Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Shea.
kristen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always been into art, drawing and doodling on everything since childhood. Going to school for graphic design + art allowed me to hone those skills for digital use. Fast forward years later to me sitting amongst a group of my mental health peers during a group session in our intensive outpatient therapy program. Our project for this group was to create a playlist with the theme being our choice. As a 90’s girl, immediately I’m inspired by 90’s alt rock/grunge girl bands. I wrote out my playlist and drew my cassette tape drawing above (because I have to draw something, right?!), and it made the whole group smile. After that assignment, something started igniting in me and I went home that night and drew image after image all inspired by my group therapy assignments, interactions with my group peers, and my journey through my mental health struggle.
Being incredibly critical of my work my entire life, when I looked down at these drawings and a positive feeling resonated throughout my body, I knew that I really wanted to do something with this. One of the main things that struck me most when speaking with other people in the various groups and therapy programs I had been a part of during that time was the lack of support and understanding of mental health from my peers’ family and friends. The mental health community still struggles to be taken seriously universally. The stigma is real. And so, Psyko Post was born.
My aim with these postcards is to encourage self-love and genuine human connection by bringing humor to the therapeutic process with the hope of making mental health issues more approachable for those that have been hesitant to seek support, and to help bring awareness to the mental health community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Psyko Post is still in the very early stages, and thankfully is has been a pretty smooth road so far. These are, however, a pretty niche subject currently. So my biggest issue thus far is simply getting my work out there for the right people to see.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
All of my drawings are done by hand using ink gel pens on paper. I have always been a typography nerd, so I really enjoy doing various styles of lettering on each postcard. Each postcard have their own personalized back with more drawings and doodles that correspond with the main front image and message.
I think we often forget how even the little things we do for people can make a huge difference in their life. Imagine being really down about work, your relationship, or a family issue and you receive a postcard in the mail from a friend reminding you that they are there for you during this time or any other. You’ll smile right? You’ll immediately feel a genuine connection to this person, and sometimes that is all you need to get through another day. I think that’s what sets my postcards apart from others.
Whether we want to admit it or not, we all deal with anxiety, depression, or other mental disorders at some point in our lives. Wouldn’t it be better if we all felt comfortable accepting help and support and knowing that there are others out there to show your support to? Breaking down the stigma on mental health will allow us all to better connect to each other, but most of all ourselves.
What matters most to you?
As I have gotten older, I have tried to simplify my life. Focus more on my needs rather than my wants. I’ve learned that what I need are the things in life that make me happy. Food (give it all to me), air (I would live in a treehouse – don’t tempt me), an endless gel ink pen supply (because I will never stop drawing or journaling), the people in my life that I hold dearest (y’all know who you are), good music (and playlists), and my small, black pug Murphy of course! Without all of that, I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am today. I wouldn’t have all of the moments and the memories that make up my soul.
Pricing:
- $7 per postcard
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.psykopost.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psykopost/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psykopost
- Twitter: https://x.com/psykopost
