Today we’d like to introduce you to Kena Ramírez Dillon

Hi Kena, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

While I’m not exactly where I want to be yet, I’m grateful for the journey that’s led me to where I am so far. Growing up, I was the artsy kid. I didn’t ask for toys (ok, maybe some), but mostly— I wanted art supplies. I would get in trouble at school for doodling on anything within reach—homework, my clothes, my backpack, even myself.
After high school, I jumped headfirst into graphic design at Metro State in Denver, but something was missing. Between balancing school and jobs, retail at JC Penney and tech support at Dish Network, I felt my creativity slipping away. In a bid to shake things up, I did something completely unexpected (both to myself and my family)—I joined the Navy. Let me tell you… those recruiters work quick. Two weeks later, I was sworn in. A few short months later, I was off to bootcamp; on a brand new adventure.
As an Aviation Machinist’s Mate (F-18 jet mechanic)I experienced and saw things I never thought I would. The cherry on top? I met the love of my life— a fellow mech. We served side by side for a bit, but when our family began to grow, I faced a choice: re-enlist or follow my creative passion. I chose the latter.
Once I was out, I went back to school. I earned my Associate in Visual Arts from Skagit Valley College in Washington and later my Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati’s Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) program, expanding my artistic arsenal to include sculpture through woodworking and welding. Fun fact and proud moment—after taking some classes at Ivy Tech to beef up my welding skills, I took the Gas Metal Arc Welding certification test. In a class of 15, with me being the only woman, only three passed. I was one of them. Fast forward to today; after 12 years of marriage and two incredible sons, I’m settled in Indiana and back to doing what I love. Currently, I’m experimenting with new mediums and ideas, pushing the boundaries of my artistic expression. Being able to work from my home studio, gives me the freedom to create on my time, as well as be present in raising my sons alongside my husband. Which is a blessing I don’t take for granted. “Balancing” it all is an exciting chapter, and while the future is uncertain, it’s filled with possibilities—and I’m curious to see where it takes me.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

It hasn’t been the smoothest road, but what’s life without downs to appreciate the ups, and ups to help get you through the downs? While I’ve faced some deep downs, I’m not ready to share those yet. Instead, I’ll speak on the self-imposed ones— something I wouldn’t have been open to discussing just a few years ago. We often get in our own heads and create roadblocks, fearing that if we let others in on these feelings, it’ll shatter some illusion. What illusion? Who knows. But I digress…
I’ve been working on myself and feel more open and at peace—not perfect, but making progress. That being said, imposter syndrome, comparison, and fear of judgment have all caused me to second-guess myself. They’ve held me back, both in my work and on social media. Despite being blessed with God-given creative talent, I’ve struggled with putting myself out there and with marketing my work. But my collectors love my pieces, so I’m working on figuring it out. One of my biggest realizations came from observing others. Seeing them achieve what I wanted without seeming to worry about external opinions. I began to recognize that my need for perfectionism—most likely to avoid feeling judged—was holding me back. When I delved into surrealism, I started to experiment with imperfection. This new way of creating allowed me to let go and see “flaws” in my creative process as something beautiful, as opposed to something that needed fixing.
Creating “normal” art feels methodical, almost like solving a puzzle— working it in my brain to make random brushstrokes harmonize into something recognizable, like a bear. With my surreal work, like my Blobby Dude pieces, it’s another world entirely. There’s no reference photo, just my brain and hand communicating in a way that feels almost like alchemy. Slowly chipping away at the image in my mind, until it’s a tangible, visible piece in the world. It’s both mentally invigorating and nerve-wracking, as imposter syndrome still lurks in the background; a mental stalker I can’t yet shake. I know no one loves or understands my Blobbies quite like I do (yet), but with each new piece, I’m bringing something fresh, and beautifully bizarre into the world. Every surreal piece deepens my self-discovery and expands my creative vision. Even my “normal” work is pulling inspiration from my surreal pieces. I see it in the brushstrokes and in the ways I no longer strive for perfection. Nowadays, I feel like I’m breaking through. Inspiration strikes unexpectedly, like a cobra lying in wait, and it excites me to think about what I’ll create next. Will it be Blobby, normal, or otherwise? I guess we’ll see…

