“My art is really simple,” says Sarah Kuehnle. “I like to show people how simple it is, because I want them to feel like they can do it, too.” While her complex mandalas and detailed compositions might look anything but basic, Kuehnle is committed to sharing her creative process, demystifying digital tools, breaking down her steps into engaging how-tos, and encouraging others to experiment with their own modes of self-expression. “There are lots of different definitions of what’s ‘good,’ and what’s ‘art.’ It’s totally up to you.”

From her homebase in Mystic, Connecticut, Kuehnle regularly hosts livestreams on Behance; it’s in this digital space — reinterpreting classic album covers and spinning up all kinds of fan art for a growing audience — that she feels happiest. “By day, I'm a product designer,” she says of her full-time gig at Webflow, a code-free site-development platform. “But basically every waking second outside of that, I consider myself an illustrator and character designer. I use my spare time to chase my passion.”

We spoke with Kuehnle about building community through creativity, going live, and how eyes can make a character come to life. 

Sharing work with others can be tough. How did you get comfortable being so open with your creative process?

I've been working in tech for 20 years now, and between design, engineering, business, and product management, I’ve had a lot of identity crises. I’ve burned myself out a bunch of times. 

About five years ago, I was feeling really frustrated — in a professional rut, out of touch with design — so I gave myself a project. I was going to draw a picture in my sketchbook, take a photo, and post it to Instagram every single day for a year. Fifteen minutes daily, whatever came out is what came out. At first, my mom was liking everything. Then some co-workers found out, then some other friends. Over time, I was actually gaining followers, which gave me the validation I needed to keep sharing. It was enough to open the doors back into that world of making things and remember how happy it makes me.

Made with Illustrator on the iPad.

By the end of the year I had made 365 pencil drawings, and — this is how much I love vector art — I went back to the beginning and brought them each into Adobe Illustrator to edit and add color. When I revisited them, some were great, and some I had no idea what I was thinking, but they all kept me accountable.

What has it been like to add regular Behance livestreams into the mix? 

I’ve always learned so much watching people make art. If I can see how someone uses the tools they love, it’s a really personal way to connect. I’m very much an introvert, but I’ve also found it’s an incredible release to have the opportunity to spend my time making and sharing things. It helps me to constantly learn and evolve. 

How do you approach creating a character from scratch?

I’ve always been drawn to faces. Most of the time, I don’t know what kind of character I’m going to make when I set out — I let the eye, or eyes, lead the way. And when I make an eye, I often start with four circles. Simple. I love the personality that they can give to anything, and the emotions they can evoke. They show what’s possible using geometric shapes. I love that I can create something wacky or weird or otherworldly that has no place in the real world. It might not even serve a purpose, other than to be something interesting to look at.

Made with Illustrator on the iPad.

You’ve been really active making things with Adobe Illustrator on the iPad. What has the transition from desktop to tablet been like?

Illustrator has always been my safe place, but the iPad and Apple Pencil were transformative for me. I create art probably 100 percent more often now than I did before, because I can take it with me anywhere (like the sofa). Adobe Fresco is like my sketchbook, and Illustrator on the iPad is my dream app. 

My work is really symmetrical, and the Mirror Repeat tool is a game changer. I also do a lot of mandalas. On desktop, it’s a manual process — copying elements and rotating, rotating, rotating — but on the app I can just select a group and use the Radial Repeat feature. It makes everything so much faster. The app is for everyone. I love showing people that it isn’t hard — making art is something anyone can do.

Check out more from Sarah Kuehnle on Behance, Instagram.

See more inspiring articles about Illustrator on the iPad.

Header image made with Adobe Illustrator on the iPad.