Author: Jahdoi Russell
Postgraduate student Kelli Crockett is a talented artist with a story that magnifies the power of resilience, inspiration, and networking. In this interview, Kelli explains her college experience and how she maneuvered through various obstacles without allowing them to keep her in a negative mindset. In 2023, Kelli graduated with a double Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, with concentrations in Painting and Digital Media. On top of this, Kelli graduated with a minor in Art History.
Kelli sheds light on what she considers the most valuable aspect of the undergraduate art program at UNC Charlotte, as well as a challenge she overcame with help from the art department.
“In my experience of the art program, much of the coursework is focused on refining craftsmanship/skills and fostering creative conceptual practices, both of which are probably the most important parts of one’s ‘work in the field.’ While having great work quality is a vital part of being creative in the ‘real world’ (like any skill/trade), the most difficult part for me personally was learning how to pursue opportunities, network, and, well, put myself out there! I’m a bit of a hermit-artist by nature, and the art department gave me many chances to break out of that safety net and engage with the local art community.”
Although putting oneself out there can come with hesitancy, it fosters growth and opens doors, which is demonstrated through Kelli’s experience. By stepping outside of their comfort zone, students are introduced to various opportunities they would not otherwise encounter.
“Beyond opportunities inside of class, there were many chances to engage in projects outside of class requirements, like the Annual Student Juried Exhibition, Art History Symposium, Undergraduate Research Conference, volunteer opportunities, and the Goodyear Arts student-curated exhibition.”
As stated above, Kelli lists several rewarding opportunities she engaged in outside of class that contributed to her flourishing in the art program. In 2023 alone, Kelli’s art was displayed in six shows. She credits her professors and other faculty for encouraging her to fully apply herself and validating her capabilities.
Next, Kelli recounts her distinct experience at the Career Fair, hosted by the Career Center, and how influential her professors have been in shaping her motivation to teach.
“I ultimately want to teach art while upholding my own practice, so I can make the impact on other artists that my art teachers had on me. I’m interested in both K-12 and college-level teaching, so after graduating, I decided to apply to teach at local schools.”
After hearing about the Education Career Fair on the same day it was occurring, Kelli took a leap of faith and attended it.
“Woefully unprepared, I went in not even knowing what school districts I wanted to speak to. I made a quick glance at a map at the door, picked the ones closest to where I live, and just went with it.”
This experience was anything but disappointing for Kelli. Although she was not extremely prepared, she was able to make a lasting impression on several employers. Initially unsure of how to network and nervous about putting herself out there, Kelli took a courageous step that positively impacted her job search journey. Her efforts paid off, and she accepted a teaching position, where she is now inspiring young artists just as her professors once inspired her.
Kelli suggests this piece of advice concerning art-related opportunities: “Be open-minded because those are the kinds of opportunities you can’t just google and find, but need to put yourself in places where they can find you.”
Having exhibited in many galleries, published work, and garnered several awards, we asked Kelli to give insight on how she balances her time and how these components have shaped her career.
“I like to describe my work style as ‘hyper-organized chaos,’ meaning I’m a meticulous planner who is constantly changing the plan, but it all works out in the end. I’ve learned that I can be hyper-productive when excited by something but have to discipline myself enough to maintain that energy even when I want to procrastinate.”
As stated by Kelli, she is organized but also flexible in her plans, always ensuring that she completes everything she needs to. If she has a burst of inspiration to work on a specific task, she leans into that; oftentimes when it isn’t originally planned for her day to unfold this way, Kelli simply moves plans around in her calendar to still complete all that she needs to.
“Unplugging” (except to keep up with art-related happenings on Instagram) and changing how I consume media was the best thing I did for my productivity and creativity in the last few years. I haven’t watched a TV show since last August with my roommates, but I’ve already listened to 45 books this year while painting, which is something like 950 hours I would have otherwise probably spent on Netflix. [...] It’s not a rule or anything, I’ve just found I’m happier when I’m grounded in reality and getting the most out of my days than letting them pass me by.”
This is a glimpse into how Kelli uses creative outlets to stimulate her productivity in regard to her artwork and flow of ideas. By “unplugging” from constant phone and social media usage, Kelli has found she is able to achieve a higher level of creativity. Kelli also engages in activities ranging from writing poetry to volunteer assistant teaching in K-12 art classes to fixing computers. Through this, Kelli is able to tap into a plethora of creative outlets, further contributing to the shaping of her career.
