Meet Kate Kelleher

We recently connected with Kate Kelleher and have shared our conversation below.

Kate, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

These are some of the ways by which I keep my creativity alive:

-Mental visually-driven exercises all throughout the day, anytime I’m bored, or just out in public or the world. Examples are taking creative photos with my mind of how I would capture a moment, feeling, or scene, adding mental funny or inventive images to the things I see, or taking a moment to notice and visualize the tiny details of texture or color or lines as if I were to draw or paint what I am seeing.
-Constantly researching and trying new (to me) mediums, styles, tools, or techniques.
-Exposing myself to art (not in the open trench coat, bare skin way, although…). I stroll local galleries and keep up with national and international art and photography sites, accounts, and news. I also do my best to meet and support other artists and art events in town
.-I like to brainstorm new ideas or concepts anytime I am sitting in a quiet place or in a waiting room with my notebook in hand, which I try to take with me everywhere.
-Dreaming (I experience many lucid and/or vivid and creative dreams and visuals, whether I want to or not. At times, they are inspiring).
-I try to make time each week to read creative writing like stories or poetry. In face, even reading some scientific articles can make my brain reach new ideas and possiblilities.
-I have created and set up my home environment in a way that fosters unique thought, expression, appreciation, and creative work or play. For example, I moved my mattress to the living room so that my bedroom could become an art working studio, keep my supplies organization, and surround myself on the walls with original artwork or handmade furniture.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I do both art in different mediums and forms, as well as photography, from fine art or nature photos to portraits and weddings. I have an unique, signature style in much of my work that can be recognized, however I do not like to nor wish to limit myself to a single specialty. I feel that part of keeping excitement, growth, creativity, and curiosity alive is to try and explore new modes by which to express yourself or ideas. I pay great attention to details, and I love to capture a feeling or emotion. At times, I am able to create commissions for those who have lost someone or something, and that is an aspect of my work that often, while less freedom in creativity, can be the most meaningful, as it impacts the hurting heart of people I may never even meet.
I recently lost most of my current work in the floods of Hurricane Helene in the River Arts District of Asheville. However, I have been creating as soon as the survival mode of disaster ended, and am branching out into more opportunities. Upcoming opportunities include adventurous photoshoots, a rebuilt River Arts gallery, a Biltmore Village gallery, two downtown galleries, many vendor shows, and even an international photography gallery exhibit in Glasgow, Scotland.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Curiosity, Observation, and Resilience.

I’ve often thought that half of the ability to make art is really the ability to observe in great detail and interpret meaning. Practicing and fostering that process can help the aspiring artist to an extent that formal art education or training cannot, in my opinion.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

If I had a decade left to live and was made aware of that fact, I believe I would spend my last days creating, exploring, loving my friends and family, helping others as much as I was capable, and making my dog joyous and happy.
I believe I strive for this now, but with the added stressors and reservations of aspects I would probably no longer give any energy nor thought to if I knew my time was so limited.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://FollowTheArtStrings.weebly.com, http://KK-Photography.squarespace.com
• Instagram: @kelleher_kate_art