Meet Kelsea Zeglin | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelsea Zeglin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelsea, why did you pursue a creative career?
Art helps me connect with my inner self. It allows me to relax and channel my anxiety into something productive and meaningful. When I complete a piece, I feel a sense of accomplishment and it boosts my self confidence. I believe that creativity is a unique gift that should be embraced and shared with others.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The foundation of my artwork is the human anatomy – bones, muscles, sinew, and movement – which has always fascinated me. The figures I draw are faceless allowing viewers to become personally connected to the piece and come up with their own interpretation. I am also fascinated with planets, the moon, and billiards, which is often shown in my pieces.

For my medium, I use Micron pens and India Ink. Most of my pieces are black and white, but I do add some splashes of color ( blue, red, yellow, white ) from time to time, depending on the piece that I am working on.

I don’t create pieces with a target audience in mind; I strive to create pieces that allow a diverse group of people to feel something and connect with my work. There’s no wrong answer to the meaning behind each piece; the meaning is whatever each person believes it to be.

What I feel that sets me apart is I believe in affordable and sustainable art. The majority of my art pieces are done on up – cycled cardboard and paper. There have been times when I have wanted to support local art, but it was out of my price range. It is important to me that my artwork is reasonably priced for all to enjoy.

I’m proud to be able to create work that speaks to so many people. Each piece means a great deal to me and I’m humbled to be able to share my work with others. My favorite thing is hearing how people discovered what a piece means to them and how they plan to incorporate it into their own space.

Also, I really like hearing all the different ways people relate to my work. When I sell my artwork to someone who truly appreciates it, I get a feeling of satisfaction knowing that I gave them an opportunity to look at the world from a new perspective.

The path has been a bit of a roller coaster ride, with many ups and downs, and it hasn’t always been easy! Every now and then, I pause to reflect and ask myself if it’s still worth the journey. So far, every part of me down to my very core answers with a resounding YES! So I continue on knowing that this is me, this is what I was meant to do. Creating art is never “easy” but the more I do it, the more it becomes a part of me and the more I grow with it.

When I find myself stuck on a piece or in a rut, I look to other creative outlets such as reading, writing, or watching The Food Network and then trying out a new recipe. Taking a break for a bit to interact with friends and enjoy nature helps me refocus and get back into my creative groove.
Sometimes I just don’t know where a certain piece is going so I’ll either put it away for a while or put it aside somewhere that’s still within my view. I’ll look at it from time to time and eventually something will click and I can then finish the piece. This can take days, weeks, sometimes months for some pieces to be finished; but that’s what works for me. Patience is key!

Each piece I create has a whole background web of struggle, anxiety, happiness, love, pain, joy etc.… The end result brings everything full circle and keeps me whole and humble, which is what I hope to impart to the people who have appreciated and/or purchased my drawings.

I find inspiration from all sorts of things in life… sometimes it can be a song or words that I’ve heard or certain objects around me. There are so many gateways of inspiration that flood into my head it is hard to pin point them all! But when they do come about I quickly try and jot them down or thumb nail sketch them for later uses!

Although art is a major part of my life it isn’t the only thing. Being burnt out or exhausted from what you enjoy in life is never fun, so take time out to appreciate and enjoy the little things in life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I guess it would depend on the time of year they are visiting, but that’s actually what is so great about CO – you can always find something fun to do no matter the season!

I would absolutely explore the incredibly beautiful Colorado landscape by Hiking, mountain biking, snowboarding/skiing, snow-shoeing.

Visit the local breweries and restaurants.
Denver has a pretty large comedy / music scene with so many neat little venues to check out.
Try out a new coffee shop each day. Denver has so many amazing coffee shops
Visit the farmers markets where you can try delicious local food, browse art, shop for gifts. Support local!
relax and enjoy one another’s company while taking in the beautiful mountain views

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There have been so many people who have influenced me along the way, but my biggest shoutout goes to my immediate family – Mom, Dad, sisters, and brother. They deserve tremendous credit for their unending presence and support. My family, friends, and boyfriend have instilled confidence in me and encouraged me to put my work out there, and they continue to provide reassurance and positive feedback along the way.

I would also like to thank a dear friend of mine who helped connect me with local pop-up events. I appreciate her continuing to spread the word about my art and I truly thank her for her support and kindness!

Instagram: @brains_splatters