Student Art Profile - Elliot

By: Zoe Clouthier, Henry Dobozy

KCI is a very artistic school, from our annual variety show Limelight, to the individual students, our school is populated with creative minds. However, it is very easy for artists to sink below the surface in today's world, especially if they’re students who can’t devote all their time to self-promotion, so we here at The Edge have made it our goal to seek out these students and give them a voice. Pablo Picasso once famously said that “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist when we grow up.” We fully agree with this quote, and we are doing what we can to help young artists follow their dreams. In the first of what will become a series of articles of this kind, our journalists have met with some prominent artists around KCI and interviewed them about their art. The results were illuminating. So without further ado, here is Elliot, one of the artists in our school community.

Elliot Simpson (he/him) - Blackbird Buttons

The Edge: Hi Elliot, to get started could you give a brief description of your art?

Elliot: I make and sell illustrated buttons.

The Edge: Do you have any sort of inspiration when you make your art? Where do you get your ideas?

Elliot: Inspirations? I definitely take inspiration from old vintage buttons. As of right now all of my buttons are made from images in vintage magazines or vintage comics, for example, I have an old Story of Dogs comic that I used. Really anything I can find, I make buttons from. Anything that I find cool or interesting.

The Edge: What is your process for creation?

Elliot: First I find interesting images, and then I cut them out into circles with my circle cutter. Next I use my button maker to make a batch, I sell the best ones and put the rest in storage.

The Edge: What made you start this business?

Elliot: It’s been a dream of mine since childhood to own a button business. If I wasn’t selling them I’d make them for myself because I like them so much. Here’s a quote you can use: “buttons are like permanent stickers”.

The Edge: How long have you had this business?

Elliot: I would say it’s about a month and a half now. I’ve been thinking about it for like three years.

The Edge: Do you have a goal for this business?

Elliot: I like making money. Obviously I’d like to profit off of this business, but even if I don’t, as selling buttons isn’t that profitable, I just like sharing my art and giving people cool buttons. If people find a button interesting I’d like for them to have it. Additionally, I would really like to make some buttons from books that I liked as a child, like Archie, Garfield or The Cat in the Hat, as well as comics like Marvel or DC. As well, right now I can’t do this, but I would love to showcase other artists through my buttons, and have them share in the profit.

The Edge: Do you see any future in this art?

Elliot: This is really just a side project, I can’t see pursuing this as a career, but as of right now it’s just a fun creative outlet for me.

The Edge: For our last question, do you have any place where you display your buttons?

Elliot: Yes, @Blackbirdbuttons on Instagram!