Conversations with AJ Sharpe

Today we’d like to introduce you to AJ Sharpe.

Hi AJ, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Alan Sharpe’s artistic journey is a vibrant tapestry of dedication, talent, and creative exploration. His passion for the visual and performing arts first took root at Pacific High School, where he distinguished himself as a multifaceted artist. From earning accolades in art competitions to clinching the 2016 state championship in prose reading, Alan quickly established himself as a rising star. His time on stage brought him joy and fulfillment, especially through roles that allowed him to dance and express himself physically and emotionally. Notable performances in productions such as *Legally Blonde*, *Shrek*, *James and the Giant Peach*, and his portrayal of Charles Guiteau in *Assassins* highlight his deep love for theatre and storytelling.

Following high school, Alan pursued higher education in the arts with determination and excellence. He first attended East Central College and then continued to the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI), where he earned both an Associate of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts. His academic journey was marked by consistent recognition, making the honor roll and the president’s list multiple times. While at KCAI, his talent and drive were rewarded with a prestigious Kansas Royals Sponsored Studio Internship, an experience that further refined his skills and professional focus.

Alan’s creative output is impressive in both range and quality. His senior thesis film, *Gears N Lightning*, was selected for the 2024 Uplift Film Festival, a major milestone that showcases his storytelling and animation capabilities. Alan also co-created the children’s book *Planet Zoocey Woocey* alongside a local author and fellow KCAI alum, merging whimsical storytelling with visual charm. His flair for narrative art continues in his comic series such as *Slice of Life* and *Student Chronicles*, which offer relatable and engaging stories drawn from everyday experiences.

Beyond personal projects, Alan collaborates with small businesses, offering design services that span logos, web graphics, and more. His recent five-piece collection for Flora and Fauna is a testament to his versatility and ability to tailor his artistic voice to different clients and audiences. He is proficient in a wide range of mediums including soft pastels, digital illustration, and acrylic painting, and uses professional tools like Procreate, Adobe Creative Suite, Storyboard Pro, and Toon Boom Harmony to bring his visions to life.

Currently, Alan is a high school Career and Technical Education Instructor in the Kansas City Kansas School District, where he teaches graphic design, animation, and photoimaging. In this role, he is passionate about mentoring and inspiring the next generation of creative professionals, sharing both his technical knowledge and real-world industry experience with his students.

Outside of his artistic and teaching pursuits, Alan finds balance through fitness, gaming, and quality time with his husband and their three beloved pets: Max, Savannah, and Elton. His long-term ambition is to create an ongoing animated cartoon series that reflects his distinctive artistic vision, storytelling prowess, and imaginative worldbuilding. With a solid foundation in both performance and visual arts, and a proven track record of excellence and creativity, Alan Sharpe stands poised to make a lasting impact in the world of animation and education.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road—my journey has been full of ups and downs, twists and turns, and moments that forced me to reevaluate my path and sense of self-worth. One of the most eye-opening experiences came shortly after I graduated with my Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Kansas City Art Institute. I was proud of the hard work I put into my education, confident in my skills in animation, video editing, illustration, and graphic design. I had already done private client work for a variety of individuals and organizations, including doctors, schools, small businesses, and more, and completed a prestigious internship with the Kansas City Royals. Naturally, I was excited to step into the professional world and apply what I had spent years learning.

But that confidence was quickly shaken. During what should have been a celebratory time, I encountered a harsh wake-up call. At my first interview for a graphic design position—one of the few opportunities I had managed to secure post-graduation—I was told, “With your degree, I don’t know if you can do the job.” That comment hit me hard. I had just finished an intense academic journey filled with real-world projects, like my senior thesis film *Gears N Lightning*, which was selected for the 2024 Uplift Film Festival, and yet my qualifications were being doubted.

I thought I would be animating, working in concept design, or joining a creative studio, but instead I found myself doing one-off gigs—logos, illustrations, small paintings—nothing close to the industry work I envisioned. I felt lost and doubted myself constantly. That frustration, sadness, and disappointment began to weigh heavily, especially because I had done what I was told were all the “right” steps: earn the degrees, build the portfolio, complete internships, and work with clients. And still, I was being told I wasn’t enough, that somehow I didn’t have the right skills, despite evidence to the contrary. To process those feelings and reclaim some sense of control, I turned inward and created deeply personal art series such as my *Abstract Expression* paintings and *Rotten Apples* pastel illustration series. These works became a form of emotional release—a way to externalize the pain of rejection and the inner turmoil of being seen but not fully believed in.