Based on Kelli’s responses, we can conclude that she is dedicated to learning more about the creative world and full of motivation to do so. A major topic in discussing career initiatives is networking. Kelli explains how she approached networking and making connections in the visual arts industry as a college student who used to be hesitant about it.
“The best advice I got about networking was from Andrew Leventis, a painting professor and my thesis advisor, when he told me that it can’t hurt to just reach out personally to people you admire because the worst that can happen is that they don’t respond. [...] The most important step in networking is also the first step, which is just showing up. If you show up to things or make the first move by reaching out to someone, the rest comes easily.”
Yes, it can be nerve-racking to network and reach out to people you are interested in connecting with, but it proves to pay off in the long run. Kelli accounts for her personal experience having someone reach out to her about her work.
“I truly cherish the moments I share with people who have seen what I’ve created, felt it, and felt the need to say something to me about it. It’s part of why I have that perseverance to keep creating—because I have the proof that what I’m making means something to someone other than myself.”
As stated by Kelli, people enjoy talking about their passions and career interests, so lean into that! Additional tips Kelli includes are reaching out to professionals for advice and keeping personal business cards on you to hand out to people interested in working with you. Not always having the confidence she has now, Kelli acknowledges personal struggles she faced while pursuing her degree and how she overcame them.
“I’ve gone through periods of terrible self-doubt and negative self-perception that made me stop creating for long periods of time because no matter what I made, it was never enough, so why would I even bother? [...] Every new thing I created didn’t feel like it was good enough, meaning I was trying to make perfect work rather than authentic work.”
This is a powerful and relatable message. Striving to achieve perfection instead of focusing on being authentic and doing the best we can – considering perfection is unattainable. But how does one get to the point of fully accepting this truth?
“My work will always be imperfect—Why let that stop me from trying altogether, to see what I could do, if I gave myself the permission to be flawed? [...] I truly believe that there is nothing outside of oneself that can stop them from being a great artist, and if you can know that to be true, you have the power to overcome it.”
Kelli reigns on the idea that giving yourself permission to be flawed can help overcome the barrier of self-doubt and the feeling of not being “good enough.” She states, “As a person who has had an unreal, unbelievable, storybook-level of world-altering life obstacles that made creating art seem both impossible and unimportant at times.” Kelli alludes to hope and embodies resilience through expressing deterring factors that she has personally faced but has not given the power to stop her from achieving her goals.
Lastly, Kelli dives into resources and support services that she found most helpful while navigating her college experience.
“[...] Some of them were places to turn to when I needed help achieving my goals, like the Writing Center, and others came to me with unexpected and much-appreciated help, like the Career Center. The Writing Center is a great second pair of eyes to look over something you’ve written before you submit it, or even to help you in the process if you are struggling. [...] The Career Center really took me by surprise because there was so much about pursuing a career that I would have never even thought to ask about had it not been handed to me.”
There are several resources on campus that aim to benefit and help students, as seen through Kelli’s experience. From enhancing her writing skills to learning how to build a better resume, Kelli has seen the fruits of utilizing the resources on campus. Additional resources Kelli found useful are listed below.
“[...] Education Librarian Abby Moore’s presentation on research processes, Area 49 in the library, Disability Services, Parking and Transportation services, and the Botanical Gardens/McMillan greenhouse, all of which played significant roles in my time on campus and in classes!”
As we can gather from Kelli’s story, the path to achieving one’s goals is not linear. It may come with ups and downs, but as proven through Kelli’s experience, nothing is perfect, and trying your best pays off. Her experiences highlight the importance of persevering through challenges, stepping outside of your comfort zone to grow, and leading with authenticity.
We can all benefit from taking a piece of advice from this astonishing artist. Kelli has managed to produce riveting work while remaining her authentic self and continues to positively impact her community. The power of resilience, inspiration, and networking is amplified through Kelli’s story and does not go unnoticed.
We are excited about her future and wish her the very best in all her endeavors. With her teaching position, Kelli is already making her mark as a mentor and role model, inspiring the next generation of artists to explore their creativity and persevere through their challenges. She is a beacon of hope and inspiration to both college students and those around her, reminding us that the hard things are possible if we only take a leap of faith. Whether you are majoring in Fine Arts or Biology, Kelli shares concrete advice that we are sure will serve to help many