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

This would’ve been super awkward for me to answer a few years ago. While I used to feel like I was “tooting my own horn” if I talked about myself and my work, I realize that it’s possible to be grounded while recognizing and embracing the skills and talents I’ve worked hard to develop. That being said, I’m a semi-surrealist currently known for creating whimsical and beautifully bizarre pieces that explore the relationship between joy, struggle, and everyday life. My work often stems from personal experiences, as well as random sparks of inspiration, which lead to some of my goofier pieces.
Due to a rotator cuff tear and carpal tunnel in my right hand, painting digitally has been my preferred medium lately. Although my shoulder is ‘healed,’ it and my carpal tunnel still give me trouble, making traditional painting difficult and painful at times—literally putting the ‘pain’ in painting. In addition to painting, I create sculptures through woodworking and welding (some of which have earned awards, one from the Formica brand), and mixed media. One of the things I’m most proud of is that despite not being where I’d like to be yet career-wise, I persist. Recently, I was featured in Create! Magazine’s Art Queens Vol. III art book, with a six-page spread that includes a portrait, an interview, and my artwork. A new and proud moment in my career. I can’t quite put into words why, but l have an unyielding drive to create. Something in me knows that I need to give life to the ideas that manifest in my mind. While some don’t become pieces at the time of their conception, they’ve popped back up from time to time, and made themselves useful in new work.
I’m also proud of having taken on several projects that challenged me, like creating a mini mural for United Way in Cincinnati for an elementary school. I also became a teaching artist for one of ArtWorks’ beautiful murals in Cincy, where I contributed to a 45 x 55 ft mural inspired by a Winsor McCay comic, working alongside an amazing team. Proud of pushing my creative limits and using my talents on projects that benefit others. I’ve been working with the Mary T. Klinker Veterans Resource Center in Lafayette, IN and am planning a new collection to benefit Riley Hospital for Children. It’s a great feeling to create not only to feed my soul, but also to help others.
Something that sets me apart is my commitment to experimenting with different mediums and styles, whether it’s painting, sculpture, or digital art. This keeps my brain actively engaged and helps me constantly evolve as an artist. I’ve recently expanded Blobby’s world, the Blobbiverse as I call it, beyond two-dimensional art, and there are Blobby sculptures in the works. This allows me to bring Blobby into a more tangible, physical realm, which is exciting for both me and my collectors. While some people have suggested I pick a niche, I love the freedom that comes with not limiting myself to one thing. As someone who loves learning and experimenting, I can’t see myself sticking with just one thing anytime soon.
As for Blobby, this character has become an embodiment of raw emotion, experiences, humor, and vulnerability. My Blobby pieces often hold deeper meanings that resonate with my collectors. Though they may appear
lighthearted or even silly, some carry real emotions and dark experiences. For example, Just Look at the Sprinkles came from a dark period in my life. It shows Blobby as a sea foam green ice cream cone with sprinkles, glowing in the darkness. The ice cream melting, and appears almost to be crying. Melting away while striving to remain solid. Then there are the sprinkles. Scattered in the darkness. Reminding us that even in tough times, there’s always someone or something, to give us hope. Our light in the dark. It’s a reminder to “just look at the sprinkles” when you’re going through a tough period.
While my work reflects my personal journey, my collectors have responded to its universal themes of imperfection, struggles, growth, and resilience. I love that my art can be appreciated by both adults and children—something important to me as a mama.
My work is a testament to the beauty found in vulnerability, inspiring others to see that art can come from both highs and lows. Snapshots of life, even the darker moments, and presenting them in a way that radiates light and joy. They stand proudly, like a badge of honor or beacon of hope. As a sign that whatever the experience, you made it through.

