Meet Kanna Mae | Artist

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

Hi Kanna, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
I would like people to remember me by my creations. I believe the best way I have been able to express who I am at the core is with the art I create and am drawn to. When I first began creating, I was unaware that my art had any type of meaning towards who I am as a person however as I began sharing my art with others, my viewers would try to make sense of what my art could mean. From this I was shocked at how accurately people were able to describe what I have felt and experienced with little understanding of who I am personally. I realized that there are themes that remain constant and subconsciously my inner voice will always be expressing my thoughts and emotions. There is much importance on focusing on the things that people are simply guided towards that really make up their soul. I would like to be remembered by who I truly am and my creative mind, which I believe is best captured through my art.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Being able to create a career for myself as a fine art painter has been an amazing experience.  I am able to say that I truly enjoy the work I do which is such a blessing.  I believe that I do have artistic talents that make creating art more natural for me however starting a business does have its challenges.  As a creative, shifting from just a hobby to a business there is constant pressure to create which has been difficult for me since I feel I have to have a strong connection to the art I produce.  Struggling with this has taught me that I must be patient with my own creative rhythm, learn to respect the process and have a great deal of confidence.  With every piece I paint, I learn more about myself and how I can improve and evolve with my work.  I have learned to be satisfied with all the efforts I have made thus far and because of this I know I will always be creating art that I am proud to say is an authentic and raw display of myself.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If you’re visiting San Diego you definitely must check out the beaches. La Jolla Cove is a tourist favorite because of the adorable seals and sea lions. I love going there to snorkel and walk down to the Sunny Jim Cave. Wind n’ Sea is my favorite beach to hangout on and swim. Torrey Pines and Ho Chi Minh are the best places to hike because they have the best views in San Diego in my opinion. For food, the options are limitless. Usually the food hubs are Downtown, Northpark, Hillcrest and Convoy. I really love these places because they are walkable and fun as well. Some places in Downtown to visit are Gaslamp, Little Italy and Seaport Village. Lastly, I’d take them to walk around Old Town for the history of San Diego and Balboa Park to see the beautiful gardens and museums. They are also just great places to wander around.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate my success to my boyfriend Hongjoon Kim and all the people in my life that have constantly shown me love throughout my life and career. Diving into a career that does not have guaranteed results requires a certain degree of confidence that I would not have been able to muster up without the support of my wonderful friends. I have had to abandon lifestyles and conditioning that I have known all my life. I was raised in a very restricting household which made it difficult to express myself in any way. Art and expression was not encouraged and was definitely not viewed as a possible career choice. Becoming a full time artist was difficult because I have had to put lots of faith into my career and I am so appreciative of all the people that have recognized my efforts and talents and encouraged me along the way.

Website: https://www.naart.shop/

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