We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kandyce Jackson. Check out our conversation below.
Kandyce, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
I think people sometimes assume KandyAppleTree is just about making pretty art to hang on the wall, when in reality it’s so much bigger than that. My work is about memory, culture, and storytelling. It’s rooted in my own experiences but created to spark connection in others. Every canvas, print, or workshop is a way of saying, “You’re not alone. Your story matters, too.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kandyce Jackson, and I’m the artist and founder behind KandyAppleTree. I like to say my work is steeped in memory, meaning, and everyday magic because that’s really the heart of what I do. I create across mediums, from large-scale acrylic canvases and impasto textures to digital illustrations and prints, all connected by a focus on storytelling and the quiet beauty found in ordinary moments.
KandyAppleTree started as my personal way of honoring the memories and places that shaped me, but it’s grown into something much bigger – a space for connection. Through my art, my print club, and the community workshops I host, I get to invite people not only to collect art but also to experience the joy of creating it themselves. That combination of fine art and accessible, community-driven creativity is what makes the brand unique.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a kid completely immersed in creativity. I grew up surrounded by family members who made things with their hands, so I was always drawing, building, or dreaming up something new. I didn’t see boundaries between art forms, I just followed what felt natural.
At my core, I’ve always been curious, expressive, and unafraid to explore. That’s still who I am today, even though the world has tried at times to box me in or make me choose just one path. In many ways, KandyAppleTree is me returning to that original version of myself – the one who believed creativity could be limitless.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that’s held me back the most has been the idea of not being enough to step fully into my art. For a long time, that fear made me hesitate or keep my work to myself instead of sharing it with the world. It’s something so many creatives struggle with.
What I’ve learned, though, is that fear never fully goes away, but it doesn’t have to be in control. Every time I push through and put my work out there, I’m reminded that people connect with honesty and vulnerability far more than perfection. That shift has been freeing for me. Instead of letting fear silence me, I use it as a reminder that I’m doing something meaningful enough to scare me a little, and that usually means I’m on the right path.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the art world tells itself is that you have to fit neatly into a category to be taken seriously. There’s this pressure to define yourself as only a painter, or only a digital artist, or only a certain style. When in reality, creativity isn’t meant to be boxed in. For me, moving between mediums is part of the joy. I can create a textured impasto canvas one day, a digital posterized portrait the next, and they all carry my voice. That doesn’t dilute the work; it expands it.
Another lie is that success in art is measured only by traditional galleries and big collectors. While those things matter to some, there are so many other ways artists can build meaningful, sustainable careers. For me, that’s been connecting directly with people, teaching workshops, and creating art that finds a place in everyday life. The industry sometimes overlooks how powerful that is. Art doesn’t have to be exclusive to have value. It can be both personal and accessible.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m in the middle of creating, when I’ve lost track of time and I’m fully present with the work in front of me. There’s something about the rhythm of painting, layering colors, or even sketching digitally that quiets everything else going on in my head. It’s like the world softens for a while and I can just be.
I also find peace in small, simple moments that mirror what I try to capture in my art, sitting outside on a warm evening, noticing the way the sky shifts colors, or being surrounded by family and laughter. Those are the moments that remind me why I make art in the first place: to hold onto that sense of stillness and joy, and to share it with others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://KandyAppleTree.com
- Instagram: @kandyappletree
- Facebook: @kandyappletree
- Youtube: @kandyappletree