Who else deserves credit in your story?

It started with my mom, dad, and brother. Growing up, they knew I wanted to be an artist. Looking back, I realize they could’ve easily told me to look into getting a “real” job or to be “realistic.” Having had conversations with fellow artists, I know some of them faced those situations growing up, feeling like they were letting their families down by pursuing their passions. My childhood may not have been perfect, but I’m incredibly thankful for my parents recognizing and supporting the fact that art and I were meant to be.

Then my husband entered the picture. We met in the Navy, both mechanics on F-18 jets at the time. Roughly two years after meeting, we were married and had just started our little family, welcoming our first son. As I decided at the end of my contract to get out and go back to school instead of reenlisting, there was a tiny hiccup when I contemplated going into nursing for the money/security. My husband knew that wasn’t where my heart was, and fully supported my decision to return to art after I got out of the Navy. He and our boys continue to be my greatest champions, along with my parents and brother. Both our boys love being in the studio with me, something that I cherish as an artist, but most importantly as their mama.

As for people outside of my family, there are my friends, collectors, and the community I’m building on social media. There are a few individuals who stand out though, so I’d like to mention them.

First, Feliks and his wife Andrea from Color by Feliks. I met Feliks back when I was going to school in Washington, as we shared a class taught by the incredible Mary Iverson. Mary is not only an amazingly talented and respected artist, but also a passionate teacher who has also inspired me and helped me push my creative boundaries. Watching Feliks grow not only his talents, but his business, also thanks to Andrea, into what I consider an art empire has been inspiring. Together, they also created the Freedom to Create course for artists—an amazing resource that helps artists learn how to build a thriving art business. He and Andrea not only built an incredible business but also share their knowledge and encourage creativity in other artists to pursue their dreams.

Next, is Sean Oswald, a talented artist and my oil painting professor while at UC DAAP. Back then, I was new to painting, as charcoal and graphite had been my go to. My art world was primarily black and white. In my paintings, I was mixing black into my colors to create darker shades. He challenged me to avoid using black entirely. As much as I didn’t care for that in the moment, it taught me something I’ll never forget. He not only helped me see color in ways I hadn’t before, but also helped me see that black and white wasn’t just black and white. To notice the subtle, and beautiful variations in temperature and tone. Suddenly, I could see deep purples, blues, greens, pastel pinks, oranges, and more within black and white. This added richness to my work, helping me to create depth without dulling the vibrancy of the colors around them. I like to say that he helped me truly see colors.

Finally, Pamela Pekerman. Being an artist is its own mixed bag, and when you add motherhood and business into the equation, it’s on a whole other level. While I feel confident in the creative side of being an artist, I’m still finding my footing on the business side of things. That’s where Pamela comes in. I came across her through social media and became part of her Hustle Like a Mom community. She has created an amazing business family for moms who love their families and have big dreams of their own. One of the many amazing features of her HLAM community is her Zoom workshops, featuring successful women from various industries—CEOs, media professionals, and more. Two of the most impactful workshops for me were led by Patrice Poltzer and Joelle Gargiulo, former producers for the Today Show. Later, I also took a separate workshop directly with Patrice, which had a profound effect on me. She helped me rediscover magic in myself and my work—that I had lost somewhere along the way. Her insights reignited a sense of purpose and creativity that I’m incredibly grateful for.

As I continue to grow both as an artist and all-around human being, I recognize that success is never achieved alone. It’s a collaborative effort between family, friends, mentors, and the communities we build. The encouragement I’ve received from those I’ve mentioned, and so many others, fuels me daily; especially when the flame gets a little low. I’m beyond grateful for the love, guidance, and inspiration they’ve given me, and I’m excited to continue this creative journey with their support.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kenatheartist.com
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/kenatheartist
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kenatheartist
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kenatheartist?si=Ec2U9WSzgrQ4peE6