We were lucky to catch up with Deena King recently and have shared our conversation below.

Deena, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

As a child I was not a risk taker, the safer the path, the better. As I matured into a young adult, I found myself in some life changings moments and took a risk to attend college later in life as a single mother. I had a professor encourage me to major in graphic design and an amazing painting professor who encouraged individual expressive painting. Their influences have helped my career path as a freelance graphic designer and a professional abstract expressionism artist. In, 2019, my husband and I took the risk to move to Florida, where we would know not one person and our family many states away. Shortly after our move, Pandemic 2020 happened. I started to paint during the lock down and decided to enter a painting in a local art exhibition. This was the first time I gathered up the courage to enter my artwork for public view. My painting was accepted and it sold! I was so shocked and excited, realizing, that if I had not taken the action to push myself to enter the exhibition, I would not be a professional artist with over 50 art exhibits under my belt, a handful of awards, and most recently my own artist residency within a two year time period. As I continued to build my artwork inventory for buyers and collectors, I quickly realized a need to have a working studio. Once again I found myself pushing to step outside my comfort zone and take the risk to start my own business. In January 2022, I created Define Art Gallery and Studio which is located in beautiful downtown Sarasota, Florida. This business creates a space for me to paint and show my artwork with future plans to include classes, salon discussions, and exhibitions. Now my career titles are not only graphic designer and artist, but also business owner and curator. Taking risks has taught me that the timid life was good, but the risks in life create excitement, opportunity and quality of life.

Deena, 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?

I was Born and raised in a small town in western Kansas. I Graduated from Fort Hays State University (FHSU) with a BFA in Graphic Design: emphasis in painting. As a child I could sit for hours and color, paint, craft; it was comforting and came naturally. Academic learning was a struggle for me, therefore, to make art gave me a sense of confidence that the other subjects could not. I never thought I could make a career of being an artist, until college, where I had a professor encourage me to major in Graphic Design, and an amazing painting professor who allowed for individual expression which opened my world of creating! After taking a decade off to raise my 4 children, I am now propelling into the art scene with a rebirth of excitement. For me personally, creating art gives me joy, confidence, and helps me to remember I am a humbled, flawed person wanting to do good in this world. It helps bring out the best version of myself. My goal in my artwork is that the same reaction is achieved for the viewer, buyer, and collector. To see beyond the colors, shapes, lines, and to “see something” (a reaction, a feeling) others might not. I hope to achieve a sense that even though we each “see” and “feel” differently; we all can relate to the concept of wanting to be the best version of ourselves. Art should feed everyone’s soul and my goal as an artist is to create the “something” that can do just that. As a Contemporary Expressionist Artist my art conveys an abstract reality of a conceptual idea. I use mood, and emotions to develop the conceptual idea, which creates complex artwork. My work is striking and will hold your attention with bold colors and intriguing pattern play. My style has depth with layers and the result is visually exciting, dramatic, and powerful. Some of my pieces are completely abstract while others are a mix of both abstraction and figurative.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I am a free spirited “hopeless romantic” that believes the “Greek tragedy” will have a happy ending, that every action causes a reaction, and beauty can be found in most. My concepts are a result of my theory that anything is possible if you persevere, despair is strength, hope is power, and to find joy in those life moments of truth we all face. Therefore, the most rewarding aspect is when another person connects with my artwork. When they can be emotionally pulled into the concept and image. When they share a story, idea, or experience that was felt when viewing my artwork is the greatest feeling of accomplishment!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Fifteen years ago my husband and I made the decision for me to leave my corporate graphic design job to become a stay at home mom for our four children. The best career move (or pivot) I have ever taken. My graphic design career became second to my ability to mold and develop my children. I retained my freelancing and small amounts of artwork jobs for family and friend, but this pivot was only a small detour, for now, my children are older and I am propelling back into the art scene and busy building my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.deenaking.com
• Instagram: www.instagram/kingdm530
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deena-king-aa14a5b3/
• Other: www.definegallery.com