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What is success? It’s a question I regularly ask of artists (because I want to be a successful artist, too, and I’m hoping someone will teach me the secret successful artist handshake.) Mel Kadel not only explained how to achieve such success (”Accomplishments happen slowly; it’s the day to day,”) but what it’s like once you’re there: she wakes up, draws, and stays entertained (I’m closer than I thought!)
Who is Mel Kadel?
I’m a girl…who gets a lot of emails from people, thinking i’m a boy.
but that’s totally okay. I grew up in the suburbs of Pennsylvania, moved around to a few places,
and then winded up in LA. After an iffy adjustment to this city, i really came to love it out here and now
it’s been my home for 8 years. I have a weird old cabin with my boyfriend Travis Millard, and we pretty
much wake up, draw, and keep each other entertained.
Why do you create?
Every one starts out in the world drawing & creating as kids.
It’s an essential way of working and acting out our imaginations.
But, many people just stop doing those things as they grow up.
As you get a little older…i think it’s harder to relax and feel confident through
personal expression because we grow overly self-conscience. Or, people don’t see the purpose
in it as the “real world” starts to infiltrate our lives. I think that challenge is one reason why i kept drawing,
and also the challenge of continually starting with a blank piece of paper over and over again.
Surrounded by Angels
How did you transition from Mel Kadel to Mel Kadel, established artist?
There really isn’t a transition. Accomplishments happen slowly; it’s the day to day.
So, i’m just working every day, and trying to keep raising my own little bar.
Foot Bath
Julie My Love has a Leg Tie sticker on her laptop. I asked if she had any questions to ask of you. She replied, “Who’s the girl?”
That’s a girl who shows up in so many of my drawings. She hangs around as a sort-of constant in my work.
The sticker with the tied up legs, sums her up. The legs are tied around & globbed up like toothpaste, or noodles….
but she is still pushing forward and gliding ahead. It’s not meant to be exclusively from a women’s point of view, it’ meant
more as a state of mind and the quest to prevail.
Sewing Circle
You live with your partner and fellow artist Travis Millard. How is an intimate relationship between artists emotionally unique?
The work we do has individual emotional attachments and quests. And, you can feel it bounce off one another.
It’s been really cool to be with each other around the clock to bounce ideas and doubt off of one another. That undeniably finds it’s way into the inevitable emotions that come along with every relationship. But, we feel like it’s strengthening to go through it all together, even though there are always those bumps along the way.
My thanks to Mel for sharing her work. Please be sure to visit melkadel.com to see more of her art.
If you would like to share your creativity, or you’d like to suggest someone for Show Us Yours, please send an e-mail to share@yorkrules.com.
2 Comments
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There’s a new sticker in the family… She sent one to my PO Box yesterday. The girl’s feet are not swirled together, but they’ve got another surprise… Highlight of my week!
Love this post - Mel you gave great answers and I am a huge fan.
York My Love - thank you again, for introducing all of us in your ever-expanding audience to new art and all that jazz.