Catrina Kennedy Is Living Her Dream
By the time she was 30, new Anderson Artists Guild member Catrina Kennedy had moved 34 times due to her father’s Air Force career. The family relocated to Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Texas. “But I didn’t mind it,” said Kennedy. “I looked at it as an adventure.”
But eventually she and her husband settled in Easley for 15 years before buying a house in Anderson about a year ago.
While she did attend some college and once dreamed of becoming a special education teacher and language interpreter, Kennedy has worked a series of jobs at small restaurants, Walmart, and a veterinary clinic. Her longest position was at Lowe’s, where she spent eight years in the home décor, paint, and kitchen departments.
But during the pandemic, she said, “I put my foot down. I’d waited long enough to work at my dream. I’ve been a sole proprietor as an artist ever since.”
She had always drawn in graphite and decided to teach herself how to work with colored pencils, which came naturally, she said. The tipping point occurred when a neighbor commissioned her to draw a Highland cow. “I knew this is what I was meant to do,” said Kennedy.
She started doing the farmers' markets in Easley in 2021. Though she didn’t sell much art, she did get quite a few commissions. From there she moved on to events like the Pickens Azalea Festival.
It’s been a time of development. “I learned that you have to be yourself,” she said. “People like when you’re passionate about your work and when you can tell them about your process and why you do what you do. I also learned that it’s better to hang your art vertically rather than set it on a table.”
She has started a new colored pencil fantasy series, is learning watercolor, and continues to take commissions from return customers.
Her future plans are to seek out art-focused festivals, to enter juried shows, and to apply to some galleries.
For more information about Kennedy, visit https://www.artbycatrinakennedy.com/.
