Meet Dora Kearney

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dora Kearney. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dora below.

Hi Dora, thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.

This is a great question and something I am often asked about. I have a unique process where I will work on several different projects or tasks at a time. For example, I will want to start a painting but get stuck n exactly where to start so as I work through the steps get going, I may stumble on another idea and begin that piece too. I find working on different projects at once keeps the creativity flowing!

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a multi-faceted artist, decorative painter, designer, and Creative Coach. I work on 2D and 3D art pieces, design spaces and paint murals using old-world techniques blended with cutting edge materials and applications. My artwork has been featured in magazines, galleries and fine art museums in the Midwest region. In 2026, I am looking to expand to other areas of the US getting my work in front of more enthusiasts and collectors.

I also do public speaking events about Creative Coaching, drawing from my corporate background and combining my artistry skills with the basics of project management. I wrote down my approach to creating and developed a 5 step method that has proven effective at assisting anyone with a creative project to move from concept to tangible completion. If this sounds interesting to you for a project you are working on, a team building event, or a corporate training for project management, reach out to me today, I am booking for 2026 and early 2027 dates!

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?

My top 3 are of each category! Quality: Curiosity, Skill: Brainstorming, Area of Knowledge: the Arts, with Science as a close second. I chose these as I use all the things I love about them in my daily creative practice. For example, I am curious about an idea so I brainstorm ways to create it while achieving the style or finished look I envision. I use my inspiration from the arts and a little mad science to combine media for textures, sparkle, or boldness. My best advice would be to stay curious and try new things in art and always remember 2 things, it’s only paint and there are no mistakes in art.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

I actually have 2! The first is titled, Color: A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finlay which is a wonderfully engrossing book about the history, origins, and cultural significance of colors. There are so many nuggets of wisdom from this book and I feel that just knowing the origin of Yellow Ochre or the significance of Lamp Black in historical paintings makes me appreciate the natural pigments I use and the journey of the pigment and paint production before I even get to the painting!

The second is titled The Artist’s Palette by Alexandra Loske and is a fantastic look at 50 renowned artists palette’s paired with one or two famous paintings they created. The coolest part of this is that it spans artists from the 17th century to present day with analysis of the colors, brushstrokes and tools used by each artist. This is a fabulous way to learn about your favorite artists who influence your creativity.

Both of these books make me a more thoughtful artist in the colors I choose, the tools I use and the story of my creation. I highly recommend both of these book to artists and art enthusiasts alike.

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