We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kendra Petersen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kendra thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Commissions have a special place in my heart. There is something wonderful about creating for a specific person. The last couple of years have been hard on a lot of people and I’ve had the opportunity to be able to bring something beautiful into their lives. People have lost loved ones or pets and I was given the honor to help memorialize them through art.

I painted a delightful image with a woman’s three daughters and their family’s animals, five dogs and one bunny. Four of those dogs had passed away but they were able to still play and picnic with the girls through my art, their memory living on. I added sweet, meaningful details like favorite foods, a special blanket, personality quirks. Finishing the piece and seeing the emotional response brought me to tears.

Last summer, a friend of mine lost her brother. She had asked me to come up with a design for the memorial service. I did a deep dive into this person’s life. I was granted access to pictures and memories that were being shared by family members online. In the end I created an image based on The Beatles “Revolver” album cover. It was the perfect tribute. During those weeks my heart was truly touched by this person who had passed. I had never met them but I felt a connection, and I cried.

I’ve also cried happy tears with commissions. An anniversary present of a meaningful location, aspen trees that remind someone of their Colorado home, thank you gifts for teachers and staff at my daughters’ school. That was 46 projects in one. I partnered with the principal and created a unique piece for each staff member; every teacher, para, custodian, and secretary. It was a crazy three weeks of discovering favorite colors, animals, and hobbies and pairing them with an inspirational quote for a specific individual. I created an adorable balancing hedgehog for one of the secretaries and painted a serene landscape of Horseshoe Bend for an adventuring art teacher. I designed digital collages, splashed watercolor mountains, and sketched stories, and tried a lot of new things. In three weeks I donated over 40 pieces of art to the school. The staff needed that extra love. Knowing that I made them feel special and brought some happiness into their lives is one of my favorite things.

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 am a self-taught artist who doesn’t really fit in a box. I create with a lot of different mediums and in a lot of different styles. I have a background in graphic design and photography but started dabbling with all types of art during the pandemic. I unlocked a passion and skill set I didn’t know I had. Last year, at the encouragement of my family and friends I took the leap to start selling my art. I sell under my business called “Meraki & Imagination LLC.” Meraki is a Greek word that means “to do something with so much passion that you leave a part of your soul in your work.” I feel like I do that every time I create art. While most of the time I create in the moment, using what I’m feeling as inspiration, I am always open to commissions and new projects. Some of my past commission work includes creating posters for theatrical productions, personalized paintings and drawings, cards, and even logo design. I’m starting to sell some of my personal work at craft fairs and markets in the Arvada, CO area. Since I am constantly creating I never know what I’ll have available, but because I create in so many different ways there is always something for someone.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Right now my main goal is discovery. I create to see what happens; to see if I can actually do it, to experiment, to find the magic within the art. Thinking into the future I would love to be able to share that magic with more people. That could mean art gallery showings, a storefront, an online presence, or even illustrating books. I love all the possibilities that come with creating art. The desire to illustrate books has been steadily growing this last year. I love reading for myself and reading to my children. The illustrations and cover designs invoke a lot of what you feel about a book and I would love to help create something wonderful, imaginative, and meaningful. I feel like with art the possibilities are endless. Overall, my creative journey is to find the magic, emotions, and special wonders around us and illustrate them. I hope that my art can stir people’s hearts and bring more imagination, joy, and magic into the world.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Art is magic. I start with an empty space and somehow an imagining from my mind and heart is created. That creation itself then stirs the emotions of people. Memories are tapped, wonderings begin, feelings flow. A charcoal drawing of a rainy city can make a person feel sadness or peace. Your joyful memories of a pet or loved one can be captured forever in a painting. An image can transport you to a whimsical forest or an ocean of tea. Art can inspire a story, or a journey, or a feeling and it’s amazing to create that and see that magic.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ko-fi.com/meraki_imagination
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kncp_imagine.meraki