Meet Kylee Covili | Artist and owner of Moonlit Mesa

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

Hi Kylee, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
Being an artist does not mean that you simply get to create and make art all day long. I think a lot of people have this romanticized idea that an artist’s days are spent solely on the creative process, but that is just not reality. I wish all my time was spent in my studio making art, but there is so much more to running a creative business that goes on behind the scenes that you must constantly be on top of to be successful. Sourcing materials, photographing my work, processing, packaging, and shipping orders, communicating with galleries and customers, and marketing my art are all vital to the success of my business. Without dedicating time to these ancillary tasks, I wouldn’t have a business.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a mixed-media assemblage artist as well as the owner of Moonlit Mesa, a line of handmade jewelry. My work often contains repurposed materials, vintage found objects, and other reclaimed items that would otherwise be thrown away. By using these unconventional materials, my artwork provides a unique point of view on the intended purpose of everyday objects. I’m inspired by weathered characteristics such as rust, patina, and erosion, and my work embraces and celebrates these imperfect qualities.

I have always been a very creative person and have made art and jewelry for myself for years, but I wasn’t always confident enough to share my artwork openly with the public. I, like so many other artists and makers, had doubts about whether my work was “good enough” or whether anyone would like my art. To overcome these fears, I started surrounding myself with other creative people and learning how they handle these same fears. Hearing other artist’s stories and learning that most everyone feels this way at some point helped me build the self-confidence I needed.

Once I learned to stop listening to the self-doubt in my head, I was able to embrace my creative pursuits more openly. Regardless of the success I’ve achieved so far; I still accept that there will be missteps along the way. And that is ok. I learn and grow from them. I’ve found that being honest with myself provides me with more creative freedom, which results in an authenticity in my work. I firmly believe this has been a key part of my success and part of what draws people to my art. When someone’s true, authentic self is reflected in their work, it shows.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Outdoors – A trip to the area is not complete without seeing Rocky Mountain National Park. You could see elk, black bears, big horn sheep, and maybe moose. Tubing in the river in Lyons is also fun in the summer.

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?
So many people have helped me get to where I am, and I am so thankful for the constant support. The love from my wonderful husband Paul and family and friends has been a huge source of encouragement of which I am incredibly grateful. The artists in the creative community of the front range have also provided an endless source of inspiration, collaboration, feedback, and help. I’m also thankful for all the support and kind words from online customers and artists. To every single person who has purchased a piece of art or jewelry from me – I really can’t say thanks enough!

Website: www.kyleecovili.com

Instagram: @kyleecoviliart

Other: Additional IG account is @moonlitmesa