Meet Kelsey Weigl | Surface Pattern Designer and Licensed Artist

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

Hi Kelsey, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Freelance Graphic Design has always been a part of my life, even alongside full-time work. I enjoy working one-on-one with a client to make a new brand package, digital assets and/or print materials. When my kids were little and at home with me, it was a great way for me to have a creative outlet and an income stream. And the flexibility to work odd and fluctuating hours. And of course it is fun to watch businesses grow because of the work you contributed!

Evolving my freelance client-based business into a surface pattern design has given me the opportunity to work and develop my own style and brand. Focusing on creating my style and artwork and licensing it. It’s almost as if I have gone from service-based to product-based business. Selling my finished patterns instead of developing something specifically for a client’s needs.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My style is bright and bold. Maybe a tad kooky. Definitely out of the ordinary. I love mixing unexpected colours and taking things out of their natural element. I have a signature style in my artwork but mostly because I just cannot draw any other way haha.

This has always been who I am. I cannot fight it! Fighting it less and less as I get older. Embracing it I guess.

I love to add personality into everything I do. Decorating a cake, the way I dress and accessorize. My personality is bubbly and positive. I love to express my colourful nature with everything I do. Because why not!

My goal as an artist is to add more joy and colour into the everyday. My themes and motifs are inspired by simple mundane things – pickles, dandelions, rainbows. There is joy and beauty everywhere. Creative living is an attitude and a way of 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.
Edmonton Canada is a great place to grow up and raise a family in. It is no small town, we are a big city with over 1 million people. We have 4 distinct seasons. An incredible river valley. The people are warm and friendly.

A weekend in Edmonton would start at Sea Change, a local craft brewery. Prairie Fairy to drink and Bun Mi to eat. House-made chips on the side. Kids welcome.

From there we would mosy to Kind Ice Cream for two scoops of birthday cake because there is nothing better in the whole world. A walk through Mill Creek Ravine while we enjoy. Gorgeous.

Saturday we would load the bikes up and head down to Terwillegar Park. Edmonton has an amazing system of river trails. Our river valley is something else!

We’d order take out Saturday night and take it easy. Rosso’s Pizza, some Gin and Tonics, maybe Mario Kart?

Sunday we’d have to visit Under the high wheel for brunch. And a walk down Whyte Avenue for funsies.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Ashley Paggi of Ash Cascade Designs has been a guiding light through my creative business pivot. Ashley is a few steps ahead of me and she’s been not only inspirational, but extremely supportive in helping me make tough decisions or even silly creative decisions. Having peers and friends in the same industry with similar goals is so beneficial. Community is everything. Thank you Ashley! I am so proud of all you have accomplished. And I cannot wait to catch up! haha.

Website: www.kelseyweigl.com

Instagram: @kelsey.weigl

Image Credits
Photo: Mariel Nelms