Meet Kat Ballesteros | Freelance Illustrator & Designer

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

Hi Kat, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’m currently pursuing a freelance career because I wanted flexibility. The idea of the 9-5 job felt so restrictive to me, and I think that’s something that most people can relate to nowadays, especially after getting a taste of what it’s like to work from home. My brain thrives in newness. I wanted to be able to change what I did on any given day. Freelance gives you the opportunity to work in whatever schedule works best for your mind and body, pursuing your own ideal clients and projects, setting your own rates. I wanted that. I wanted the freedom to work as much or as little as I desired, and to get to choose which projects I can work on. My ADHD brain sure loves it. I made it sound all dreamy. It’s not easy, it’s a lot of hard work and it might not be for everybody, but the return is worth it.

I wouldn’t say no to a job at a company, I like teamwork! I think it’s a great way to grow, create and give back. But freelance is it for the long haul for me.

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 always thought that my ultimate goal as an artist was to be part of an animation studio, be it designing characters with comical personalities and attitudes (which I love!) or designing the look and feel of any film. As I’ve grown as a person and as an artist, I’ve realized that even though I still want to contribute to animated films, I also want to create art that speaks to people who have struggled or relate to the same areas of life where I’ve struggled and relate to, too: mental health, neurodivergent conditions like ADHD and autism, funny scenarios, Latino culture and cuisine, art skills and techniques, these are topics I’m excited about making into projects, comics, infographics, all while making a connection with people and starting a conversation.

Before I studied Illustration, I studied and obtained a degree in Graphic Design, which has helped me in my Illustration career. I recently graduated from SCAD, so even though I’ve had graphic design jobs before, I feel like my artistic career is just barely starting. I know the road ahead won’t be easy and that it will require a lot of hard work, but I’m excited about working on the things I’m most passionate about.

I’ve learned a lot of things along the way, recently I’ve been learning that competition in art is useless, and seeing your colleagues and fellow artist as competition doesn’t do any good to anyone. The art community thrives when we lift each other up, giving shout-outs, encouraging each other, and sharing fellow artists’ work is far more impressive than whatever higher skills we might have to show individually.

As for my work, I want people to see the passion and excellence I put into every piece and project I create as they are introduced to new perspectives and ideas.

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 live in Savannah, one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever seen in the States! If a friend was visiting, I’d take them downtown to the Historic District, we’d walk around Forsyth Park and admire the pretty townhouses that surround the park, and make our way up north to River Street, walking through town squares. One of the things that excite me the most about Savannah is the many house museums you find downtown, so I’d take my friend to visit each and every one of them and learn the history of each house. We’d bike around some days, and walk other days. I’d take them to the Foxy Loxy Café whenever we need some downtime. I personally like Clary’s Cafe as a breakfast spot, Collins Quarters or Bull Street Taco for lunch, and any of the restaurants in River Street for dinner! We’d stop by the various candy shops to get samples and buy some candy to take home. The Savannah tours and Ghost Tours are very popular with tourists, I love learning about history, so I’d take my friend in one or both of those!

There’s so much to do in Savannah, I myself have yet to do it all, so we’d both experience new things together during their visit.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
No one has ever made it in life alone, it’s always a group effort from behind the scenes. I’ve always been shown nothing but support from family and friends in my creative career, but there are a couple of people who’ve helped me get as far as I have. It’s not often you get full support without naysayers, and I feel for the artists who have to push through the negativity and the obstacles.

My mom, dad, and sister supported my artistic education from the very beginning, it’s thanks to my dad I went to art school in the States! It was a tedious journey, and navigating a new country in a semi-new culture was not easy.

Then there’re the friends and mentors I met at SCAD, and all the professors in the Illustration department, who helped me grow in my art and in life. They challenged me, made me see things from different perspectives, pushed my skills, and encouraged me when I needed it most. I made life-long relationships while at school, ever since I graduated I miss the collective creative environment. It was an experience like no other, I have nothing but good things to say about SCAD. Professor (and now colleague) Arden von Haeger, I can’t say enough thank yous! I hope to someday be the kind of mentor you were to me to another artist.

Lastly, I would’ve never made it far if not for God. I put my life and career in His hands, I rely on Him every day.

Website: https://katherineballesteros.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katballesteros.s/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katballesteros/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/katballesteros_