With the constant tiring process of applying for positions with very little turnout, I would often turn back to creating artwork as a result, just to exert my emotions somewhere. While I wasn’t landing the industry roles I had hoped for, this creative outlet helped me stay grounded. At the same time, I continued picking up client work on the side, creating logos and other design materials for small businesses—everything from webpage graphics to custom illustration collections. One of those collections was a five-piece body of work for *Flora and Fauna*, which became a rewarding and affirming creative collaboration. Over time, I also began selling some of my artwork, which helped validate that my work was resonating with others, even if the traditional industry hadn’t embraced me yet.

From the time I graduated until April 2024, I was in a constant cycle of applying for positions in animation, graphic design, and illustration. Each rejection or unanswered application added to the growing sense that breaking into the industry wasn’t going to be quick or easy. Still, I didn’t give up. I continued working on personal and collaborative projects, like co-creating the children’s book *Planet Zoocey Woocey*, developing comic series like *Slice of Life* and *Student Chronicles*, and supporting small businesses with branding and creative design work. Each project helped sharpen my skills, build my confidence, and reaffirm my identity as a capable and creative professional.

Eventually, I found a role that changed everything: becoming a Career and Technical Education Instructor for the Kansas City, Kansas School District, where I now teach graphic design, animation, and photoimaging. This position has not only allowed me to share what I know with the next generation, but it has also finally given me the validation I lacked early on. Now, when I tell people I want to collaborate or take on creative projects, I’m not met with skepticism—I’m respected for my experience and the journey I’ve taken to get here.

The road may have been winding, but every challenge along the way made me stronger, more persistent, and more committed to my craft. I’ve learned that sometimes, the path you think you’re supposed to be on isn’t the one that will lead you to where you truly need to be.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’d love to share more about my work because for me, being an artist isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about creating something with texture, in every sense of the word. I specialize in visual storytelling through illustration, animation, graphic design, and painting, with a deep focus on emotional and narrative texture. Whether I’m working digitally with Procreate or Adobe Creative Suite, or traditionally with soft pastels or acrylics, texture is a defining element of everything I create. During my time at the Kansas City Art Institute, I was frequently told that my artwork had a richly painterly and heavily textured quality—something that made it easily recognizable and unique. That’s something I’m proud of: not just a visual identity, but an emotional one.

What really drives my work is storytelling—particularly how people relate to one another in nonlinear, complicated, and sometimes messy ways. That’s the basis for my comic series *Student Chronicles* and *Slice of Life*, where I explore how different people can shift roles in each other’s lives—sometimes being the protagonist, sometimes the antagonist, or even the static background character. I think a lot about how everyone is navigating their own internal world while bumping into each other’s stories. That kind of complexity is what I try to communicate in my work, especially in my comics and illustration projects.

Beyond personal projects, I’ve collaborated with a wide variety of clients, from small businesses to schools and doctors, creating everything from logos to illustration collections and web graphics. One notable project was a five-piece art collection for *Flora and Fauna*, where I was able to bring a brand’s vision to life through visual storytelling. I also co-created the children’s book *Planet Zoocey Woocey* with a local author and KCAI alum, combining whimsical visuals with heartfelt messaging. My senior thesis film, *Gears N Lightning*, was selected for the 2024 Uplift Film Festival, a milestone that validated my work in animation and story development.

Throughout my career, I’ve developed a unique voice not by sticking to a strict artistic style, but by embracing exploration and interpretation. I’ve never been overly concerned with pinning down “my style.” Instead, I focus on what I can take away from the art I consume—what it makes me feel, how it reshapes my perspective, and how that influence finds its way into my creative work.

What sets me apart is that I don’t just aim to make something beautiful—I aim to make something that feels lived in, layered, and emotionally resonant. Whether I’m designing a brand identity, illustrating a book, developing a comic series, or teaching students in my current role as a Career and Technical Education Instructor in Graphic Design, Animation, and Photoimaging, I bring the same level of depth and sensitivity to every piece.

At the end of the day, I’m most proud that I’ve stayed honest in my creative journey—always evolving, always paying attention to the textures of both the world around me and the stories we live through every day.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
TikTok, the Meta Business Suite, Procreate, and my sketchbook are the apps that help me do my best in life. As for books, I enjoy looking at art books, especially those of the media that I use. For example, Horizon Zero Dawn, Avatar, and Spirited Away show all the artists’ ideas. I also have my favorite news sources for animation, illustration, and graphic design, a constant read for myself to know what is happening in the creative world, like Creative Boom or Animation Network. Lastly taking some time to disconnect from all of the media I interact with, it is nice to unplug from it all as well and in some ways very necessary to keep myself doing my best in life

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Finneganstudios.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finneganstudios/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Finneganstudios/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanjpeterson