Australian artist Kerrie Hess has a fan in Ariana Grande

Internationally renowned illustrator Kerrie Hess has hit the big time, working with the likes of Louis Vuitton and rubbing shoulders with stars like Julia Roberts, but she remembers all too well that starting a career as a young artist is far from easy.

In the beginning, it felt like I was walking in the dark. I was 19, living in London, and I made a promise to myself: I’d give it a year to see if I could make it as an artist.

Back then, “making it” simply meant earning enough money to pay the rent. And even that proved difficult. I had no contacts in the art world and found myself grasping at any job – no matter how unglamorous – that came my way.

“When I was a girl, sketching at home in Brisbane, I never could have imagined that I’d one day find myself painting for Tiffany & Co.” (Picture: Grace Cooney)

My [elder] sister [the fashion illustrator Megan Hess] always shared my love of art. We grew up painting, drawing and begging our parents to send us to weekend art classes. Neither of us ever imagined becoming commercial artists.

We trained as graphic designers because we believed that art would only ever be our hobby, a passion to pursue in our spare time.

I remember when everything changed – when I first started to feel comfortable calling myself an “artist”. It was 2011, and I had my first exhibition of original artworks in Paris, at the hotel Le Meurice, where Salvador Dalí and Picasso exhibited during their lifetimes.

Illustration by Kerrie Hess. (Picture: Supplied)

About the same time, I started working on my first campaign with Louis Vuitton. The fashion house had contacted me out of the blue, wanting to know if I could “pitch a collaboration that we’ll show to Marc [Jacobs, the luxury brand’s creative director at the time]”.

I was over the moon, but also terrified. I couldn’t believe that Marc Jacobs was going to look at my ideas.

It still feels surreal. When I was a girl, sketching at home in Brisbane, I never could have imagined that I’d one day find myself painting for Tiffany & Co. I’ll never get used to being at haute couture fashion shows, rubbing shoulders with stars like Julia Roberts.

I never could have seen myself being commissioned by the Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris to film a video of me painting on the iconic “Carrie Bradshaw balcony” from the final episodes of Sex And The City.

“Whenever I find myself becoming overwhelmed, I know I can always find comfort in painting.” (Picture: Supplied)

In 2016, I had another huge pinch-me moment. I was at home, in my pyjamas and putting my son, Marcel, to bed, when I received a message from Ariana Grande. She told me she was a fan of my work, would love to do something together someday, and said that perhaps when she was touring Australia we could meet for a chat.

At first, I assumed the message must have been sent from a fake account. But it was legitimate, and she was true to her word – less than a year later, I met Ariana backstage before one of her shows.

Kerrie Hess features in this Sunday’s Stellar.

It was just after the [2017 bomb] attack at Manchester Arena [in the UK], so as you can imagine, the venue had this frantic energy and Ariana was surrounded by what seemed like a small army of security guards. Despite all of this, what struck me was how normal and humble she seemed. We had this lovely chat, and I gave her a portrait I’d painted of her.

These days, I’m better at enjoying these moments and really taking it all in – no matter how surreal they might seem at the time.

Whenever I find myself becoming overwhelmed, I know I can always find comfort in painting. I’ve never been able to meditate but I realised pretty early on that painting was my meditation. It slows everything down. When I paint, I’m able to be present. I lose track of time and forget about all the rush that surrounds me.

Joy In The Little Things: Finding Happiness In Style, Home, And The Everyday by Kerrie Hess (Rizzoli, $65) is out Wednesday.

Originally published as Australian artist Kerrie Hess has a fan in Ariana Grande