Meet BreeAnn Kitsuki of Grand Rapids

Today we’d like to introduce you to BreeAnn Kitsuki.

BreeAnn, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I graduated with a degree in Illustration from Grand Valley State University in 2009 and spent the next few years freelancing as an illustrator for a variety of both commercial and private work. Those early projects taught me a lot about collaboration, creativity, and running a tiny one-person studio.

In 2013, I founded Wildship Studio—a space where I could create under my own direction and with full creative freedom. In the beginning, I focused on adventure-inspired wedding invitations, branding and logo design, web design, and all sorts of illustration projects for both individuals and businesses.

Over time, my curiosity began to shift. I found myself wondering what my illustrations might become if I brought them to a broader audience on a variety of tangible goods. That spark led me to design my first line of illustrated goods and paper products—and I’ve been hooked ever since.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Oh, there have definitely been challenges along the way. The first year I went full-time after quitting my day job, I was hit hard with imposter syndrome (still am, to be honest) and a kind of fear paralysis that made even small steps feel impossible. It took a few years to find my footing and confidence—and to build a routine that actually worked for me.

As my business grew, new challenges appeared: learning how to scale, deciding to hire an assistant (a terrifying but ultimately rewarding leap), and managing the ongoing realities of fluctuating mental health and bouts of stress-induced chronic pain. I’ve had to redefine, again and again, what productivity means and what a “workday” looks like for me. Learning to reject the conventional 8-5 workday structure and instead adapt—to pivot when needed and to give myself grace when energy is scarce—has become part of the process.

Most recently, motherhood has brought its own kind of balancing act. These days, I divide my time between my studio creating new work and maintaining the admin side of running a business, and toddler wrangling—all equally demanding and equally full of heart.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I draw inspiration from nature and every design begins with my hand-painted originals—created with gouache, watercolor, and pen & ink. One of my favorite tools is my grandfather’s old dip pen, a charming relic with a knack for making magical, imperfectly perfect marks. It reminds me that beauty often lives in the little flaws—the places where nature (and art) feel most alive.

Today, Wildship Studio remains an illustration-driven brand at its core, focusing on thoughtfully made goods for retail and wholesale. My collection has grown to include art prints, enamel pins, stickers, greeting cards, gift wrap, and more. Wildship Studio products can be found in over 300 shops, boutiques, and museums across the U.S.—and a handful abroad. I also sell directly through my website, Etsy, and Amazon, and love connecting in person at art markets throughout the Midwest.

Home base is Grand Rapids, Michigan, where I paint, pack, and dream up new creations from my cozy home studio.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
It doesn’t have to be perfect. Whether it’s a painting, an idea, a finished product, a little blurb on my website—or even my answers to these questions.

It’s always been easy for me to believe that for others, but much harder to extend that same grace to myself. Over time, I’ve had to learn (and keep re-learning) that it applies to my own work and progress too. The pursuit of perfection has held me back in countless ways—keeping me from starting new pieces, finishing old ones, or sharing work that felt “not quite ready.”

These days, I try to remind myself that ‘good enough is better than perfect.’ To me, that means it’s better to take imperfect steps forward than to stay stuck under the weight of perfectionism and the fear of failure. Progress, after all, is its own kind of beauty.

Pricing:

• Enamel pins: $12
• Stickers: $3
• Art prints: $12.50 – $65

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wildship.com/
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/wildshipstudio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildship