Meet Kendra Petersen

We recently connected with Kendra Petersen and have shared our conversation below.

Kendra, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

Wow! This is my story. I have gone through various mental health struggles throughout my life; bouts of depression, crippling anxiety, imposter syndrome, and an extremely rough year battling postpartum turmoil. After many years of self reflection, growth, and new understandings I can look back and see a commonality in where I found solace and strength: Creativity, imagination, and art.

In high school, when I didn’t fit anywhere, had no true confidence, and didn’t really have a name for all of the “hard” I was feeling, I lived in my school’s dark room…finding comfort in the magic of photography. In college, when my life’s plan to be an actress took a turn as I was officially diagnosed with depression, I found a new journey in filmmaking. After I had my third child and found myself in the darkest hole I’ve ever been in due to postpartum depression and anxiety, I crawled out stronger, with the help of creating art.

This art was a special photographic art project I called “Illuminating Shadows.” I created it to help me work through my emotions, create a visual representation of my experiences, and help others know that they aren’t alone in their struggles. Creating this project gave me something I had control over when everything else was an unpredictable mess…both inside and out. Not only that, but it allowed me to dive deep into what I was feeling and process those emotions in different ways that felt very tangible. It truly was a form of therapy. But for me, the most important part wasn’t just the photo creations, it was sharing my story with the hope that my darkness could bring others some light.

And then of course, during the pandemic, when the world was living in fear and uncertainty, all of those feelings permeated throughout my home, with my children, and inside me. We all felt so isolated and trapped. It would have been easy to fall into true despair. Instead, we came together as a family and found therapeutic comfort in creating art. For an entire year during those Covid times, we put every art creation on the walls in our house…every coloring page, every 3 year old scribble, every art experiment, every celebratory painting, every silly doodle. Our walls became a visual representation of our pandemic journey. Our sadness of missing loved ones, our joy of family memories being made, and the hope for the future. The art told our story and brought us solace in the emotional turmoil of that year.

I truly believe art has helped me survive. Creating art has allowed me space for self-reflection and growth. It’s shown me the magic within myself and given me strength to continue when things are hard.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a Colorado native, a mom of three wonderful girls, a tea enthusiast, and a self-taught artist. My artistic background began originally with photography and videography, but during 2020 I began experimenting with random art supplies with my daughters in order to get through the pandemic and process our hard emotions. During this time, something inside of me was unlocked and a new creativity needed to be explored. I began trying out all different kinds of mediums and styles; discovering hidden talents and joys with each new creation.

In the years since, I have embraced this passion and new journey. I can now say I am an award winning and professional artist. I have designed book covers, been featured by the art subscription service SketchBox, hung in galleries, and love taking commission work! I specialize in small works and unique canvases like painting on tea bags and preserved leaves, however, I haven’t found a favorite medium or style so you never know what I’m going to create next. Most of my work has a touch of whimsy or magic behind it because that is how I try to look at the world around me.

Recently, I took a chance and created Meraki & Imagination LLC. The word Meraki is a Greek word that means to do something with so much love and passion that you leave a piece of your soul in your work. I feel like this with every one of my creations. Each one is a part of who I am and I’m so pleased that I get to share them with the world.

Right now I’m in the process of establishing myself as true, professional, artist. I have a few local hanging venues in which my art can be seen and purchased. I’m hoping to create couple of different collections this year that will accompany a gallery showing or two. Nothing is set yet, but I can dream. I’m also looking to expand my creativity to more professional work with designing book covers and theatrical posters. All the while, trying to keep the balance with mom life because my family is the world to me.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Hmm… This is a hard one, as a self-taught artist who only recently discovered that I had these skills and fights off imposter syndrome daily. I guess I would have to say that mindset has been a key factor in developing my skills and growing as an artist.

I was extremely determined not to be niched into a box right away. All artists hear that we must “find our niche” to be successful. I refused to be trapped by my first success. When starting out, I specifically chose to experiment with all kinds of styles and mediums and not settle down into something easy and predictable. In doing so, I discovered hidden talents and passions that I never would have known otherwise. I now have award winning art in multiple mediums and I will never get bored with my creations. For those starting out, I suggest playing with all kinds of supplies and experimenting with different styles. I used an art subscription service that sent random art supplies each month that I could create with. It gave me a chance to try things out without a big commitment to a giant pack of something while stretching my creative brain.

Experimenting is important. I’m a big believer in the “art is a journey” concept. If you keep that mindset, you will always have the chance for growth as an artist. It’s a great way for new artist to look at their creations. Art takes practice. Your first painting will be very different from your 27th, or 86th, or 511th…and that ok…in fact that’s how it should be. Your art will grow and change as you change. I am not the same person I was three years ago and my art is different too. In three more years, who knows what life will look like or what I will be creating. I have goals in mind, but once I reach those goals that doesn’t mean my journey is over. Instead it’s the start of the next chapter.

To keep that passion alive and continuing on that journey I highly encourage having a sense of wonder….both with yourself and what you create. Each thing I create is almost a challenge to myself…can I actually draw, paint, or create the piece I want to make? That mindset allows for experimentation, failure, discovery, growth, and celebration. I try to remember that while not everything is a masterpiece, every piece I create is magical in itself. As an artist you continuously create things that didn’t exist before. How amazing is that!? To create is a truly wonderful thing. I think we sometimes forget that as artist. An artist’s success is too often measured by sales, venues, awards, showings, name recognition, etc. We compare ourselves to every other artist in the world…all the time, and it’s exhausting, depressing, and hard. I think it’s so important to remember that what you create is special, and important, and matters. Try to continue to be amazed with yourself and what you create. You are full of magic!!

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

Right now getting my art seen and appreciated by more than just friends and family is challenging. Social media is a mess of algorithms and games to play and I don’t have the mental capacity or time to figure that system out. I’m too busy balancing being a mom to three amazing girls and creating art when I can. It’s very important to me that I stay true to who I am as an artist. I’m still not ready to “niche down” and only create painted tea bags (which I do love painting). I still want to discover and play despite the fact that makes me and my art hard to market and brand.

I know growing an art business is slow and tedious, so I’m approaching this year like a garden. I’m planting seeds with hopes that in the upcoming years something will grow. I recently made a website so I can be found. I’m entering local shows. I’m working on collection pieces that can be hung together (with the hopes of a solo show someday). I’m in the process of investigating book cover illustration deals as a regular way to be a professional artist. Ideally, in a couple of years, I would love for my art to be able to to financial support my husband and family because they have been my biggest cheerleaders, sources of inspiration, and guiding lights.

I don’t know what my journey will include, but I know I will continue growing as a person and as an artist. There is so much creativity and magic within me and I want to share with the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.merakiandimagination.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kncp_imagine.meraki/
• Other: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/meraki_imagination
  RedBubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/ImagineMeraki/
  LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/meraki.imagination

  Illuminating Shadows Project: https://sites.google.com/site/illuminatingshadowsproject