Check Out Kanda Parrott’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kanda Parrott

Hi Kanda, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always been passionate about art and creating. After high school, I began to take art courses at the collegiate level. I struggled for a few semesters before realizing this was not the direction I was meant to be going. It took a lot of years to develop my ‘art style’ while still having to make a living by any means I could (barista, retail, serving, etc.). But it wasn’t until my partner and I had our second child that I was fully able to leave the ‘work force’ and became a stay-at-home mom AND full-time freelance artist. Since my kids are now both in school, my artist reputation and body of work has just been expanding. I am thankful I get to wake up and do what I love every day.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not! I think one of the biggest struggles is being told “no”, without an explanation. I’ve been actively applying to more national galleries recently (to show work in) and it can be very difficult to get back up after being knocked down. No one likes to be told no. Sometimes these rejections come with feedback and sometimes they come with nothing at all. However, I haven’t let these stop me from continuing to apply. And I have prevailed through consistency and persistence-coming back and trying again. I also believe “success” is such a broad spectrum and it can be a real struggle to have society’s perception of “success” strictly measured monetarily. I would like my success to be defined by what I have created, by what I have accomplished, not how much I have earned in that process.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
So I am a plant-based artist, and not that that defines me or my art, but I feel like it aids in the explanation of my overall portfolio and subject matter: I like to focus on the importance of coexistence between all living things and their environments. My art is heavily inspired by animals, the wonders of nature, and the duty we have to preserve these things. I also like to throw in a little spooky and juxtapose with it the beauty of the natural world.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Although I would really consider myself “self-taught”, I have found an incredible community of online artists that have not only taught me so much about art itself, personal style, technicality, consistency, and inspiration, they have also become great friends. (To list only a few, Mary Esther Munoz, Caiti Rose (of Sharktopia), Devin Michael (of Face Monster), and Bernabe Martinez.) I also am thrilled to be a part of the Board of Directors at the Arts Council of White Lake Nuveen, the whole art community in my area is so incredibly supportive and accepting.

Pricing:

• Custom Drawings Begin at $95
• Pet Portraits Begin at $175
• Tattoo Designs Begin at $60

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ArtbyKanda.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kandasaurus_rex/