Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitney Hawkins.
Hi Whitney, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m Whitney, the face behind What’s the Kitsch! I live in upstate NY with my husband Michael and fur bb, Chevy. I’ve always had an eye for design, branding, and high-fashion so when the office I was working in at the time was looking for help to create a new brand identity system, including a new logo, I saw it as a good chance to explore my interests so I volunteered to take a crack at it. While I don’t have a degree in graphic design or illustration, thanks to some help from Google, I dove in head first into Photoshop. I had so much fun getting familiar with the software and learning what it can do and how it can take what I have in mind and turn it into reality, I started to mess around with photos I had around my house.
The first original print I made was of my dog Chevy wearing the Biggie Smalls Crown in the Warhol squares based on a graphic t-shirt I saw at the store Hailey Grace in Denver. I then made a few more prints of my friend’s pets, which helped me start the WTK Instagram account. Friends and followers began to place orders for prints of their own with something special. After I started getting some sales traction, I had the incredible opportunity to make an original print for the hilarious female comedian Heather McMahan and that jump started my business.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When it comes to design software, I’m totally self-taught, so sometimes I will have an idea of what I want a print to look like but I don’t know how to execute it. This is when I have to get on the internet and learn how to do it which can be extremely frustrating for my creative brain and can take a long time.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I make custom pop art pet prints. They are bright, colorful, funny, kitschy, and made with extreme love. I am immensely proud of every print I make because the process teaches me something new each time while I work to encapsulate someone’s beloved pet in a unique way. I like to include small details in each print that sets the piece apart from other custom art. For instance, the print I did for Heather McMahan, her dog Rigatoni, is wearing a scarf that has lips from a print her mother (also an artist) had done. That kind of subtle personalized details is what helps to set WTK apart from other commissioned artists.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Never be afraid to ask questions and take criticism. I send my clients a proof before going to print in case they want something changed. I also have created strong client relationships because I am transparent and down-to-earth. I’d never want my clients to walk away with a WTK piece unsatisfied. You never know who is going to refer you or come back and order a print as a gift or both!
Contact Info:
- Email: whatsthekitsch@gmail.com
- Website: www.whatsthekitsch.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/whatsthekitsch
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/whatsthekitsch
Image Credits
Morgan Brooks
Campbell Photography
