Kelly McKernan
@kellymckernan.bsky.social
fine artist ✧ freelance illustrator ✧ audhd goblin ✧ advocating for artists ✧ they/them baddie ✧ trans rights are human rights ✧ on a quest to see every color ✧ 🚫AI ✧ linktr.ee/kelly_mckernan
This gallery of ICE crop/seed art at this year's Minnesota State Fair is incredible, especially the one based on Pablo Picasso's Guernica by Jennifer Nelson, which features the last words of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Morse code: www.cropart.com/Resist.pdf
Do any other autists habitually close their eyes when brushing their hair or teeth? I do it and always have, like I gotta dim the sensory input, lol.
I just survived a 20 minute Lyft ride with a woman who believes vaccines cause autism and I narrowly succeeded in biting my tongue because I value my peace too much these days. 🫠
Yesterday morning I was hacked by a Docusign phishing scheme and I’m pretty certain hundreds of people were contacted. In return, I received ~40 emails and DMs from people confused by this (which is a reasonable thing to do).my (autistic) brain shut down and required 16 hours in bed to recover. 🫠
It’s not my first time crying in a bookstore, but it’s my first time at Powell’s. I realized I was walking through the maze as a local, not a tourist. This place made me want to move to Portland a decade ago, and now I walk to it from my apartment.
If you got a Docusign email from me, don’t open it, I was hacked. 😣
“Unmasking” is a sculpture created while processing my (very late) formal autism diagnosis. The mask I built to survive began to fall away when I realized I’m neurodivergent. At last confirmed at 40, I can finally release all of my past selves. The relief is as immense as the grief. I am finally me.
“Unmasking” is a sculpture created while processing my (very late) formal autism diagnosis. The mask I built to survive began to fall away when I realized I’m neurodivergent. At last confirmed at 40, I can finally release all of my past selves. The relief is as immense as the grief. I am finally me.
I’ve been living in Portland for 2 weeks now and I’m finally settling in. Every day, I’ve gone on a Whimsy Walk, where I choose a destination but wander my way in its general direction. Every block has something interesting going on, but just as interesting are the people! It’s delightful here.
I had a very lovely time tonight dropping in on a live nude figure drawing session, right in my new neighborhood! My drawing muscles are properly stretched with some challenging poses from an amazing model. I’m taking that energy into a long night finishing a project tonight!
Holy fucking mind blowing realization, Batman: I’ve been toe-walking my entire life, but after years of dance as a teen, it never really went away. I just caught myself doing it in my new long hallway! I stopped like I hit a wall when I put it together. What a wild journey I’m having, y’all. 😵💫
I’m rewatching Murderbot for the 3rd time and now that I got the ASD diagnosis, I am screeching with glee at the parallels of the autistic inner voice.
Friendly reminder that tetrachromia is determined by the number of cones in your retina. Most people have 3, colorblind people have 2. If you have 4 cones, you won’t be able to test this on a computer by counting color bands. This can only be determined by genetic testing or lab testing in person!
Post diagnosis epiphany: I never learned how to snowboard properly because of my autism as a kid! I had a lesson at 14 but didn’t pay attention, so found a way to snowboard goofy without ever turning left. I know, it makes no sense. I could never balance correctly & I found my own way anyway lol
I’m at a coffee shop and overheard some girls talking about how someone is cute but “he has donut powder mouth” and I burst out laughing before I realized they were talking about a black cat.
It’s my final night in nashville and I was visited by three Luna moths! 🥹
Hey #portfolioday, I’m Kelly McKernan (they/them), a fine artist and illustrator painting in watercolor and acryla gouache. My work is inspired by dark fantasy, art nouveau, surrealism, and pop culture. I enjoy creating art for books, comics, games, editorial, and galleries! www.kellymckernan.com
Hey #portfolioday, I’m Kelly McKernan (they/them), a fine artist and illustrator painting in watercolor and acryla gouache. My work is inspired by dark fantasy, art nouveau, surrealism, and pop culture. I enjoy creating art for books, comics, games, editorial, and galleries! www.kellymckernan.com
You know what’s nice about 40? I finally know who I am, what I deserve, what I won’t tolerate, and how to trust my intuition. I also look and feel fucking great. It can only get better from here.
It’s my birthday! A big one - 40!? Lots of changes are afoot, including moving across the country next week and starting grad school in the fall. I was also just diagnosed with autism after years of questioning. I’m terribly excited to start the next chapter of my life. Thank you for supporting me!
What if Déjà vu is the disorientation felt from timelines collapsing?
Tim And Eric Mind Blown Universe Meme
ALT: Tim And Eric Mind Blown Universe Meme
static.klipy.com
Last night I was visited by this freshly hatched female Luna moth! She’s only the 3rd one I’ve ever seen. I feel so lucky! Lunas are my absolute favorite moths.
One of the shame nuggets I’m letting go of, now that I have my ASD diagnosis, is how exhausting cooking is for me. I’ve watched people effort make meals with many ingredients and complicated methods without breaking a sweat. Me? Anything requiring more than 4 ingredients and 10 minutes is daunting.
