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

Kami, appreciate you joining 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.

In 2015, I moved to Wimington, North Carolina. I took a huge risk of moving to a city that I didn’t know anyone. It had always been a dream of mine to live close to the ocean. That year, my great aunt passed away and left me some money. I felt like that was my chance to start over and create a new life somewhere I loved. I remember when I first moved there, I was so scared. I needed to make friends, and even though I usually make new friends very easily, I felt so alone and vulnerable. I didn’t know who to trust, and it was a lot harder than I thought it would be.

It didn’t take me long to find a beautiful place to live. I manifested a beautiful two bedroom condo ten minutes from the beach! I also discovered a passion for riding horses I didn’t know I had. One of my favorite things to do was ride horses on the beach. The people I rode horses with became really good friends of mine. We would go on trail rides and discover new places. We had so much fun!

One of the reasons I moved to North Carolina was to take pottery classes with Hiroshi Sueyoshi at the Cameron Art Museum. He was a well known potter and sculptor. During my time there, I discovered who I was as a sculptor. Clay sculptures emerged right before my eyes that I had been seeing visions of for years. I would sit by the ocean…peacefully watching the waves. The ocean energy started showing up in my sculptures. My sculptures became more organic and textured…more flowing and free. I felt like I was able to push the boundaries of anything I had previously created. I was expressing something deep inside me that had been there, patiently waiting for me to discover.

I also have a passion for creating interesting glaze combinations. I do many tests to find unique colors. I love the ones that drip and fuse together in the kiln. I think that being a painter first helped me understand the glazing process a little better. I’ve been creating clay pieces for years, and every time the kiln gets fired, it feels like Christmas!

After I got settled in, I was so happy, I would jump out of bed every morning to go to the pottery studio, ride horses or go to the beach. I also painted at the beach, and started using sand (as texture) and salt water from the ocean in my paintings. I would take all of my art supplies to the ocean, and let the natural elements guide me in creating the painting. I use a lot of water with my paints. Sometimes the ocean breeze would blow so hard, it actually blew the paint across the canvas. The results are amazing!

I still continue to push the boundaries of my creations, and explore new places that get translated into art. It just comes through me.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

I knew I was an artist when I was five years old. I was always drawing Snoopy cartoons in Kindergarten and first grade. I drew a similar scene each time…Snoopy was laying on his back on top of his dog house, and Woodstock was on the ground bouncing around. I drew the main house where Charlie Brown lived on the left. Then, I drew the sun and clouds in the sky, with a rainbow in between them. During my school years, I always excelled in my art classes. After high school, I went to the Columbus College of Art and Design and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts.

When I was 25, I moved back to Ohio after living in Taos, New Mexico, While I lived in Taos, I started painting spiritual portraits for people. I had a special one that I had painted of myself in storage in my garage. A friend stopped by wanting to see my latest work, so I showed him the painting I had painted of me. He loved it so much, he said he wanted to buy it. Something in me clicked that day. I thought to myself, “I am officially an artist now!”

I paint what is around me…what inspires me…people, places, events, nature. I paint abstract paintings and I sculpt organic sculptures out of clay.

My work tends to reflect what is happening in my life at the time of creation. I went to Hawaii last fall and fell in love with sea turtles! They are such amazing creatures. I photographed them while they came up on shore to eat moss every day. It was absolutely one of the most magical places I’ve ever seen. I was blown away by the brightly colored flowers, the healing mountains, and the gorgeous beaches. After I came back, my latest painting called “Mahalo” was born. “Mahalo” is a word used in Hawaii to express gratitude.

I am most proud of my sculptures. I recently created a series of sculptures where I start with two pieces of clay and add interesting textures and patterns into the design. Then I bring them together, and attach them to a very sturdy base. I wait for the piece to dry, fire it, and when it comes out of the kiln, I glaze it, then fire it again.

When my dad passed away, I began making sculptures that to me, looked like two people being there for each other. I didn’t even realize what I was doing until I was in NYC at my art show opening, and I was telling someone what the sculptures I was exhibiting were about. It was at that moment that I saw what I had created, and I was speechless. That was one of the most difficult times of my whole life. I’m grateful I am an artist, and that I’ve had that outlet to express myself and find some peace.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is that I get to do what I love and am passionate about every day. I love that I know who I am and share it with the world, and all of the many lives that my artwork touches and makes a difference gives me my purpose.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission in life is to inspire and uplift others through my art. I am a painter, a sculptor, an adventure lover, a healer, a world traveler, and the mother of two very sweet cats and a bearded dragon.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kamikinnison.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/kamikinnison
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/kamikinnison
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/kamikinnison
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/kamikinnison
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/user/kamelakinnison/videos