Meet Misty Kelischek

We recently connected with Misty Kelischek and have shared our conversation below.

Misty, 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 grew up in rural North Georgia and attended the church my ancestors built 100 years ago. We were taught that our purpose was to follow the teachings of Jesus and navigate the world with integrity.
That felt right to me but I struggled to submit to church culture. In fact, I became so frustrated that I couldn’t even find God within the structure itself and attendance became a burden.
I began looking in places outside those walls but didn’t have a lot of variety to comb through. It was alright though, because I soon found that there was more grace and otherworldly magic in the woods behind my house than could be contained in the cinder-block square of the church. I also learned that the more still and quiet I became, the more I was accepted into the fold of the forest. So then it began that I accepted membership into a church culture I could enjoy with the flexibility and consistency that never failed me.
Once I became college aged, I dabbled in a little Catholicism. I loved the ritual and the opulence of that church, but it wasn’t enough to keep me there.
Post college, I moved to downtown Asheville and worked in a community that had a fine-art gallery on every block. I was surprised to find that I felt the same spiritual tug at my heart that I had felt when searching for God. It wasn’t until I started learning to paint that I realized the channels I’d step into to accept the incoming creative inspirations was a spiritual experience I didn’t have language for. But it felt the same and I knew it had a higher purpose.
So today, I have refined my process to reflect this journey. I feel like art matters in a big way that’s hard to pin down with words. These are hard times and I want my work to serve others as they navigate their lives.
My bubbles represent the souls that are always with us, my creatures represent the self on its journey and the gold represents the church of your choosing. It also serves as a reminder to be stewards of our natural world, which is changing so rapidly that I fear it will slip right through our fingers.
I’m mindful with my art because I’m inclined to believe that it’s important to put good things into the world. Other artists feel compelled to create dark images that convey fear, sadness or even horror. I do not begrudge them this, as it may be their purpose. I know it’s my purpose to plant seeds of joy, thoughtfulness and inclusion.

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 am an artist who paints 2-D and 3-D works that emphasizes nature and spirituality. I’m also a teacher in a creative field.
When not in the classroom, I’m either playing with my new hobby, which is wood carving or painting my signature images of animals and bubbles.
I live in rural NC and enjoy walks with my pets to see what’s down at the pond. We see frogs, deer and snakes and I never tire of it!
Some weekends, my family and I travel to juried art fairs where I show and sell my work directly to the public. I love that there’s no barrier between me and the people who are drawn in for a closer look. Meeting collectors has been a very exciting highlight in my career!

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?

Honestly, I feel like getting to know myself through enough therapy to have a doctorate degree has been the best tool I have in the old toolbox. I’ve learned how to like who I am and see how similar we all are. When people walk into my booth, I have the same love and compassion for them as I do myself, and that’s the work in action.
After that, I’d say that it’s important to stay physically healthy and strong. Doing art fairs will be very physically demanding and mobility is temporary for all of us. You’re going to want to preserve your body as best you can.
My third nugget of knowledge to impart is that you shouldn’t get so lost in building your business or body of work that you don’t tend to your own wellbeing. I’ve been guilty of that and it never pays off. What’s good for you is good for the art.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal client is someone who is conscientious and sensitive. This is the type of person who is so tuned in that they will leave the room if the vibe is wrong.
This sensitivity results in them curating a living space that resonates so deeply with who they are in their soul that their home is their sacred tabernacle.
They do not conform to trends and they aren’t afraid of color if it supports the energy they want to match.
They’re creative, deep thinkers who are ready to heal themselves and others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ilovemisty.com
• Instagram: @misty_kelischek_artist