Meet illustrator from Brooklyn, Kimberly Salt

 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m a full-time freelance illustrator living in Brooklyn. Although I grew up in New York, I briefly lived in California for nearly 2 years while I worked for Facebook. When I decided to go back to working full-time freelance after my corporate job, I drove myself and all my belongings back to New York in a rented car on a solo road trip. Saying this really makes me miss traveling. Other than that, my life is of some pretty boring stock. I live in a small junior 1 bedroom apartment with 50+ houseplants and a cantankerous cat. My favorite thing in the world is to wander around on foot, find some cafe to draw in and people watch.

 

Describe the city you’re living in and what it’s like to live there.

The city I currently live in is probably the loudest one I’ve ever lived in. Even though I tend to be a quiet person, I love it for that (most of the time). There’s always something to be curious about here and you’re never a stone’s throw away from culture or the odd conversation. Working in a visual field, there’s no shortage of things to observe and learn from, from the way communities gather, individuals interact, to all of the different lifestyles.

 

There’s always something to be curious about here and you’re never a stone’s throw away from culture or the odd conversation. Working in a visual field, there’s no shortage of things to observe and learn from, from the way communities gather, individuals interact, to all of the different lifestyles.

 

What is the best and worst thing about living in your city?

The best thing about my city is the mix of cultures living on top of one another, and that includes the art, lifestyles, and the FOOD. The worst thing is probably the high living expenses.

 

Give us 3 words that describe what it’s like to be a creative in your city.

Multifaceted, dizzying, abundant

 

How did you start your career in art?

Originally I went to college for graphic design, with a focus on web design. As a kid, I was told that making a living off of art was a fantasy. Graphic design seemed to have a more practical application and more job stability than a lot of other creative careers; in short, it seemed like the best of both worlds to me. After I graduated, I worked as a freelance graphic designer for 4 years, but my career felt stagnant and the nature of the work made me feel miserable. I’d always drawn as somewhat of a passionate hobby, and followed the art and discussion of illustrators online. Using all of the advice I could find from the internet to launch my own illustration career, I developed enough pieces to string together in a portfolio and coded my own website on WordPress (I don’t have the same design any longer). I then cold-emailed art director after art director and amazingly some of them gave me work. Although I was not able to start my illustration career fresh out of college, I was greatly privileged to emerge without any student debt.

 

I’d always drawn as somewhat of a passionate hobby, and followed the art and discussion of illustrators online. Using all of the advice I could find from the internet to launch my own illustration career, I developed enough pieces to string together in a portfolio and coded my own website on WordPress (I don’t have the same design any longer). I then cold-emailed art director after art director and amazingly some of them gave me work.

 

Were the people around you supportive of your decision on working as a creative?

When I told people in my immediate life that I wanted to quit graphic design and become a professional illustrator, I think it took me a while to convince many of them that it was a viable career. Every time I saw my mom (who had overcome significant economic insecurity since her childhood) during the early years, she would try to persuade me to go into a different field other than illustration. My boyfriend at the time was strongly supportive, however, and he believed that I could do it despite the struggle. I also had a professor from college who continued to provide advice every time I reached out with questions or concerns. Online, I was able to connect with other artists who were just beginning their careers, as well. These days, everyone in my life is supportive, thankfully (including Mom).

 

What are some goals and ambitions you have for your future work?

At some point I’d like to take a creative sabbatical, putting a pause on client work for a month or so to just focus on personal work and reestablish a connection with the things I make and the why behind it. Other than that, I’d love to discover new avenues for my work, such as working on a graphic novel and bleeding into other industries like fashion, fine art of more motion work. I also want to find ways to give back to the creative community.

 

At some point I’d like to take a creative sabbatical, putting a pause on client work for a month or so to just focus on personal work and reestablish a connection with the things I make and the why behind it.

 

If you could collaborate with any person in the world who would it be?

Anyone? Kadhja Bonet, Madeline Miller, Thatgamecompany, Ken Liu

 

How would you describe the women around you?

I hate using the word ‘strong’ because it’s so often used to romanticize women’s pain, but that’s what the women around me are. They’re beautiful, deeply resilient human beings with great senses of humor and the grace to deal with me whenever I’m spittin’ gravel or feeling down on myself. We pick each other up and support one another. Because we’re mostly from different professions, I learn a lot from them including how to keep things in perspective.

 

We pick each other up and support one another.

 

Were there any local female creatives that you looked up to when you were growing up?

I didn’t grow up around any female (nor male) creatives when I was a kid. My neighborhood was pretty insular, with mostly working class professionals. However, I did read a lot of manga as a teen, including CLAMP, and learned in school about the female fine artists that were household names like Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keefe.

 

Are there any challenging aspects of being a female in your industry?

Although my field is majority female, disparities in pay and opportunities are very much present, in both gender and race. In terms of opportunities, it’s difficult not to take notice when (white) men consistently win certain jobs and accolades in a field that is dominated by women.

 

Don’t be afraid to seek advice from the people and professionals you admire, but remember that everyone’s path is different.

 

Do you have any advice to young women who are aspiring to work in your field?

Don’t be afraid to seek advice from the people and professionals you admire, but remember that everyone’s path is different. That means determining your own why’s and your own passions. What is it that you enjoy creating the most and why? Figuring that out and embracing it will be your superpower because no one else in the world has your exact perspective. It’s also important to connect with other people specifically in the same career stage as you. Not only can you buoy each other with support, but those lasting relationships will help you provide for one another in terms of advice, rate comparisons, and referrals. Most of all, surround yourself with people who will love and support you, and love and believe in yourself.

 

 

Photos courtesy of Kimberly Salt.