Conversations with Kyra Saley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyra Saley.

Hi Kyra, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a follower of Christ and multi-disciplinary creative: An illustrator, hand lettering artist, photographer, and designer.

Growing up as a second-generation Filipina-American, the desire to explore different fields of art was embraced at home; among the family history of nurses and engineers, I recall family stories of an aunt from the Netherlands as a painter and a cousin painting a mural for the Fil-Am community in New Jersey.

In school, art class was always my favorite subject. Over years of unfinished sketchbooks, school art exhibits, drawing with a Bamboo Wacom tablet (a short-lived era), illustrating designs of high school tee shirts, and learning product selling in a marketing class, I learned how art can be a career path.

Photography started to be a creative interest in my second year of high school: Developing photographs in the darkroom was simply fascinating. Hand lettering didn’t come into the process until the end of my first year of college—I was given an iPad Pro from my parents. At the time, Procreate was becoming a popular tool of the trade and the catalyst of reigniting my interest in digital art.

I am an ASU graduate, class of 2021. I completed my undergraduate degree in photography; I was in the graphic design program but changed majors to photography after the first year. That first year was honestly a wake-up call in how undisciplined and indecisive I was when it came to putting in effort and responding to failure.

Community, collaboration with networks of common interests, and making meaningful connections have been the main focus of this journey. Outside of class, I’ve experienced that by designing event posters and social media graphics for the Philippine American Student Association(PASA), A Buncha Book Artists Collective (yes, it stands for ABBA!), the young adult’s group at Gateway Fellowship SBC, and Fil-Am International Baptist Church. Illustrating pieces for the ASU State Press was also a great experience to improve my digital art skills. Every person has a skill or gift to contribute, a role to play, or a way to serve others.

My love for event coordination grew in college: from experience in setting up two ABBA Collective exhibitions and (online + in-person) workshops, helping with Hawker Street Market, and displaying a photographic series at a group exhibit in my final year. When ASU classes moved to Zoom, I had the privilege of being in the Pentel Student Ambassadors program, from coordinating events online and navigating challenges in engaging interest on social media.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Throughout this creative journey, I would have short phases of motivation to make art and long phases of being stuck in the comparison trap. I also questioned how to not be caught up in the numbers, the analytics, the dreadful algorithm, and instead simply just starting without making any “it’s not going to work!” excuses.

Finding an art style also seemed to be a common issue in the art community that I can relate to, an endless striving towards a consistent quality flowing between the artist’s pieces. However, I took comfort in learning that a style evolves through practice and over time.

After graduating, a creative environment has been lacking: I miss having a workplace with other artists, sharing ideas and consistent feedback. The classroom has helped me maintain a structure of deadlines, accountability, and prioritizing tasks over time. Being involved in college organizations was the opportunity to grow in skills of creativity and communication: Since that chapter of education closed, I need to take more steps outside of the educational setting.

While taking on freelance on the side, the decision to make it a full-time career has been on my mind. In between occasional projects from clients, I’m consolidating what my creative abilities can offer.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m always interested in the challenge of how multiple art mediums can work together and connect! We live in a time of creativity where people can offer multiple arts and design services and wear different hats in their businesses. I view this as an advantage instead of a struggle. I started to experiment by drawing on my images, and in a recent project: I raised funds for Feed My Starving Children by selling stickers and postcards individually or in a bundle through my online shop.

In photography, I focus on portraits, dabbling in editorials and events. A project I’m proud of was from a compelling memory of my life: performing in color guard. In all four years, storytelling and progression are the cores of each performance. I reunited with two teammates from our high school alma mater to express a relationship of teamwork, unity, and conflict, with borrowed silks and a sewn red silk. (You know those performers that spin flags, toss rifles, and sabers that weave around the marching band on the football field? That was us.) It was an honor to showcase a guard familiarly in an artistic form and give them the representation that they deserve.

Hand lettering has such an impact on sharing and expressing pieces of advice, phrases, quotes, affirmations to encourage or give insight to someone. Typography and graphic design have piqued my interest by how it plays a role in communication, from posters to packaging. It becomes an ongoing challenge to design what best reflects the given project. Hand lettering has the power to creatively send a message of relatability, reflection, a call to action, or a differing opinion. Most of all, the medium became a meditative space to express God’s divine Scriptures and to hide it in my heart while sharing it with others. In a recent piece, the question “How will you walk in love?” comes from this verse:

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2, ESV)

As for illustration, objects have the opportunity to share a story. It’s been said that a person’s bedroom reflects their identity according to psychology, which leaves an implication of objects sharing a connection or sentiment from the owner. Loosely relating to this, I incorporate hand gestures and objects that link a connection of care and appreciation of beauty.

During a creative block, I participated in challenges such as Hom Work, Still Here Still Life, Peachtober, and 30 Days of Bible Lettering. Next stop: 36 Days of Type!

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Mentors during seasons of my life have been those who are eager and willing to teach even outside of the classroom. I’m so grateful for Mary in the First-Year Success Center, Dan Mayer in ABBA Collective, and Professor Melissa Button. I encourage finding a mentor that’ll push you to grow, take risks, and keep you accountable.

As for networking, it could start with talking to someone new within your circles: They could be in an art class, a local meetup, or a direct message on social media. I understand that can be scary for some shy creatives out there, but it’s honestly so rewarding to ask for help, be supportive, or be proactive in sharing helpful resources with other artists!

Whenever I can, I’m making the decision daily to step out of my comfort zone by simply talking to someone and learning through listening to their own experiences. Be around trusted people that’ll help you grow, and whenever possible, be that same person for them that’s willing to help your peers. When you need feedback on a project or piece, ask them: “What is the one thing I need to work on?” Be specific on what that one thing is, whether it be about the concept, technique, or quality.

Share a challenge with those in your network. For portrait photography, try picking a location, shooting for a minute, and taking turns. In lettering or illustration, share an art challenge you’re preparing for. Look up resources, save the helpful ones for future reference, and share them whenever a person might need them!

Lastly, have a pen and notebook ready at all times—you never know when an idea may pop up in a conversation or when to record helpful feedback.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: kyrasaley.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/kyra_saley

Image Credits
Ivan Gomez and Kyra Saley