Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Diley.
Hi Katie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As an Art major who fell into the business world out of college, it took time to get back to my passion. In other words, life got in the way!
As I was climbing the corporate ladder, I lost sight of what made me tick, until a bomb went off inside me. It wasn’t until recently, I realized I wasn’t missing a piece of myself… I was simply ignoring it. The search for a studio began, and I landed in the Edge District of Memphis, TN in early 2016.
This is where my journey begins. The Edge is a collection of work inspired by life events and experiences. Each piece represents a life lesson.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The support I have received from Day 1 has been overwhelming. Sure, there have been bumps along the way, but they were self-inflicted. I have had to push myself past self-doubt and creative blocks, and change the narrative of the story in my head several times!
I think it’s natural to be your own worst critic, but that’s where the power of surrounding yourself with your supporters really comes into play. I have had people that believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. It’s those people and their kind, encouraging, uplifting words that I remind myself of when I am in a funk.
This has been a journey we are on TOGETHER, and that is why I keep going and push myself past the obstacles. I won’t let myself down, and I CAN’T let the people who believe in me down.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
CONNECT WITH A PIECE, CONNECT WITH ME. MY MISSION IS TO SHARE MY STORY.
Art is an outlet. A vessel for the soul. A way to share yourself with people when you cannot be there physically. When someone connects with my artwork, they connect with me. You can read a book, or watch a movie, but you experience art. Unlike any other medium, it continues to surprise you. It is the only art form that continues to give, long after the purchase. It continues to reveal itself, and in turn, the artist. When a piece speaks to you, listen. It may start with a whisper, but it will be relentless if ignored.
I think the one thing that is most unique about my work is the personal connection that my art creates. Each piece comes with a handwritten card describing the inspiration, what I was feeling/thinking while creating the piece, or the journey I am embarking on through the creation of the piece. I have seen people cry when they read the cards because it speaks to them in a way they never expected, and the visual representation of that inspiration (the piece) becomes even more beautiful to them.
What were you like growing up?
I was a HUGE tomboy! My grandma was an oil painter, and I was always fascinated by her talent but I never took it up until I was in high school. I was too busy playing with the boys in the woods, riding four-wheelers, and playing competitive sports year-round to pay attention to a passion that was waiting under the surface.
Contact Info:
- Email: katie@theedgeartist.com
- Website: www.theedgeartist.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theedgeartist/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEdgeArtist
Image Credits
Spencer Johnson
Karen Hartman
March 8, 2022 at 6:02 pm
Your work is very handsome. I too am an art major that became involved in the business world, but have dreams of painting again. Your Uncle Glenn sent this to me. Glenn and I will be married in August. Congratulations on your success. Karen Hartman.
Glenn Diley or Uncle Butch
March 9, 2022 at 4:03 am
Nice job my friend Karen Hartman liked your work. She said she tried to leave you a message and it didn’t go through.