Kelsie Dayna

Community

Selfmade Creative Artists

THOSE WHO CREATE SOMETHING

SELFMADE Artist

Kelsie Dayna

Kaimuki, Honolulu, Hawai'i

My name is Kelsie Dayna and I am a Honolulu-based illustrator and artist. I was born and raised on Oahu and my work is heavily inspired by my local upbringing. I seek to bring fun and smiles into the humdrum of everyday life through the use of bright, playful colors. Although I am not traditionally trained, art has always been and continues to be a driving force and source of expression for me. I hope that my art and journey inspires others to pursue their calling in life.

kelsiedayna.com

What does a Selfmade Artist do?

Use color and images to relay a message or story.

CREATIVE • THINKERS • RISK TAKERS

Top 3 — Why do you love being a Selfmade Artist?

Fulfill personal purpose. Inspire other creatives to pursue their calling. Bring fun and imagination into the humdrum of life!

Bring fun and imagination into the humdrum of life!

What motivates / inspires you?

Our beautiful island home and the people that live here, using art to encourage people to think outside the box, and using art to help elicit a feeling or emotion.

What are you most proud of?

Both my parents worked in the same corporate job for most of their lives. So entrepreneurship didn’t run in my family and I think a lot times I put this pressure on myself to follow in their footsteps. So taking the risk to freelance and become a small business owner was not easy nor was it something I ever saw for myself. But the fact that I can now provide for my family from this career (and replace my previous corporate salary) has been a huge personal win and validation that I am doing something right.

What was your first dream job?

Fashion Designer

What other path would you have taken if not this one?

I graduated with a business degree and actually worked in business marketing for a while. It was my "safe, risk-free" job that had some element of creativity. But if I had the courage to pursue something else, it would have been fun to explore fashion design, interior design, or even photography.