ABOUT

Hi! I’m Ria, but I go by the artist name Kendi. I’m a YouTuber and Procreate artist based in Canada.

My YouTube channel, Color with Kendi, is my space to share fun and easy-to-follow Procreate art tutorials for beginner artists.

How did I get here?

My educational background is in nutrition, food engineering and chemical engineering. I’ve always loved art, but struggled to make it a lasting hobby until I discovered digital art in 2020. Since then, I’ve been utterly obsessed with the app, Procreate, and you’ll find me painting and sketching daily on my iPad.

Art has brought so much joy and peace to my life and I want to share that joy with YOU. Color with Kendi is my space to do that.

What do I do?

Currently, I make art tutorials on YouTube. My focus is on digital art made in Procreate, but since my earlier art experience was with traditional media such as watercolor and gouache, you’ll find that my digital art has more of a traditional media vibe. I also make custom Procreate brushes that are inspired by traditional media such as watercolor, gouache, ink, pencils and more. You can find those in my brushes shop.

My goal is to share content and products that can help you make art a lasting hobby that brings you joy!

What inspires me?

Many of my illustrations are inspired by my love of cute animals, flowers, and the simple joys of life.

How did I come up with the name Color with Kendi?

I started my digital art journey just a few months after adopting my younger cat, Kendi. He’s always around me and has been my “art buddy” since the day I started painting in Procreate. So in a sense I was always “coloring with Kendi”. That’s where the name for the channel was born and I wanted to use Kendi as my artist name to honor my cat.

What do I do in my spare time?

When I am not creating videos and online content for Color with Kendi, I spend my time with my two little kitties (Caiyo and Kendi) and my husband. I am a total introvert and I love to spend time at home (as much as I can)!

Swipe through for a few random tidbits about me.

  • I discovered iPad art in 2020 and it changed my life!

    In 2020, I lost two close family members within a few months. During that time, I discovered iPad art and it really helped me process the grief in a positive way. That is when I realized the power of art and the joy it can bring, even in difficult times.

  • My background is in engineering and nutrition.

    While art has been a lifelong interest of mine, I didn’t go to art school.

    Life took me in a different direction for a while! I studied chemical engineering, food engineering and nutrition before turning to digital art.

  • My two fluffy kitties are my office buddies.

    My cats bring so much cuteness and calmness into my daily life!

    Much of my artwork and my design style is inspired by their cuteness. I also love dogs and had a beautiful Dalmatian when I was growing up. I guess I was inspired by 101 Dalmatians!

  • My love of color started in the late 80s with colorful stickers.

    As a child, I loved watching The Care Bears and My Little Pony. My interest in colors and design began with those cartoons. I loved collecting stickers with characters from the shows.

  • I love using digital watercolor and digital gouache.

    I adore the light, airy and fresh feeling that water-colours can create. These days I enjoy painting with digital brushes after discovering the amazing app, Procreate.

  • I am obsessed with cute designs on clothes and stationery.

    I can’t resist adorable designs on products such as pajamas and duvets. I also love stationery! One of my favourite things to do is to spend time in the stationery section of the bookstore to browse the latest designs.

  • I have lived in 4 countries so far.

    I moved a lot when I was a kid and I have had the opportunity to live in half a dozen cities around the world.

    Currently, I live in Canada with my husband and two cats and I love the area we live in as it’s close to nature.