Meet Kelly Weckstein | Artist, Small Business Owner, & Art Teacher

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

Hi Kelly, why did you pursue a creative career?
Since childhood, my passion for art has been unwavering. Around the age of 11, when I received my first digital drawing tablet, I discovered my deep-seated desire to pursue art. Art has served as a consistent outlet for me to express my thoughts, feelings, and interests, and allowing me to connect with others and cope with the difficulties I have faced throughout my life. For me, there was never a question of pursuing any other career path that does not allow for me to make art or to work creatively. While choosing an art involved profession may seem daunting to many, I was determined to make it a reality through persistent effort. This commitment led me to pursue a degree in Animation and Illustration. Upon graduation, I started my small business named BunniBrainArt and began pursuing a career in teaching art.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As an artist, I would describe my style as highly saturated, cute, and whimsical. My passion lies in illustrating and animating fictional characters, aiming to bring joy through my art. What sets me apart is my unwavering dedication to creating art regardless of life’s demands. Even during intense 60-hour work weeks across multiple jobs, I always find time for my craft.

Recently, my enthusiasm has centered around ideating and designing new, fun products for my small business, BunniBrainArt. While I still have a journey ahead to achieve my artistic and professional aspirations, I’ve already come a long way from my college graduation upon receiving my art degree. Initially aiming for a career in animation or visual effects within film and television, I faced challenges finding opportunities in that field. This led me to explore teaching art, starting as a Fine/Digital art camp teacher at a nearby summer camp last summer. For me, teaching sparked a passion for nurturing artistic talent, coinciding with the birth of my Etsy business. Starting with selling stickers I designed, my small venture grew slowly while I balanced full-time and part-time jobs. Despite the challenges of maintaining work-life balance and occasional doubts, achieving milestones like selling at my first market and securing full-time employment kept me motivated.

Currently, I’m focused on growing my small business while pursuing a career in art education, both paths filling me with excitement for the future. For anyone uncertain about their career path, especially young artists fresh out of college, I encourage exploration and persistence. It took me over a decade to launch my small business, inspired by witnessing other artists selling their merchandise at anime and comic conventions I would go to when I was a teenager. Embracing new opportunities, like teaching, revealed unexpected passions and redirected my career journey.

My advice is simple: don’t give up on your dreams and be open to new paths. While my heart was set on animation, teaching art showed me a fulfilling alternative where I can share my passion and help others grow creatively. Embrace change and keep pushing forward—you may discover something even better than you imagined.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am from New Jersey and live relatively close to New York City, and so I would definitely take them to some of my favorite spots there! Whenever I go to the city, I love to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and browse around all the wonderful ancient artifacts and paintings. After this, I’d take them to Bryant Park to the Kinokuniya store to shop for cute anime themed items, art supplies and blind boxes. Then, I’d probably go to Koreatown where my favorite ramen place is!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Throughout the challenges I’ve faced, my family has been my constant support system, especially in my pursuit of art as a career. From the outset, my parents believed in my artistic talent and encouraged me to pursue my passion in college. Their unwavering belief in me has been both a stroke of luck and a tremendous blessing.
In addition to my family, my friends I still keep in touch with from high school, my close college friends, and my boyfriend have been pillars of support. Their encouragement and belief in me have kept me motivated, even when achieving my goals seemed daunting.
Moreover, Steven Pressfield’s book “The War of Art” has been a valuable resource for me as a creative facing artistic blocks and seeking a clear career path in art. I often turn to the wisdom within its pages for guidance and motivation during challenging times.

Website: https://bunnibrainart.myportfolio.com/work

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-weckstein-992698175/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bunnibrainart

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeq2MpQUaPjfQjoO4QBQqLA

Other: Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BunniBrainArt