Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kat McDaniel. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Kat thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
I needed to paint my emotions, to get them on canvas and out of my head where they were festering. I started with the darkness and grief… My brother recently took his life. It was unexpected, violent, and gruesome. I was devastated. I felt broken and empty, like a town that had been hit by a nuclear bomb. Sadness and darkness surrounded me, but I had people in my life that helped me through it when I didn’t think I was going to survive the grief. My friends and family were the light that let me see the good in the world, even when everything seemed so bleak.
I’ve always loved sunflowers, and thought of them as little pieces of happy, but I learned that they have a unique ability to fix and cleanse the soil after nuclear fallout so things can grow again. I revisited the painting and added sunflowers, but made them clear and bright, like the friends who have held me together and kept me going every day.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’ve always been a creator. My passion is art in any form. Music, visual art, dance, scents… art for all senses. However, I spent most of my life settling for jobs that made me miserable just because I was good at them. I struggled to find time for the things that make me feel alive, and suffered from severe depression anxiety, and PTSD from past traumas. A few years ago, I stumbled into a position teaching taiko drums, and I absolutely love it! Being happy every day changed my life. I began painting again. I began making things again. I sold my first painting and then my first scented products, and decided to make a living doing what I love.
Now I teach art, dance, and music full time. I paint every day, and spend my free time creating new scents for my candles, soaps and skin care products. I’m proud of the risks I’ve taken and for believing in myself enough to invest in my happiness. I’m more resilient, and feel love and positivity I never felt before.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is seeing the way other people think. I love getting feedback about my work, and like seeing how others see the same thing and feel something completely different. We are all unique, we all have our own views on everything, and a lot of that comes out when we experience art. I’m fascinated by the culture and background of other people, especially if they are different from mine. I love seeing through someone else’s eyes.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
The main thing that drives my creative journey is my view that art should be accessible to everyone. We all have something in common, and the arts encourage us to find those commonalities. When ensembles play or dance together often, their hearts sync with each other. When people see something in my art they can relate to, we connect on a personal level. It’s a universal language of shared emotion and history that resonates with every human on a deep level I don’t think we fully understand.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lakyrieboheme.com
- Instagram: @lakyrieboheme
- Facebook: /lakyrieboheme