Kay the Artist: Drawing, Caregiving, and Creating in the South

A young Gaffney-based artist brings traditional tattoo vibes, bold lines, and a love for skulls to every piece she makes.

Written by Screaming Eye Press

Meet Kay: a 19-year-old artist from Gaffney, SC, who turns caregiving into creativity and paints her world in bold lines and bright colors.

Where are you from? What is your background?

I’m from Gaffney, South Carolina. I’m a 19-year-old caregiver who works weekly, but I always have time for art.

Sometimes I color or draw with clients if they’re able.

What inspired you to become an artist?

I’ve had a pencil in my hand since I was about 10.

My grandmother always had art, and she was always painting something.

I used to sit with her at her kitchen table and paint ceramics for hours.

What was the first thing you remember reading at an early age?

The first thing I remember reading is probably The Cat in the Hat.

I hardly read as a kid. I was more into drawing on everything, so TV and reading were minimal.

What performer or artist/writer inspires you the most?

I’m very inspired by Ed Hardy. The traditional tattoo style is really intriguing to me.

The bold lines and bright colors—just wow. I study and observe Ed Hardy flash sheets on the internet all the time (others too, of course).

What other areas of art are you involved in?

I do any kind of ceramic or clay painting. Canvases are one of my favorites to work on.

When I was young, my dad would cut shapes and things out of wood, and I’d paint them.

Colored pencils are my go-to at the moment.

Do you think your environment, where you live, has an effect on the type of art you create?

I do believe my environment affects my art.

Most people in the South don’t care for skulls or any kind of creepy artwork. You can’t sell art to people who don’t have a taste for that kind.

What techniques do you use for your art?

I use a lot of erasers. I hand draw everything—I never trace—and I haven’t touched on digital yet, but I’d like to.

Light sketching is crucial.

What do you think popular culture will be like in ten years?

I’m not sure, but I hope that it’ll be thriving.

I hope every artist can sell their art and make a living. Art is time, and time is worth everything.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve been asked to do in your profession?

I’ve never really had anyone ask me anything strange per se, just the occasional: “Oh, you should draw me this and I’ll go get it tattooed!”

What projects are you working on now?

I’m working on a canvas right now with two huge blue and green skulls!

It’s extremely time-consuming, but so worth it. I’m super excited to see it complete.