Today we’d like to introduce you to Rick Kilby.
Hi Rick, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Gainesville, Florida, looking for shark’s teeth in creeks, swimming in springs, and wading through swamps. After graduating with a degree in graphic design from the University of Florida, I worked as an art director for Church Street Station and then a golf company before launching my own graphic design business in 2000. Committed to spreading the gospel about preserving the natural and historic resources of Florida, my mission is to motivate other Floridians to appreciate the wonders of their state. To accomplish this, in 2008, I launched the “Old Florida” blog, which now has over 1.4 million all time views.
In 2013, I published “Finding the Fountain of Youth: Ponce de León and Florida’s Magical Waters.” It earned the bronze medal in the Florida Book Awards in the Visual Arts category and the accompanying exhibit has toured museums throughout the state. Published in 2020, my second book – “Florida’s Healing Waters: Gilded Age Mineral Springs, Seaside Resorts, and Health Spas” – received the silver medal for Florida nonfiction from the Florida Book Awards and the Florida Historical Society’s Stetson Kennedy Award. In addition, my Old Florida-themed ceramics have been displayed at Jeanine Taylor Folk Arts in Sanford, Crealde School of Art in Winter Park, and Gainesville’s Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Doing creative work in the corporate world is always a struggle to balance client needs and the desire for personal self-expression. Modest budgets require resourcefulness and I’ve learned that good communication can avoid potential pitfalls. In the world of self employment, the pendulum seems to swing from too much work to not enough work with great frequency. I am grateful to have earned the trust of my clients and build long-lasting relationships with them.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am inspired by natural Florida – I grew up spending a great deal of time in the woods near my childhood home and now I live on a small lake. The flora and fauna that surround us in this state should never be taken for granted in my opinion. I am also inspired by Victoriana, specifically the strange and exotic tastes of the nineteenth century. Cabinets of curiosities, circus sideshows, and Florida pop culture are themes in my work. I love working with clay, getting lost in idiosyncratic details, and seeing my work after the risk of the firing process, which can in end in triumph or in some cases, tragedy.
How do you think about luck?
I have been fortunate to have wonderful mentors throughout my professional life. When I was fresh out of college, a seasoned ad man named Tex Stewart took me under his wing and taught me about doing advertising in the real world. A print rep told me about the job at Church Street Station where I was surrounded by talented, fun-loving people – Lee Pharr taught me how to do design that looked appropriate for the Victorian-themed attraction. Chad Martin encouraged me to take risks and after nine years at Church Street recommended me to the History Center. Working for a history museum for more than two decades has exposed me to the fascinating past that surrounds us. There are countless others who have played integral roles in my success, and for that I am grateful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rickkilby.com
- Instagram: @lakehourglassstudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-kilby-5074569/
- Twitter: @OldFLA
- Other: https://floridaspectacular.buzzsprout.com
Image Credits
Kilby presenter photo by Phelan M. Ebenhack
