Kelsey DeLange
Meet Kelsey DeLange, the artist and designer behind Best Wishes!
Tell us a little about yourself!
Hi there, I’m Kelsey and I’m the artist and designer behind Best Wishes - an art and lifestyle brand that is all about making life feel a little more magical.
My art and collection of intentionally designed products are inspired by nature, the cosmos, and just being a human. I enjoy creating things that are vibrant and uplifting and inspire you to access your inner strength and craft a life that feels like magic. I came to art at a difficult time in my own life, and it’s always been such a beautiful tool for finding happiness and connection, which I why I’ve focused so much on creating art that provides comfort, encouragement, and joy into the lives of others. I like to think of my work as a visual invitation to get fully present, reconnect with yourself, and feel empowered.
I blend vivid, soul-stirring colors with whimsical hand-drawn illustrations and hand-lettered messages and mantras to create art and small-batch products that serve as a daily reminder to persevere and embrace life with an open heart. I hope that whether you’re taking a mindful moment in the morning with your favorite Best Wishes mug, reflecting on what you’re grateful for in one of our journals, or smiling as you walk past your favorite uplifting art print: she hopes her work can encourage you to immerse yourself in the present moment and kindle inspiration on your path to manifesting your dreams.
What drew you to your craft?
I’ve loved to doodle and craft ever since I was a little kid. Whenever I’d go shopping with my grandmother I would always pick out the arts and crafts kits at the toy store and be enthralled with making them for hours and hours. When I was in high school I discovered my love of painting, and my entire art career actually came to fruition from just naturally sharing the art I was creating online. My love of digital illustration and product design blossomed from that - I just wanted to make so many different things and put my art on everything and digital art really lends itself best to those projects. It’s truly so fun to dabble into so many different mediums and applications and I think it’s a good representation of my personality - I just love everything and want to try it all, so this keeps things exciting and fun.
Describe your studio space. Where do you like to create?
I work from my home studio in Grand Rapids, MI. It’s a quaint little space filled with all of my favorite things; there are books and plants and crystals everywhere and a big desk for me to spend my days drawing away at. I actually have my sun catcher stickers all over the windows so when the afternoon lights shine through it truly feels like magic with the rainbows bouncing all over the walls.
What is your favorite thing you have ever made?
My painting “Metamorphosis” is deeply special to me. I created it at a time when I was going through so much change, and it often felt hard and scary - so much of what I knew was dissolving away to make space for what I now know is a really beautiful life. I kept seeing butterflies everywhere and I just felt drawn to the concept of metamorphosis - how the caterpillar curls up into a dark cacoon with no idea of what’s to come, and after completely melting down everything it has been and known before it emerges a beautiful vibrant butterfly. I jokingly refer to this painting as a self-portrait of sorts, but it feels like such a testament to this point in my life, and it’s also just a beautiful image that I’m really proud of.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Oh gosh, I wanted to be a million different things. I was never one of those kids who had one dream job and stuck to it. There were times I wanted to be a dance teacher, a lawyer, a psychiatrist, an interior designer, and the list just keeps going. Oddly enough, I never even considered that I could be an artist! It was actually my high school art teacher who honestly kind of convinced me that this was a path I should consider and I’m so glad for her encouragement and guidance because it’s been such an incredible life to experience.
How would you describe your creative process?
Most of my work comes from something that I’m learning or currently growing through - the mantras that I repeat throughout the day. So really it starts there, with whatever the root theme of the work is and then I dream up the imagery I want to go along with it and either paint it with watercolor or gouache, or will illustrate it digitally depending on what the final application will be. I really love setting the tone in my creative space and will light candles, play music that inspires me or listen to podcasts or audiobooks, and always, always have a big cup of tea when I’m creating.
What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago?
Really just to believe in myself. Ten years ago I had no idea where I was headed or what life had in store for me. I came from a very challenging background and there were no strong positive influences in my life. I had just started sharing my work online for fun and was getting a really big response from it, but I didn’t have a framework to build on, I didn’t know the next steps, I didn’t know how to run a business and there was no one there to help me figure it out. There were some seasons of deep self-doubt along the way but I think that I needed that to learn to stand confidently in myself and my vision and know that I deserved (and was capable of achieving) the things that I was dreaming of.
Why do you love doing what you do?
I get so much joy from creating work that resonates with others on an emotional level - hearing stories about how my art has touched someone, or been exactly what they needed at a certain point in their life, or how they’ve gifted it to a friend who was going through something and it really made their day; that is everything to me. There’s no feeling more gratifying than playing even a small part in improving the life of someone else. To get to do that through my art is an immeasurable joy that I am deeply grateful for every single day.
Why is it important to support local artists and makers?
Simply put - artists make our world more beautiful, and if we fail to support them we lose out on all of that beauty and the connection that art fosters. The reality is that it is difficult to make it as an artist or maker - it’s not always the most reliable or stable income and there are seasons of highs and lows. Art creates a universal language of connection and exploration that we as humans need - community is founded on that connection. I know we all love the convenience of next-day delivery and finding the greatest deal, but I think that shopping small and supporting artists and makers is so much more fulfilling than that. You get the deep satisfaction of knowing that your hard-earned dollars went to another hard-working human who is doing their best to support their family and follow their dreams. Instead of further lining the pockets of a billionaire, you are helping a parent feed their family or pay for hockey lessons and that is such a beautiful feeling.
You can find Kelsey’s mushroom mugs, stickers, notebooks and more in the shop!
Find more of Kelsey’s work on her website, Instagram, and Facebook page!