We have so many stellar Options alumni, and in our new series, we wanted to shine a light on a few of our past clients who have gone on to do great things both near and far. This month, we chatted with Kelcy about what she’s been up to since she graduated and her advice for current post-secondary students.
What’s your name?
Kelcy Timmons Chan (she/they)
Where and what did you study?
Graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts as a Visual Studies Specialist from the Daniels Faculty of Landscape Architecture & Design at the University of Toronto.
How did you choose this institution and program?
At the time, I decided it would be best to pursue a general degree of Bachelor of Arts instead of going into a specialized area because I wasn’t certain about what craft I wanted to commit to. The University of Toronto’s Visual Studies program was small yet allowed me to explore many different mediums and get a taste of each. There, I discovered an interest in painting, illustration, and mixed media.
What would you tell current post-secondary students about finding a path?
I would say respect the person that you are right now. Although you are young and it is very daunting trying to make this decision, this choice doesn’t need to be your set career path. By respecting what you love and want right now, you can explore and develop your understanding of it better. Whether it becomes your love and your career, or just another step stone, is perfectly okay. Making a career change or exploring other interests down the line is possible and not as hard as it may seem. If you don’t know what you want to do, go for a general degree that will give you lots of opportunities to explore.
I would also recommend living in a different city from which you grew up in. Although it is a big jump and was scary and lonely at times, it helped me discover who I am and what I want for my future.
Would your high school self be surprised with where you ended up?
Since I was a child, I have wanted to be an artist. I have always been a very driven person and although I have considered many different areas of the arts – fashion design, writing, graphic design, illustration, painting, etc – I have always been clear on wanting to be involved in something creative. If you would have told high school me that I would be a practicing mural painter in 2023, with several solo exhibitions under my belt, I would have laughed, because in high school I hated painting and felt very underdeveloped as an artist.
What are you doing now?
I am a contemporary pop artist working as a painter, illustrator, muralist, and designer based in Toronto, Canada. I am painting my eighth mural in late February for a design agency and will be showing my work at The Drake Hotel for my fourth solo exhibition in March. I sell some of my designs on Red Bubble and create custom commission pieces as well.
What at Options Solutions helped you the most?
Options Solutions had specialized knowledge and helped me consider different schools I hadn’t heard of before. Melinda listened to what I wanted and presented various options to me and she helped me evaluate them with MY top priorities in mind. The advice and guidance from Melinda was invaluable, and I still wish I had joined more clubs like she recommended. Many people I met in residence and in various clubs are still close friends of mine.
A fun fact about you?
Growing up I was called an ‘egg’ because I am a mixed-race Cantonese American person. As I have begun to self-actualize, I now embrace my intersectionality and reclaim the label by painting eggs. Through this work, I share my perspective as a mixed person and by doing so connect with other people with intersectionality who hold similar experiences.
Where can our readers find you?
Instagram: @MiXT.PAiNTS
Portfolio/Website: kelcytimmonschan.com
To Buy Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/mixtpaints/shop
For all custom commissions and sales inquiries, please directly email the artist: kelcy.timmonschan@gmail.com
