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

Kathy Q, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

There is no doubt in my mind that I was born to be a creative. I do not wonder what it would be like to hold down a “regular job” as I held numerous jobs before the artworld crept into my heart. Unfortunate incidents in my life have literally pushed me towards various creative endeavors, opening one door and closing another. Each and every time my artistic path has lead to a discovery of more joy, contentment and self-fulfillment. Without my art, I feel I would wither away into a dried shell of nothingness. An artist will work at something for 12-14 hours, sometimes more wrapped up in the process of actualizing a vision without eating or taking a break. That, is loving your job! My family has come to embrace my need to work on my art and have often commented that they can see and feel my need also. I am blessed.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got started dabbling in art during my mid thirty’s when what we now know was a virus settled in my spine. I went from being and extremely athletic mother of three to not being able to climb our stairs because I could not lift my feet, I could only shuffle along like an old person. So, I fell into a depression. One day, I thought I should try something arty to cheer myself up. I remembered a batik class from high school and ordered supplies and the story rolls from there. A batik wax fire and burned hands lead to mosaic work and mosaic work lead to painting and sculpting. Every time, it was art that helped heal my spirit.

Now, I paint on canvas and sculpt fun creatures out of plaster cloth. My work is a celebration of what brings me joy, mostly Mother Nature and her creatures along with some whimsy and lightheartedness. I love to put little discoveries in a lot of my work. I think that comes from working with children and special needs students. Commission work is always fun for me. If you are drawn to my work, you most likely have a love of the outdoors and an element of playfulness in you already. So I love to hear stories, the colors they love and then get to work! I have even done work for people who have lost someone special.

One of the things I am most proud of is a call I received from a nursing home. Evidently, a patient of theirs moved into the facility and she had a number of paintings in her room. All of them were mine! They wanted to know what their current value would be. I had no answers for them. I truly had no idea. they had sold many years ago. I just told them the value was in what the pieces meant to her and you cannot put a price on that. Long story short. I want my work to make people feel better, to find a place to escape, to find joy like a child does and plain and simply rediscover that life can be grand.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I often times will have people rush up to look at my work with a big smile on their face, I can see that the painting has made a connection. Then I hear…..”That would be lovely in a child’s room”. I agree that much of my work (not all) would be out of place in a formal dining room, but come on people! If something lifts your spirit, it will lift the spirit of others and wouldn’t that be nice some where in your home? Adults need to connect with their inner child and let go a bit. Most creatives know how to play. Playing and exploring is how we get better with our mediums

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I highly suggest reading Clear Seeing Place by Brian Rutenberg. Not only is he a very talented, well known artist, he is an artist that I think just about anyone can relate to. His book covers his journey as an artist and also includes all kinds of suggestions as to what you might want to try along your own artistic path. You can learn a lot from this book.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kathyQParksArt.com
• Instagram: KathyQParks

Image Credits
Photo shot by Babes Photos and Davin Lavikka of Method Art