Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendra Burchett.
Hi Kendra, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
Expressing my individuality was paramount to me, even in my youth. One of my first memories as a child was coloring. It wasn’t enough to color the image on the page. I would design and color the empty background as well. By the time I was in high school, I was wearing my painted clothing and shoes. By my senior year, I was painting and designing almost anything you can think of for the members of my student body. In my early 20s, I body-painted myself on a random day. I took a photo and posted it online That photo opened more doors than I could ever imagine. Suddenly, people were asking me to body-paint them. I emerged as a live body painter, from photo shoots to fashion shows. That was 15 years ago, and since then, I have painted hundreds of bodies ranging from just 2 years old to 50!
I began to make a name for myself here in Memphis, but most people knew me as a body painter. I have never been a fan of boxes, and I wasn’t going to start now. Within the past 5 years, I have branched out to painting indoor/outdoor murals, creating original canvas art, and participating in festivals to showcase my creations. I have been featured in a few publications, and just last year, I was nominated and won Visual Artist of the Year. In 2023, I launched my business, KB The Visionary. It has been an adventure ever since. I was asked to tell “my” story, but the truth is, most have the same story. I am in my mid-30s, so when I was just a child coloring, I never thought, “I could make a living doing this.” That’s not what I saw “grown-ups” doing for “work.” I am proud to be now one of those artists I wish I knew and saw as a child. No matter how big my business becomes, I always want to be able to reach aspiring artists. In my youth, I learned the term “starving artist.” Part of my purpose is to shed light on my “table” so that the next generation can witness what a “thriving artist” looks like.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
If it came easy, everyone would do it. I still work a full-time job and run my own business. My job funds my business and will until my business can stand alone. Business can be profitable one month and not as profitable the next. That’s just the financial aspect. Being an artist and creating is second nature. Being a business owner is new to me. Learning the business side of something you’ve been doing your whole life can feel like learning a second language, but people learn new languages daily.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What sets me apart from any other artist is my signature linework designs. No matter what my design is on, it will catch your eye. It will make you stop and wonder, “How did she do that?” Especially when you see that I do all my designs freehand and freestyle. I never re-create the same design. I give each customer a piece that no one else has or an experience you couldn’t have with anyone else. Not even the customer before them. I specialize in 1 of 1: no matter the canvas, apparel, shoe, fedora, furniture, mural, live body paint model, or I once painted a 16-inch fashion doll for a private collector.
What sets me apart is my designs were something special long before I started making money creating them. I am most proud that I am living this experience. I still sometimes see myself as a child with my coloring book, and then I realize I am living a dream I never had. I know that girl, and I want to tell her she will one day body paint Miss Black USA in her 1-bedroom apartment. I used to call myself a traveling artist. I am. However, more people have traveled to me instead of me to them. From around the world, they come to get body painted by me. I provide something people will travel to pay me for. That makes me feel like I have arrived and made my mark in this industry. I did it all while still being exactly who I am. Nothing makes me more proud.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking.
I am not a risk-taker by nature. I like stability and security. Sometimes, I wish to throw caution in the wind and go for it. I admire any person who takes risks. Sometimes, risk sounds and looks a lot like faith.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kbthevisionary.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kb_the_visionary?igsh=dnl1M2pldzB4a3Qy
Image Credits
Caitlin McGill (Blue Jeans), Shakerian Taylor (Body Painted family) Taken by Josiah Roberto, Megan Eileen (Black paint live model) Taken by Frank Chin
