Meet Beanie Kaman

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Beanie Kaman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Beanie, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I was fortunate in life have a talented mother who exposed me to art from an early age. When I was 8, playing with watercolors, it occurred to me that being an artist was something I would want to do for the rest of my life. This desire never left me, and I chose where I went to school and where I lived my life based on how it would benefit my life in art. There was never any question in myself that this was what I should do.
Being an artist is not an easy profession, but when you are called to it, making art is the only way to be truly happy.

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

Having been a working artist all my life, the most exciting thing has been watching the evolution of my work.

I began as a painter in art school, staining the canvas with colors similar to Frankethaler or Lewis. I added beads, sewing in texture and light. As I grew in my career, I worked on paper with gouache and pastels, while continuing to paint on canvas. My process finally opened up to use my skills for drawing, painting and sewing with a multimedia of fabrics, paper, paints and threads. I use fabrics that have been saved from my childhood or that I have bought while traveling, as well as many papers, maps, or tickets which I have collected over the years. They all make up the rich history of my life, and serve as continued inspiration to reflect my view of nature in the world.

When I moved to Los Angeles, I began exhibiting at L.A. Artcore Gallery, where I was able to participate in an exchange program with artists from Japan, South Korea and Thailand. Lasting friendships were formed with my fellow artists, and we continue to exhibit together both abroad and in Los Angeles. I also was introduced to another group of international artists called Open Art Code. Through them, I have been able to exhibit in Paris, Venice, Florence, Geneva and Barcelona. It is a truly unifying experience, meeting artists from all over the world and realizing that while there are cultural differences, we are so much the same.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Self-discipline, practice and informing yourself of history – in my case, art history – are the most important qualities for an artist. Working consistently teaches one the skills of the craft, so that they can become automatic. Then the focus can be on the idea and the process. When there is a passion that lives within, it is not hard to do this! It is all encompassing.
I believe that it is so important to learn about art history and how other artists have responded to their environments, to help define one’s voice, to find the individuality that makes one unique. Without a sense of history, art can simply be uninformed repetition.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

I have been incredibly fortunate to have a mother who was also an artist. She has always been my role model.
She taught me to sew when I was a child, to embroider, to paint, and exposed me to great art. She took me to countless museums, teaching me to see how art informs every part of our lives, including flower arranging, weaving, our environment and philosophy.
It is so utterly rewarding to me now to find myself working in a way that uses all the skills she taught me as a child, and feeling her encouragement to continue to find new ways of expressing myself in art. She believed one should never stop learning, always continue to grow and do better in life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.beaniekaman.com
• Instagram: beaniehelen
• Facebook: Beanie Kaman
• Youtube: Beanie Kaman Artist

Image Credits

Main photo: Sue Park
Artwork photos: Gene Ogami