Hi! I'm Kay!
I'm an art lover
Ever since I was a kid, I have been an art lover. As a child, I loved the illustrations in books that could whisk me away to fantastical and amazing places.
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When I was a teenager, I loved the way art could connect me to other people and show me a different way of seeing the world.
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And as a young adult, I began really appreciating the depth of skill and technique that goes into paintings.
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Now, as a, well, an adult I guess I'd say, I love the way art can connect us to the things that matter most in our lives, and to the memories, ideas, and values we hold dear. With so much noise around us, and so many negative vibes, art feels like these moments of relief where humans add beauty, depth and understanding to our experience. Oh, and sometimes humor!
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My house is filled with art. Some of it are prints from artists I've followed and loved for years, some of it are originals that I had to save up for, some of it (well at least one) is something I printed on computer paper as a teenager working at Kinko's because I loved it so much. (Of course, I would never do that now, I would obviously pay the artist, but these were the early, wild-west days of the internet and art, and I haven't been able to find a real copy since).
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As a friend said, we have one of the more eclecticart collections they have ever seen. And it's because I believe in getting art that I love, whether it fits in with the couch or not.
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And YES, I do have my own art in the house. But more on that later.
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A diehard romantic
When I was 29, I got lucky enough to fall in love with someone I never expected to come into my life. I won't say he completed me, but I will say he gave me space to become my best self, and he showed me what it really meant to be loved. So, basically, in about 3 months, I went from being a somewhat cynical Sally to crying everytime someone told me a proposal story or anytime I watched wedding vows. It is only natural that I would want to take my love of art and put it into action celebrating that magical, special day when 2 people commit to love each other for the rest of their lives. I mean, ITS SO SPECIAL.
an animal lover
We all have hundreds of photos of our pets sleeping. Right? Right? :)
This is Huckleberry, and I'm not even at all exagerating when I say she is my best friend. She sits with me in the morning when I drink coffee, she tells me what the cats are up to all day long, and she gets a little *too* excited everytime I put on pants because it means we're finally going somewhere. #workfromhome
A community member
I love working in my studio, but even more, I love working on projects where other people are involved. Whether that be a guest at a wedding, a mom who just lost her beloved parrot, or a random stranger walking by on the sidewalk. I want the art I make to fit into our world, to be a part of it, and to be involved and related. I like being a person someone can call and say, "Hey, can you do this for me?" and I can say why yes, yes I can make that happen. I love being an active participant in community building and beautifying.
And of course, I'm an...
artist
I've been making art since childhood, and I attended the Savannah College of Art and Design on a scholarship right after highschool. I was there for three years, in which time I was able to learn my foundational studies, my art history, my basics of life drawing and my art philosophy. Throw in a really great public speaking class, as well as a group studies class, and I feel like my education there was top notch. Unfortunately, I did not finish my degree because there was a significant loss in my family, so I moved back home (in Montana) to be with my father for the next few years. But, it ends up, being a good artist is really about practing a ton and gaining a lot of experience, so I was able to do that when I decided to follow my passion and became a professional artist in 2014.
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For me, being an artist is about serving my clients to the best of my abilities using the skills and expertise I have learned. I know that sounds pretty straightforward, but I think there are a lot of different types of artists out there with a lot of different goals and visions. I personally really enjoy working with others to create a beautiful piece of work for their home, their office, as a present, or as a way to commemorate a special event. Occasionally, I also get the opportunity to create public work, which I love and adore as well.
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When I am not working on a project for a client, I spend my time working on my skills, because I enjoy it. People often wonder if I make art for fun since it is also my profession- and the answer is a definite, 1000% YES! I even put my work up in our house! When my husband and I go on vacations, I bring my art supplies along, and I paint us a picture or two, which we then put on our bedroom wall! It is so fun to watch our memories accumulate there.
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The other side of my artist-ness is that I also get to teach art. I believe that art is a learned thing, and that anyone can in fact learn to do it. So, I really enjoy breaking it down and teaching people the skills and techniques I have learned.
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Well, that about sums it up, and if you read through all this, boy what I wouldn't give for your attention span :).
Best Wishes!
Kay