over and over while I made the entirety of each piece for this show (this was the rule!)… knowing full well the delusions, the embarrassment, the lovesick combined with the repetition at nausea that would come along with it. I liked the idea of obsession, of going bonkers – please make it stop! of wait, I didn’t hear that before, of consuming all the sounds and lyrics and boyband-whining until it made a world inside my head, a dreamscape, it becomes everything. ~here’s what showed up. Sugar as a sweetener and Sugar as a kiss. The song, if you’re interested in playing while looking along, is Sugar (remix) [by BROCKHAMPTON, Ryan Beatty, feat. Dua Lipa]

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Biggest one for me was valuing myself and my time more, to not be taken advantage of specifically in work and getting paid fair, livable wages. I used to hustle 3-6 jobs at once because they all paid badly but that was not sustainable- I was spread thin, tired and also was still so broke. When I set my hourly higher I was able to breathe again. When people were given unemployment and the bonus money weekly it was like the panic for living paycheck to paycheck was lifted. Some of us got paid more than they ever had in their life. When your needs are met financially you’re not in emergency mode, you can focus, make creative moves, take care of your body.

Also, I found it very important to take walks throughout the day to move around spiraling thoughts and movement forward seems to jump-start motivation.

During this chaotic time it really brings to light how you want to spend your day, who you want to be and who you want to surround yourself with.

Contact Info:

• Website: courtneyknight.com
• Instagram: goodknightyou

Image Credits
Courtney Knight