We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kamila Kowalke. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kamila below.
Kamila, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Last year I had an honor to work with the City of Hope to create art based on the cancer journey of one of their patients, Cindy Brown. The painting was created on a 6 ft. tall letter “o” that was a part of the 3D word HOPE that was created to celebrate the opening of the new City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Treatment Center in Irvine, California.
Meeting Cindy, interviewing her and capturing the essence of her approach to hope was the most meaningful project I have worked on. Cindy is an exceptional person. She has been living with incurable cancer for 8 years and her optimism and openness to possibilities is extraordinary. She is a peaceful warrior who is a fantastic role model for all of us. She is an amazing example of someone who directs her future and yet beautifully flows with the current of life instead of struggling and fighting against it. We all can learn from her attitude and approach.
In addition to creating this special artwork on the letter “O”. I also participated in the exhibits at the new City of Hope Cancer Center. Being able to make a small contribution to putting a smile on the face of patients, doctors and staff means a lot to me. Given my mission to spread peace, calm, joy and love through my art, working with the City of Hope has been the most meaningful project for me and I am honored that two of my paintings have become a part of the Center’s permanent installation.
Kamila, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Finding beauty and peace in places where it often did not exist was something my mother taught me about. The challenges of being raised in Communist Poland in the 80s in a difficult and challenging economic and social environment began my search for the beauty and small luxuries of life which art definitely represents. While I entertained the idea of studying art in college, I chose focusing on business as the collapse of communism opened up opportunities to make money and raise above what communism used to offer people in that part of the world. I studied management and industrial engineering, immigrated to the United States where I completed my MBA and embarked on a career in Information Technology and Finance. I rarely painted and engrossed myself in my career.
After many years I realized that my career which brought me a lot of success and financial security and was once a great adventure and the embodiment of high-octane energy, evolved into days filled with exhaustion and isolation, disconnect from my femininity and my creative side.
My coaches at that time, suggested that I find an activity that did not have an objective or goal but involved something peaceful, beautiful, relaxing… and this is how I started painting again… and the rest is history…
Today I am able to lose myself in my paintings and create a world as I see it. One of joy and laughter and humility and appreciation that I am a part of this amazing universe and all it has to offer. That is the world I hope to share with others… both those who already see it this way and those who are craving this world as they are living in a world of stress and pressure but know intuitively that there is a different way of living. My mission is to bring that beautiful world of effortless flow and ease to them through my art
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Being able to share my energy with other people through a tangible object that makes a difference in their life… by either bringing up good memories, inspiring them or making their surroundings better… is the reason why I create art… it is my small way of making the world a better place… one painting at a time… one smile at a time.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
Absolutely. I love reading books and feel fortunate that I speak English as there is such a wealth of knowledge shared in books written in this language. In the last 10 years, Jamie Smart’s books “Clarity” and “Results” and Michael Neill’s book “The Space Within” have impacted my philosophy profoundly.
Both authors refer to the understanding of how our minds, thoughts and consciousness create our reality and explain misunderstandings surrounding the human condition. They both taught me how to tap into creativity, make decision faster and create more peace and calm in my life. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kamilakowalke.com
- Instagram: @kamilakowalkeart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kamilakowalkeart/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamila-kowalke-9377ba/
- Youtube: @kamilakowalkeart