Today we’d like to introduce you to KB Williams.
Hi KB, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As a kid, I never imagined that I’d one day be an artist; it was never even on my radar. I was an adopted farm kid who always felt deeply misunderstood by my friends and family, which eventually led to heavy depression.
As an adult, I knew I needed to find a healthy coping mechanism to help me navigate this journey. As I’d dabbled in the not-so-healthy options, like using alcohol to numb the sting of day-to-day life, I knew it was time for something different.
I’d always enjoyed art, but both of my siblings were far more talented than I was in that realm, and the perfectionist in me didn’t feel a need to be mediocre at “the art thing”. But in August of 2020, mid-pandemic, things had gotten dark enough that I didn’t know what else to do. So, I picked up a paintbrush. All my life I’d missed out on opportunities because my ego was too big to let myself fail at anything new, but this time was different. I decided to set aside my perfectionist tendencies and just stick with it. The frustration came and went in waves as I spent hour after hour practicing, but I kept pushing.
For a few months, I slowed down and claimed that I was “too busy” to spend much time in my home studio but eventually, I realized that the peace I’d finally felt was coming from the flow of creativity I was allowing myself to experience when I painted. So, I started again and decided that consistency was key, and haven’t stopped since. My apartment is bursting at the seams with paintings. My friends tease me about being a painting hermit because I paint non-stop, skipping events and late nights out, but they’ve been my biggest supporters.
Incredible things are discovered on the other side of perfectionism and excuses, and my only regret is that I didn’t stick with it sooner. I’ve been painting for a little over a year now, and seeing my work transform over time has been one of the most amazing things I’ve ever experienced. My art consists largely of abstract works, which felt the most familiar to me. Abstract art leaves the viewer freedom to interpret for themselves.
There’s no room in abstract work to be “misunderstood”, and I think that’s what brought me the most comfort. Growing into this journey has been absolutely unexpected, but it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for myself, and I can’t wait to see where this path leads.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Absolutely not; nothing in my life has been smooth, my art journey included, but it was all a blessing in disguise. I spent years silently battling chronic pain accompanied by a heavy depression and crippling anxiety without knowing what was actually going on. My parents thought I was just shy, but I was fighting every day to keep my thoughts from swallowing me up. I wasn’t diagnosed until my late teens, and suddenly everything made sense.
From that point, it was trial and error with medications and coping mechanisms, none of which seemed to do the job. I tried everything I could think of, including an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. I spent nights wondering if it’d ever get better, and eventually, it did, but it took years and years of persistence and a willingness to try new things; something I struggled with, as I didn’t love change. But finally, something clicked and painting became my safe space.
It was the only time I felt like I could breathe, and if I missed a day I felt a drastic shift in my demeanor. Painting became my peace; my lifeline. And while it took almost 25 years to get here, I couldn’t be more grateful for the journey. It’s given me a compassion for people that I might’ve otherwise missed out on, and a story to tell that proves it’s possible to dig out of what can so often feel like a pit of despair. If I can do it, anybody can.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m an abstract painter who loves to make a mess. I like to call it “controlled chaos.” Bright colors have always sparked joy for me, especially as a kid. I read a book once that said it’s important to reconnect with the things that lit you up as a child, and for me, that was easy to identify.
I remember always being drawn to the most colorful things in the room, and I decided to create pieces that resonated with that. My works are bright and loud and busy; art imitates life, right? I’m known for chaotic patterns and colors that somehow fit together, and while it wasn’t always easy for me to formulate pieces that “felt right” I’m most proud of my ability to push past the roadblocks of ego and perfectionism.
Finding your flow takes patience, and that’s what sets me apart. More often than not, I reach a point in my work when I begin to wonder if it will all come together. But what I’ve found is that if I push past that moment of doubt, I often create my best pieces. Consistency is key.
What makes you happy?
My happiness comes in small moments. Sunshine or hot tea, a coffee in the park, spending time laughing with friends, a family board game day. Even just sitting outside sometimes. For me, it’s the experience of truly being present.
But helping people remember their childlike joys can create magic in the mundane moments, and that’s what brings me the most happiness.
Contact Info:
- Email: kbklassix@gmail.com
- Instagram: @kbklassix
- Facebook: KB Klassix
