We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kemi Yemi-Ese a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kemi, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Even though I have been painting for almost 10 years I still consider myself a student of the craft. It is important to find new ways to understand the medium and draw from the experiences of those who have been painting longer than I have. Some of the fondest memories I have of learning how to paint came from my experience in my first oil painting class in college. I was under the instruction of Karl Umlauf who is a prolific artist and son to sculptor Charles Umlauf. Professor Umlauf’s guidance and encouragement was instrumental in me discovering how to hold paintbrushes with the challenge of my paralyzed hands and how to be patient and even take risks with oil paint. He taught me how to use a rubber band to hold a paintbrush more firmly in my hands and how to set up my workspace around my wheelchair. After I turned in a landscape painting [the second painting I’d ever done in the class], he declared that I should do landscapes for the rest of the semester. It was something he saw in my work and my challenges that encouraged me to see and explore it more myself.

Kemi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Kemi Yemi-Ese and I am a visual artist and therapist residing in Austin, Texas. As a creative I focus on painting dynamic and introspective art pieces in oil paint and other mediums. I began my artistic journey after surviving a car accident on 2006 that left me paralyzed and reliant on a wheelchair for mobility. Expressing myself through art was always therapeutic and I was honored when friends and family members started buying my artwork in the beginning. I am most proud of how my artwork has evolved and has become more connected to people who view and embrace it.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist for me is witnessing how a piece I work alone on for weeks or months connects with other people on a deep level. Being a person with a disability, I often feel somewhat disconnected from what I’d think is the common human experience. I feel like the most visible invisible person constantly having to validate my existence and need for accommodations. I address this subtly in my work, especially in my latest body of pieces. To see other people pick that up and draw meaning for themselves is a beautiful thing. Through my art, I am recognizing that I’m part of a whole. I am not solitary in my experiences and that is a revelation that pushes me to continue creating and sharing my art.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I believe that non-creatives struggle with understanding the process and end goals I have when creating a body of work. I don’t think about making as many pieces as possible to sell and I don’t create paintings for financial gain. I create pieces with the intention of exploring specific emotions, ideas, and constructs. This ultimately means I work at a slower pace [especially considering my limited function in my arms and hands]. Since I don’t rely on my art to make a living, some would say I’m not successful, but the connections I’ve made with art lovers and art centered organizations contradicts that notion. I define my success by how each piece resonates with other people and how organizations provide frequent opportunities for me to share my art.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kemisart.com
• Instagram: www.instagram/kemisart/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/kemisart
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYYL3lxUipc&t=79s&ab_channel=KemiY

Image Credits
All images were taken by the Artist, Kemi Yemi-Ese