Today we’d like to introduce you to Kait Comunale
Hi Kait, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I remember my love for creating beginning as a child, laying in the grass, excitedly showing my mom and brothers my newest horse cloud galloping through the sky. My mom was (and is) my world. She showed us that magic exists in simplest of moments. My fondest memories are just those – constructing elaborate moats around crumbling sandcastles (we grew up in a small Florida beach town), climbing trees, watching bees buzz around our garden, flying on my moms feet, singing to the moon.
Those moments feel close even to this day, as though unaware of the passing of time.
In college, I became interested in the intersection of art and design. After receiving a BFA with a focus in Graphic Design, I immersed myself into full-time roles of fast-paced design and marketing until 2019. Halfway through that year, I felt an internal shift and worked up the courage to take a leap of faith. I said goodbye to my job and embarked on a solo trip with the sole intention of slowing down, of reconnecting to a version of myself I had lost along the way.
What started off as a quiet roadtrip from San Diego to Vancouver grew into a flight to Paris to meet a dear friend and life took over from there, as it does best. I felt something I hadn’t felt in years, fully immersed and alive in each moment. In the midst of the laughter, countless tears, heart warming exchanges, discomfort and awe at all of it, I relearned how to quiet my mind. I began to see magic in the quietest of moments. That experience catalyzed everything my mom had taught us, I felt a renewed sense of understanding how I wanted to exist in the world, how I wanted to connect to those around me.
Today, I work as a freelance Creative Lead and Graphic Designer for clientele that I admire + slow down through the process of painting and drawing + soften into body and mind through yoga.
As a designer, I create to breathe life into my client’s ideas and dreams. As an artist, I create to immortalize the ephemeral moments of magic woven in to the grander landscape of our lives. In teaching yoga, I show up to hopefully offer a student a gift of presence, a moment of quiet, that has been gifted to me by many teachers. In all expressions, my work lives to capture the essence of the simple moments in our lives and inspire a pause – a moment for thoughtful reflection, a celebration of everything we are and our wild experience of being human.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been anything but smooth, but I believe that the imperfections are what makes anything beautiful. Working for myself was a learning curve – lots of trial and error and unexpected detours that, while frustrating at first, have led to places I now cherish.
One of my favorite career detours was in 2014. I was 23 years old, a year out of college and the design agency I worked for lost their biggest client (and cut all of the newest hires). I was shocked but also felt a hint of excitement. A new door in my mind had opened – I wanted to do what I was doing but for myself, my own clients. I didn’t yet know where to start and decided to work with my closest friend at a local wine bar while I figured it out. Some of the patrons of the wine bar ran a large architecture practice and upon learning I was looking for clients, brought me on board. They guided me through the process of writing a legally binding contract, encouraged me to increase my hourly rate – they essentially gifted me the tools I needed at that time to believe in myself.
That gift is one that stays in my heart always. If ever I see an opportunity to help someone on their journey, I take it whole heartedly.
Learning to love the detours just as much as the open roads has been an essential part of my journey. Most of my artwork has been born from the moments that felt most transformative – moments of shedding and rebuilding. I love to capture the beauty of the light and the dark as they exist in unison.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I truly love all of the spaces I’m working in, and while they intersect in many ways, my roles and specialities differ in each.
As a Creative Lead and Graphic Designer, my calling card is thoughtful and content-driven design solutions. I love diving into the ideas and goals of a CEO, marketing team, small business or new entrepreneur and creating a visual solution that brings their dreams to life. I specialize in creative and art direction, branding, illustration, storytelling, print and editorial design, web design, event design and occasionally art direction for photoshoots.
One of my most dear clients is a local nonprofit, FundaMental Health, that helps underserved populations access quality mental health care. I work closely with our COO, CEO and collaborate internally to craft an ever-evolving visual system that authentically communicates our mission as we grow and connect to our community. Being able to witness the dedication of our team and the impact they’re able to make on so many lives in our local community has been a highlight of my work life.
As an artist, my work captures moments that embody the essence of being human. I’m inspired by the balance of light and dark, finding beauty in the simplest of moments and immortalizing those moments to remember the magic. My specialties are hand-drawn fine line illustration and painting, with new experimental processes in the works.
My art practice started out as a creative outlet that I kept separate from any goal-oriented thought process. This past year, I felt a subtle push to sell my work and took a leap – what started as a journey with no expectations has transformed into a heart-warming side business. I sell my work at art markets and Asteya Collective (a yoga studio in Encinitas), just finished a month-long art show at Culture Brewing and was accepted into a gallery exhibition in London. While the thought of sharing my personal work felt uncomfortable at first, connecting to others through the medium of art has become a cherished part of the process. I’m honored that my work can bring joy to someone’s home.
My work, as a designer and as an artist, is a dance. I think that’s what sets me apart, I believe in the beauty of the process. Communication and collaboration are necessary components to make it beautiful, to make it feel effortless. I love to truly listen, to be present with a thought process and be a part of the evolution to something that creates a positive experience for others.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
I like to oftentimes look at the act of creating as a reflection of the act of living – follow the ideas and moments that ignite your soul, know when to extend effort and when to surrender to the process, and stay open to learning along the way.
When I reflect on the lessons learned, the ones that stand out the most are actually the simplest. Remember to slow down, especially in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, to connect inward and be present with yourself in the moment. Stay open and take a leap, a risk, when it feels right – oftentimes the most unexpected paths are the most rewarding. And my favorite lesson: celebrate everything that you are, always – the imperfections, the things you love about yourself, the things you’re still learning to love about yourself, the light and the dark, it all makes you uniquely you. And in turn, do your best to celebrate and positively impact those around you. We each have a gift to share with the world, sometimes we just have to slow down for a minute and remember that ♥
Pricing:
- Design: To connect on a project or idea, please reach out via email! (kaitcomunale@gmail.com) I work on an hourly and/or project basis.
- Art prints: $22-$108 online.
- Original art: I’m currently selling original art in person, please reach out via email for details and pricing.
- Commission pieces: I love to co-create! Email for custom pricing 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kaitcomunale.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kait___comunale/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitcomunale/
- Other: Email: kaitcomunale@gmail.com
