Rising Stars: Meet Kimberley Cornell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberley Cornell.

Hi Kimberley, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My love for art and creativity started at a young age. One early memory I have was from first grade when I drew a picture in class and people were telling me how good it was. At the time, I thought, “Maybe I’m not so bad at this.”

After that experience, I’ve noticed a consistent desire to create things and be creative. I have a big imagination and I’m a frequent daydreamer. I enjoy bringing to life characters, scenes, and places that exist in my head. There have always been inspirations and people to encourage me along the way. I grew up watching Disney movies and I was captivated by the line drawings in the elegant sequences I saw on screen. I wanted to draw just like that. I am so thankful that my parents, my siblings, extended family, and friends have been so supportive of me. I don’t think I could have pursued this dream without their encouragement.

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?
I am blessed with a strong support system that has helped me in times of trouble. However, I have struggled with self-doubt. It’s hard not comparing your path to others. There are a lot of other talented artists in this world. At times, it has made me feel like I could never have a career as an artist. Those negative thoughts where you feel like you are not good enough make it easier for us to just give up. It’s important to realize that we all have different tastes and our own unique voice. It doesn’t matter what others are doing. If you love creating art, you should continue to do so. Another struggle came this year when I was burned out from making art. I’ve had artist block before, but this was different. In my opinion, art block is desiring to make something but not having ideas or motivation. Artist burns out is not even having that excitement or desire to create. That was hard for me because I felt like the spark I had for art died. I wasn’t sure if it would come back, but it has. I’ve learned from others that it’s normal and sometimes you need to give yourself a break or you need to push through and keep working.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love a good story. In my artwork, I strive to have storytelling or even an appeal to imagination. I am always intrigued to hear the analyses of people who view my art. While studying art, I was taught that it is so important to keep your audience in mind. I want others to have a personal connection with my work whether it is humorous or heartfelt. My favorite things to draw are people and fictional characters. I enjoy depicting a wide range of emotions and scenarios. I use a variety of traditional mediums along with digital to add another dimension to the mood and tone of a piece. I like that illustration is a means to tell a story and emotional connect with others. I enjoy adding to a picture or scene significant symbols or funny little Easter eggs.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
The biggest risk I took was deciding to pursue art as a career. It’s a competitive field, but it is also something I love. Other than that, I am not a huge risk-taker. When it comes to life decisions, I want to make the right choice. I tend to seek out the opinions and views of people I trust when I am weighing my options. As a Christian, I pray to God for wisdom, discernment, and guidance in my life. I don’t want to do anything that I am going to regret later. However, I also see value in taking risks at times. It can lead you to new places, opportunities, and discoveries. A little risk-taking is good every now and then. If you never move out of your comfort zone, you’re bound to stay stagnant.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coolkidkim97/?hl=en
• Other: https://www.artstation.com/kimberleycornell

Image Credits
Kimberley Cornell