Conversations with Julie Kitsulie

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Kitsulie.

Hi Julie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
As a kid, I was always creating, drawing, putting on performances and finding new ways to entertain folks. I’ve always been drawn to bringing ideas to life. My passion for storytelling never left-it has evolved into different creative outlets over the years.

I went to college for Media Arts & Animation- As an animation enthusiast, I loved the medium and the variety of creativity that went into it- Illustration, acting, movement, storytelling. Since graduation, I’ve worked in many creative industries, including podcast production, graphic design, animation, voice acting, event entertainment, and creative direction. For a long time, I thought I had to choose just one path, but eventually I realized they were all connected by the same goal: creating memorable experiences and helping stories come to life! I always wanted to learn, entertain, help people, go on adventures, make people laugh, and have fun!

Today, I run Kitsulie Studios, my multimedia creative studio, where I combine art, animation, design, video, branding, and creative production for businesses, creators, and independent projects. After working weekends in party entertainment for over a decade, I also created Sunshine Events as an extension of the studio, bringing that same lively creative spirit into live event entertainment through face painting, balloons, characters, magic, and fun local events. Rather than fitting into one creative box, I’ve embraced being a multifaceted multimedia producer, and I love finding new ways to entertain, inspire, and connect with people through both digital and live experiences.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s definitely been a long and winding road full of ups and downs and plenty of struggles. I ended up in places I never expected and worked a variety of part-time and full-time jobs over the years- many of them didn’t turn out the way I hoped. Some weren’t creatively fulfilling, had limited opportunities for growth, and others simply weren’t the right fit or were only temporary for income.

Looking back though, each experience has taught me something I take into my work, and now many of them offer plenty of stories I can tell and impart wisdom from today!

One of the biggest challenges was learning to trust my own creative vision. As a creative, people around you will have an opinion about what you *should* be doing. It’s easy to get pulled in different directions or give too much of your time without saying no, or second guess yourself with all the naysayers. Over the years, I’ve learned to trust my gut, set boundaries, and create my own path instead of trying to fit into someone else’s box of limited expectations.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Absolutely, I am happy to share!

I call myself a Creative Producer and Animator- I love to bring things to life- But I never wanted to limit myself to just “Animation”, I wanted to produce! I wanted to write, draw, and inspire. I wanted to build brands, create illustrations, make music videos and commercials, set up and coordinate events- Anything creative, I was excited to learn about and sink my teeth into. I always wanted to be the “Modern Renaissance Person” and indulge in many outlets. I loved being busy with variety, and make everyday unique.

Over the years I’ve had the chance to work with an incredible variety of clients and projects. I’ve designed logos for small businesses, written blog articles, promoted events, illustrated children’s books, animated music videos for indie bands, produced commercials for local businesses, and even worked as a party entertainer, clown, magician, and trivia host. (Entertainment is a huge passion of mine)

One of my proudest accomplishments was collaborating with a director overseas to produce a full-length animated Christmas feature! I served as the Art Director, helped recruit voice actors, animated much of the film, and even traveled overseas to watch it premiere on the big screen with an audience. It was one of those surreal moments that reminded me why I love what I do. Today, I’m continuing to grow Kitsulie Studios while developing new animated projects of my own, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Does jumping out of a plane count? Or flying high on a trapeze? (I’ve actually done both!) But creatively speaking, I’ve taken quite a few risks over the years!

One of the biggest risks I took was leaving a full-time graphic design job to pursue full-time freelance work. It was intimidating and a huge risk, but I knew I wanted more than spending my days making minor edits and organizing files. Boring! I wanted to create, solve problems, and work on projects that genuinely excited me. Looking back, I don’t regret that decision one bit! Just like jumping out of a plane, I took a risk and made that leap, and before you know it, I was soaring!

Other risks I’ve taken throughout my creative career has been, funnily enough, just reaching out to people. Seems simple, but sending that first email, introducing myself, pitching an idea or asking if we can collaborate can all feel a little vulnerable because you never know what the answer will be, or if you’ll be rejected (The worst!) But I’ve found that those convos have led to some of my favorite opportunities! Most people wait for opportunities to find them. I’ve learned that more often than not, you have to create them yourself.

People won’t know what you want unless you tell them!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kitsulie.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kitsulie
• Twitter: https://x.com/kitsulie
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Kitsulie
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/kitsulie
• Other: https://linktr.ee/Kitsulie