My name is Kayla and I have been drawing since I was three years old. I went to the High School of Art and Design where I originally majored in cartooning but was inspired by the work of the illustration students and then transferred to illustration. I learned so much from my illustration professors about art history and working in different mediums like oil paint, which really inspired me and made me realize that I could push myself and my skills to reach new heights. I now attend the Fashion Institute of Technology and major in Illustration.
I hope to be an author and illustrator one day, though I’m not sure what type of illustrator just yet. An artist that has left an influence on me would be Salvatore Catalano. I attended his class for the first two semesters at FIT and he made me really enjoy chalk pastels (which I never thought I would like).
He was very encouraging and every class he would pin inspiration photos on the wall from classical artists who worked in the same chalk pastel medium, and he would speak as if we were really capable of being just as amazing as the masters.
High School of Art and Design
Fashion Institute of Technology
Spielberger-Spanierman Scholarship-2021
African-American/Jamaican
