Today we’d like to introduce you to Avery Kelly.
Hi Avery, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Art has always been important to me in one form or another. I grew up in a very crafty family, always drawing and working on projects, with both of my grandmothers teaching me how to knit when I was very young. Although I didn’t stick with it then, and moved more towards painting as I got older, the skill come back to me after a decade and now it’s my biggest passion. Knitting and crocheting entered my life at the perfect time; the pandemic had just started and I was on the verge of getting an ADHD diagnosis after years of trying to identify certain symptoms. Fiber art became a way for me to relax, to let my brain focus on something tangible, real, and creative. Alongside the escapism that came with it, I also learned it was a fantastic tool for me to help focus during long zoom classes and meetings during my last year of undergraduate. Even though it may seem counterintuitive, having something to do with my hands that is repetitive helps limit other external distractions.
As my knowledge grew, I began to realize that fiber arts have an interesting way of melding math and art, which fits absolutely perfectly with how my brain works. I am able to channel my creative side into color and texture, pattern and shape, while using the more logical half of me to figure out garment construction and sizing.
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?
It took a very long time for me to see that I could pursue art as a career. Most of my creative life has been about having fun, expressing myself, with no plans to ever share any of my work. It was so daunting to me – showing such vulnerable expressions of myself in the form of paintings or drawings. Social media, although I don’t always get along with it, helped me see that sharing is such an important part of the process. Once I found fiber art it just pushed this further. Sharing pieces I’ve knit feels much less emotionally open than other forms of art, for some reason, even though just as much time, energy, and love has gone into the making process, so it’s much easier for me to post freely.
I started taking myself and my work seriously about a year ago and decided that it might actually be a viable route for me in the future. Even though social media has helped me in some regards, it’s also my biggest enemy. As a maker with not too many followers, it’s hard not to compare myself to larger accounts, where everything bigger and better. Imposter syndrome hits hard some days. This past summer, though, I’ve started vending at local markets, and have found that community and in-person connection helps me so much. Seeing the face behind the comment makes everything so much more real. With the pandemic, this has been incredibly hard, and for a long time, it seemed that my only route to success was through social media. I’ve learned that though it works wonderfully for some, other makers just have a different path.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work focuses on fiber art, including crochet and knitting. I make accessories, garments, and home decor.
Pricing:
- $15-$200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://averymac.art/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avery.mac/
Image Credits
@dakotahfrancis
