We recently connected with Kenzie Miller and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kenzie, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I’m sure I had already found my purpose at a very young age. I rarely ever watched cartoons, it was always some form of wildlife documentary whether that was NatGeo, Animal Planet, and/or Planet Earth. I had a variety of field guides and I’d use a few of them to identify the songbirds and the birds of prey in my area. We’d see foxes in our neighborhood and would follow them hoping to get a better look. There were Desert Cottontail bunnies that lived under our front porch, and so every morning I would go outside and sit with them while they ate. By the end of the summer it got to the point where I could get just a couple feet away from them. We’d go to the tree nursery that was near us and get ladybugs as well, and I always raised little butterflies. Animals and wildlife have always had a special place in my heart, and as I’ve grown up I’ve realized how much they truly need our help with conservation.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
With my art, I focus on wildlife, the beautiful environment that they call home, as well as some artwork of the universe that we all call home. The style I do is mostly realistic, but I will be doing a few more with abstract backgrounds. I think the most exciting thing about what I do is being able to study species and depict the environment they live in, as well as being able to educate others on what’s all out there. Also, bringing awareness to the species themselves and their conservation needs, since some of them are so unknown and unheard of that they face a silent extinction. With each sale, I donate 10% to wildlife conservation groups so they can continue their amazing work. One of the projects I’m currently working on is a series of horse portraits from the riding organization that I used to be part of. The originals, prints, stickers, buttons, and necklaces will debut at the Horsecapades show in Denver, Colorado in October! I’ve gotten the first portrait done, she’s a strawberry roan named Wildfire. Currently working on a bay named Flame, which is Wildfires daughter! So if you are in or around that area during October, come say hi!
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?
I think one of the most important things is passion, because you need to love what you do, or else what is the point in doing it? If you have a fire within yourself and feel it with every fiber in your being, that’s what your path is. The next important thing is determination, and not letting what anyone says sway you or bring you down. Use that fire within you and prove your haters and nay-sayers wrong. The last important thing is perusing knowledge and information on what you want to do. For me it’s looking up techniques with painting, as well as information on the wildlife species I’m painting.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I’m currently looking to collaborate with AZA accredited zoos, aquariums, and reserves, and possibly sell some of my artwork in their gift shops, and/or create exclusive artwork for them! If you are a zoo, or aquarium looking for artwork, and new products for your gift shop, you can email me at goghwithart@gmail.com, dm me on Instagram, or send a form in on my website!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://goghwithart.wixsite.com/website
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goghwithart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goghwithart?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: DeviantArt: https://www.deviantart.com/goghwithart
Image Credits
Photo of me: Heidi Darden (my mom)
