Embracing My Artistic Journey: A Grandma’s 2024 Creative Breakthrough

Good morning. This is K. Perry, and I’m excited to share with you not just a brief update, but a glimpse into a significant shift in my life. As you might know, life as a grandma keeps me quite busy, but that hasn’t dampened my spirit or my passion for art. In fact, I’m gearing up for a momentous year ahead.

I’ve always been an artist at heart, but 2024 is set to be a year unlike any other for me—it’s the year I truly step into the spotlight. After a lifetime devoted to creation in private, I’m ready to share my work with the world. And what better way to do that than at the lively, community-centric Farmers Market? There’s something incredibly fulfilling about seeing your work come alive in the hands of others, on T-shirts, on mugs—everyday items that transform into canvases for expression.

This outing, however, is more than just an exhibition of my lifelong craft. It’s a collaboration and celebration of my grandchildren’s artistry as well. By showcasing their works alongside mine, I hope to spark in them the realization of their own potential. This is an opportunity to see the continuation of creativity, a family legacy taking shape.

My journey with art began with simple sketches, subtle yet profound. Looking back, I recognize these early pieces as a reflection of an inner dialogue about race and identity. Rather than focusing on skin color, my work emphasized other aspects of the human form, perhaps as a silent protest, a wish for unity. They say a lot about who I was and still am at my core—an artist unfiltered by societal bias.

From Sketches to Societal Statements

That’s not to say that my initial sketches were any less significant. For a long time, my figures were defined without the depiction of skin color, a choice that was loaded with meaning. But as life’s chapters unfolded, so did the hues of my artwork.

So why the shift to color? Well, it was necessary. Color brought a new dimension to my work after I got married – a spectrum that represented life’s diverse experiences. Each shade, each stroke, was a step towards embracing the full range of human emotions and identities.

One of my favorite projects has been representing women from different ethnic backgrounds on a deck of cards.  It’s one particularly ambitious endeavor where I’m basically challenging stereotypes through a deck of cards. Picture this: women across four ethnicities symbolically represented, with stereotypes boldly called into question. I’ve got about ten different designs, with the queens being the most complete. It’s a work in progress, but I’m really proud of it.

My recent works navigate the complex waters of my professional and personal experiences. They’re more than just art; they’re snapshots of life, empathy transformed into images. I really hope that you can see the passion in these pieces because they reflect real stories of real people.

I also frequently venture into the spiritual with my paintings. I’m particularly fond of two works—one depicts God in a white tee-shirt, and the other portrays Shiva. I’ve chosen to depict them in blue because these works are visual meditations on the spirit’s essence and for me blue represents spiritual energy. As artist we know art isn’t simply about aesthetic pleasure—it’s always imbued with a deeper resonance, capturing essences rather than just appearances. Both Shiva and God in a white tee bring forth the vibrancy of spirit to me, hopefully in a manner that’s thought-provoking and visually interesting.

Uniting Artists and Art Lovers: A Vision for the Future

More than just creating my own work I have always been interested in connecting with artist in my community. We are creating some incredible things that should be shared. The art of any one artist is always special, but the art of many artist is so much more than a personal triumph; it’s a beacon for community and connection in the art world. Our collective art is an invitation. A gift. Life has invited us artists to become part of a larger dialogue.

As artists we are called to create, share, and unite—even when the canvas of life feels tumultuous or unpredictable. During times that challenge our normal ways of living and expressing, is precisely when art becomes most crucial. Displaying our art collectively sends a message of artistic solidarity that is both a comfort and a call to arms. It’s a reminder that no artist works in isolation and that each creation contributes to the grand tape of our collective culture. In standing against racism, embracing diversity, and channeling spiritual energy, Art contributes to a larger conversation—one that is ready to burst forth and be seen and heard.

So, if you’ve got that sketch tucked away in a drawer or that half-finished canvas gathering dust: now is the time. Shake off the doubt, pick up the brush, and join the global crescendo of creative voices. The world is waiting to see what we, as a united front of dreamers and makers, can accomplish together.