Meet Kelly Daniels | Artist

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

Hi Kelly, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting my own business emerged slowly, really. My professional background is in architecture – I graduated college in 2009, in the bottom of an economic slump. Depending on myself was all I could rely on, so I stuck to what I knew. I began doing architectural hand renderings, literally knocking on doors to see if I could draw for other architects. I started painting pets & doing graphic design. I just hustled every day to make it work. It wasn’t until I really streamlined my work & harnessed the power of social media that my business began to take off. Now, there’s no looking back!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a resin artist, specializing in hand-poured home goods & fine art. For me, a wide reach has been what’s let my business blossom. I create everything from large scale wall art inspired by geodes & the night sky, to home goods like tabletop covers that fit right down over the top of an existing table, smaller accent tables, even charcuterie boards & lazy susans. I’m constantly dreaming of new & innovative ways to satisfy the creative in me! I think my followers have loved watching that evolution, it’s quite a feeling of support & community. Building my brand was a years long climb to find momentum, but I feel now like I’ve hit my stride both creatively & professionally. Putting your work out for the world to judge every day isn’t easy, but it’s that vulnerability that connects me to my community! I’ve learned to just do the best most creative work I can, to stay focused & to keep going. I love my life & my work so so much, I think that’s a contagious characteristic that people can feel!

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.
Atlanta’s such a city, it’s easy to miss the hikes & outdoor awesomeness, but it’s everywhere! We love bike rides on the Silver Comet, it’s mostly flat & shaded & stretches from Atlanta to Alabama! We’ll ride 20miles with our pup Cosmo in a bike trailer, dog goggles & all! And the hiking trails are everywhere in Atlanta, not to mention a quick drive out to some serious mountain views. Our current favorite in the city is Cochran Shoals – Powers Island. It’s beautiful park right on the Chattahoochee River with swamp trails, woody hikes & big, long walking loops! For a great day doing city stuff, we love to start our weekends at Highland Bakery, their fried chicken benedict & ricotta pancakes are out of this world! Followed by a long walk on the nearby Beltline with stops at Ladybird or Bazati for a drink to-go. Pro tip for lunch – go to Krog Street Market for a philly cheesesteak from Fred’s AND the beef pho from Pho Nam, trust me, it’s the perfect pairing to bite & sip together. For dinner, hands down, or favorite is sitting fireside on the patio at Rathbun’s Steak. Beautiful food, right on the beltline, then maybe a walk to Jeni’s for dessert!

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?
My partner of 9+ years has encouraged the entrepreneur in me in unbelievable ways. I’m of a generation whose parents believed solely in a stable career. There’s certainly comfort in that, but stable it wasn’t. Self-employment is terrifying, even 8 years later…. but he truly believes I’m talented, more than I even believe it myself. He’s encouraged me to take risks & invest in myself. His confidence in me makes me feel like superwoman. Like, I CAN DO IT. His frequent words of affirmation give me an enormous sense of pride & conviction, he’s helped build an independence within me that has absolutely changed the trajectory of my life. For him, I am forever grateful.

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