Kristi McKee

A means to relax, meditate, and find the flow state.

Why

I always loved making art. 

Then I spent nearly 20 years working in an art museum, frequented museums and galleries, and earned an MA in Visual Arts Administration. 

I then switched to working in higher ed on a campus riddled with visual artists. Surrounded by "real artists"—BFA students, professionals, critically acclaimed innovators breaking new ground—incapacitated any drive within me to create work.

For years, I thought, 'You're not an artist.' Then I turned 50 and stopped caring what people might think.

How

I love to take photos. So now, when I take one that strikes me, I paint it. They're mostly of my garden or my things arranged in a way that feels good to me. I'm not professionally trained. I learn as I go. I smear white paint over parts that aren't working, and I start over. Finishing a painting takes a while. But the process is relaxing, satisfying, even meditative. 

I had a dream about mixing stones and twine and spelling out words. I bought some supplies and gave it a try. It's an idea in progress.

No artistic ground breaking. No social commentary. But who cares. Not me...anymore.