Meet Kelly McMahon | Illustrator & Graphic Designer

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

Hi Kelly, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk has become a lover of sorts in my life. It snuck up on me, a handsome stranger asking you for just one dance. That charming smile invites you in, it feels calculated, you know it– so you convince yourself you are leading as the music begins. A little one, two step, it’s easy enough to keep up with, but as you glide through the unexpected twirls and dips, a spark ignites, the stars shine brighter, you savor every little touch. Before you know it, the awkward side to side sway has become the tango, there is a thrill in this fast pace momentum and you are hooked.

For me, risk has gone hand in hand with success, I’ve followed an unconventional career path. After graduating university with a Bachelor of Visual Communication, I took a position as a graphic designer at a small boutique design studio in Melbourne, Australia. As my love affair with graphic design wavered, I began illustrating in my spare time. This little hobby quickly grew into a steady social media following, commissions, and online store, and then my first convention. I saw a blooming success at each turn and I wanted to see how much further I could go. ‘Risk’ was whispering sweet nothings to me, and boy was I in love.

The risk / reward balance in my career has so far been in my favor. Up until this year, I’ve mostly taken risks that I feel I can come back from, or at least pivot to work in my favor. It’s never been an all or nothing gamble, I have liked to think I’m still the lead dancer in this romance.

In the middle of 2022, I felt that I could no longer ignore the call from Los Angeles. After landing in Melbourne on a flight back from LA, I opened an email offering me a position in Gallery 1988’s Required Reading showcase– a dream come true that had me confronting the fact that for my career to reach the heights I wanted, I would need to be able to work from the US. I spoke to a lawyer and put the pieces in place to make this a reality.

As I took to the dance floor the first few steps felt familiar, but as I leant in, sharp eyes stared back and I knew the romance had changed. This is a slower dance now, still rhythmic and full of hope, but much more cautious. I risked everything to relocate to LA this year, my life savings, the comfort of the people I love most, and the only life I’ve ever known. During the last few years I’ve built a comfort and a career in the unknown, but this time it all feels different. I’m learning a new romance, one that has made me believe in myself.

We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others?
My illustration style is often described as unique. Inspired by Disney’s mid century era and my background in graphic design I crafted a bold minimalist style using vector shapes.

My whole life I’ve been a ‘less is more’ kind of person, even as a little kid I loved organizing, my room was a pop of bright colors, frills and everything had a place. I feel like I’ve embodied this in my work, it’s clean, colorful and precise.

What are you most proud of or excited about?
In 2021 I successfully kickstarted Imperium, a deck of 52 playing cards celebrating a world of female rulers and their tales of victory. I started Imperium two years ago, buzzing with anticipation to finally indulge in a large scale art project that was close to my heart. As a lover of history and a happily ever after enthusiast I’ve gotten lost in my fair share of fairy tales and historical fables. Many of these have shaped my creative journey, and taken me on adventures where anything is possible.

I’ve discovered secret gardens, climbed trees with new worlds atop the highest branches, fought dragons, found the perfect slipper and enjoyed the most merry unbirthday. In all of these wild possibilities, fact or fiction, very few stories have told the tale of a matriarch. They say behind every great man is an ever greater woman, I know so many fearless, strong and capable women. They build empires, carry families, breathe love, kindness and compassion into the world. Imperium is the fairytale I wrote for myself and the women who feel overwhelmed and unnoticed on a daily basis.

This was my very first large scale project and I’m grateful to have been able to bring it to fruition. I’m currently in the middle of creating another, very exciting deck of playing cards (no spoilers) and I am itching to be able to talk about it very soon!

How did you get to where you are today professionally? Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges?
Growing up I was sold the dream of a graphic design job, a practical way to have a creative career. After graduating university with a Bachelor of Visual Communication, I took a position as a graphic designer at a small boutique design studio in Melbourne, Australia. As my love affair with graphic design wavered, I began illustrating in my spare time. This little hobby quickly grew into a steady social media following, commissions, and online store, and then my first convention.

As I saw success in this ‘side gig’ my desk job looked less and less appealing. I was making a sustainable wage from indulging in the things I loved most, I felt passionate, there was a spark in my life I hadn’t felt in a long time. All my efforts could build my vision, not someone else’s and that truly excited me.

Whilst I had a good momentum early on covid stripped my business back to day one. Overnight I lost 3 years of freelance work, the ability to ship overseas (85% of my customers are in the US), access to my international network and all my in person events were canceled. It truly broke me, I took such pride in what I had accomplished, for the first few months I opened an email almost daily that forced me to rework one aspect of my business, over and over again. You quickly realize that the treadmill is changing pace and you are either going to have to keep up or you fall off all together. I did everything I could to keep my business up and running, online panels, readjusted my online store to accommodate the outrageous shipping fees DHL and Aus Post put on us, took on all the freelance work that came my way (even if it wasn’t in line with what I wanted to be building towards), indulged in fan projects to keep up skills, did zoom catch ups with other creatives, tried designing new products, applied for as many galleries and online promotional opportunities as I could, continued to reach out to the network I had, launched a kickstarter and most importantly tried to keep drawing! I threw myself at everything I could and hoped that something stuck.

As we enter a new way of life post covid I’m slowly rebuilding and reworking my business to fit this era. I’m learning to fall in love with my process again, after feeling like I’m in a constant battle to keep my head above water, it is a wonderful feeling to be able to indulge in my craft again. To see my work hung in galleries across LA, have my designs published on comic covers, to be back at events talking about my craft and meeting the people who have supported me along the way– I have to stop and pinch myself at times, some parts of my business still feel as though they are back at square one but others have really flourished and I’m grateful for the way I’ve grown from this.

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way?
Tenacity can go hand in hand with success. You have to be resourceful when faced with challenges, there is always a way to overcome what is in front of you. Your success is in your hands as a freelancer, no one will believe in your projects or dreams as much as you do.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As a new comer to Los Angeles I’m still looking for all the recommendations myself! It would go without saying that a week with me in LA would include a trip out to Disneyland.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve been lucky to be supported by so many people along the way! A big big thank you to my friends and family, without your endless encouragement I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Website: https://www.kmmcmdraws.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kmmcmdraws/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kmmcmdraws

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kmmcmdraws

Other: https://kmmcmdraws.substack.com

Image Credits
Headshot credit Jason Lau