We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kelley Batson-Howard a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kelley, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The biggest risk I’ve taken as an adult was when I closed the family business and began pursuing art as a career at the age of 56. The business was closing regardless, and I had a choice to make. I would get a regular job to help maintain the household’s regular income or I would learn to live on less and pursue a long held dream of being an artist. In the end, I chose to get on the path of being an artist. The happiness in my soul since taking that risk is indescribable. I’ve found it easier to live on less because I feel more myself and more complete than at anytime in my life. I’ve discovered it’s true that if you do what you love you’ll never work a day in your life. Sure, the body gets tired, but my mind never turns off the creative endeavors and the things I want to do/learn next.

Kelley, 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?

Being creative has always been inside me. I’ve used my creativity all throughout my life and in any job I’ve ever had. However, the level of contentment was never there inside. Once I begain life as a painter, I felt a free spiritedness I had never experienced before. To be able to put your own soul stamp on a creation and have another soul love, appreciate, and purchase it is the most fantastic feeling there is. For someone to validate you in such a way and take a part of your soul into their home, is the highest compliment an artist can get. In my work, I try to bring positivity and cheerfulness, or to make the viewer feel better about life. The world is a negative, dark place, and as an artist, I do not want to add to that. I want my work to be seen as uplifting and encouraging. I want the viewer to connect with a painting in such a way, they have emotion about it and have an internal smile.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is seeing someone’s face light up when they see a painting that makes them happy or see their emotion when a piece touches their heart. I recently had such an experience at an exhibit when one of my paintings and its meaning/inspiration made someone cry. She almost made me cry. She was so touched by the question being asked, she couldn’t control her emotions. THAT is what I live for-to touch people’s souls.

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

My particular goal in my creative journey is to create art that touches people in a positive way. I am a “helper” by nature and I want my work to help others by giving them even one little moment of peace and harmony in their day. I want my work to give them a flash or remembrance of something fun or good.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kbatsonart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kbatsonart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KBatsonArtwork