Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kasha SofIa. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kasha, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
By the time I was 10 I knew that I wanted to have a creative and colorful life. Im thankful that I had a mostly supportive environment growing up for me to start exploring drawing and photography. By the time I was 21, I was dreaming of my own art collective and learning how express my inner worlds more authentically. Art and radical self expression have been a constant and I’ve had the absolute pleasure to meet, work alongside and learn from many incredible people over the years.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a nonbinary visual artist who is based in the Pacific Northwest. My focus is exploring the stories, energy and emotions that run the show we call life. To explore the seen and the “unseen”. Many of my themes are drawn from eastern philosophy and religions, while also showcasing the messages learnt from psychedelic medicines.
When I moved out on my own, my partner at the time encouraged me to step outside the camera and try portraying my visions through paint. From that moment on I began my journey with acrylic and oil paints on canvas and have been doing so for that last 10 years. Live painting and exhibitions are how I am currently sharing my art with the world along side social media (IG – @artist.kasha). I receive support from collectors purchasing my originals, merchandise products such as prints as well as commissions, when the fit is aligned.
The thing that brings me the most satisfaction in life and in bringing art into people’s lives, is the healing and inspiring experiences one can have with original art. Art is a portal for healing and it is important to observe real art by real people every day; to allow ourselves to experience someone else’s world/mind, for just a moment. To let go of society’s expectation and sink into a different dimension to expand our own minds and hearts.
In my professional life I’ve ran an artist collective and gallery , been the curator for Axis Pioneer Square in Seattle and been the artistic director/curator for local festivals. I am currently diving into the world of cannabis and how it can medically help us and how art and cannabis can be intertwined.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Make opportunities for everyone at any level to create for free. Have opportunities for artists to show for free or get paid to do so. Stop with the 30%+ commissions because that’s just unethical. What if you don’t have money to financially support an artist? Share their work (but make sure to give proper credit), like/engage with their posts online and/or comment something positive. If you see someone out in public or at an event, share their work online, give them a follow, or buy something small because everything adds up and is greatly appreciated.
Now, I’m going to make some people upset here but I think what really needs to be done away with, is this generation of Ai art and “artists”. It’s not art, its’ fraud and it’s stealing. I fully believe Ai can assist us with art and generate ideas, but you shouldn’t be calling yourself an artist when you have simply put in a few words into a program. I liken this to the argument of using projectors to trace ideas onto a canvas. It’s not cheating, it’s a tool. Ai can be used as a tool.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
No backstory, just a lesson or realization I think everyone deserves to read. That is… There’s no actual competition in the art world. I’m serious. Sure we as artists WANT people to buy our work and support us so we can continue to support ourselves doing the thing that gives us life. But there isn’t any actual competition unless your’e making art purely for money. Art helps create space to move about our lives in a more realized way. To have a piece to look at to feel something. Zen? Love? Happiness? Motivation? Passion? Pain? People will gravitate to what they need or truly desire.
We all have our individual stories and experiences to share through our mediums and the viewer will connect with it, if it’s in alignment. We have to find our audience and those who want to support us. We all can and I must admit I’m still very much on that journey, but I’m getting closer each painting I finish. Our art is our own individual experience and those who buy our art, believe in that. No one besides YOU can create that reality.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/artist.kasha