Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Saraiya Kanning. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Saraiya, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I learned to paint through a mixture of watching others paint (observation), practice, and some instruction/classes. The most important is practice. I’ve learned mostly through painting and drawing over and over again, even when I feel discouraged, knowing that each drawing or painting I make is really just a stepping stone in the larger journey of my growth as an artist. I wouldn’t want to speed up the learning process, because faster isn’t better. I don’t regret taking my time, but there are moments where I regret rushing. If I could talk to my younger self I’d tell her to slow down even more, take breaths, take time for exercise and for breaks, and know that in addition to personal effort, things happen in their own time and that can’t be hurried.

Learning to see, or observe, closely has been an essential skill for me, learned over and over again through the years. It’s so easy to assume you know something without really watching or listening, so I try to sit with subjects quietly and meditatively before jumping into drawing/painting. Determination and patience are other skills that have become essential to my practice. I find it important not to give up too early or place too much importance on the first take of something. There are opportunities to revise and revisit.

There are no obstacles standing in my way to learning more. There are definitely challenges, but I’ve come to see them as blessings in disguise. I can see how even the most painful of challenges have turned out to grow my life as an artist. These include health struggles and physical pain which force me to reconsider how I move my body and the mediums I’m able to work with, as well as financial struggles which force me to use materials creatively or to work more simply.

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

I’m a visual artist working across multiple mediums, including silk painting and watercolor. I am the small business owner of Raebird Creations LLC, through which I sell my art and teach workshops. My classes help participants to realize their own creative potential and to unlock the power of the arts in their lives. My goal is to make art accessible and joyful for anyone who takes my classes, and to convince them that they do posses creativity, and it can unleashed through practice.

I sell my art on Etsy and occasionally I vend at local Tucson festivals. My style is characterized by bright colors and bold compositions, always focusing on some aspect of the natural world. Though my paintings are representational, it’s always with a whimsical flair and touch of my own imagination and sense of wonderment. I’m most proud of a series of silk paintings that have evolved over the last seven years, through which I refined my sense of line, color, and design. I love patterns and textures and through the years have increasingly embraced this tendency in my artwork.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Community support of creatives is essential. Artists and creatives cultivate empathy, resilience, and imagination. These are all important skills because they unite people, give a sense of common humanity or common purpose, and help us see possibilities where before we were trapped in one way of being or seeing. When other people realize that this is the true power of the arts, they will find meaning in it and support artists/creatives. The world of art is about so much more than having fun or making something beautiful. The arts play a role in shaping society itself.

People can support artists by providing encouragement to the artists in their lives, helping artists discover opportunities and outlets for their work, providing funding, and buying and sharing art and handmade goods in general (over machine made). And look out for the closet artists, the people who say they aren’t artists but are making and creating quietly out of view. Maybe they think their art is no big deal, or others will think it purposeless or cast judgement. Those people need the most encouragement. We all have this creativity inside and when we have arenas to express, we find greater meaning and connection in our community.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In December 2021 I gave birth to my daughter and that set in motion months of musculoskeletal pain, which I’m still today working through. It effects every facet of my life, including how and when I choose to make art. Certain positions are hard to maintain, so my silk painting has suffered, though my watercolor and other ways of making art have flourished. I view time differently as a mother. Time is a gift, good health is a gift, and our days are numbered, so I prioritize what feels most important. Right now that’s spending time with my daughter and making art or growing my business in ways that don’t feel physically stressful, ways that promote my healing. It can be hard to live in the moment, to be present, with nagging pain and headaches, but art making has helped me ground my consciousness and find little moments of peace. And teaching keeps me connected to community. Prior to giving birth, I used to search endlessly for art opportunities, to hustle. Now I focus on spending quality time with my daughter and taking only the opportunities that I feel will bring me some sense of joy. I’m really looking forward to doing creative projects with my daughter, as well, when she’s old enough, which will be quite soon!

Contact Info:

• Website: raebirdcreations.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raebirdcreationsart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RaebirdArtCreations
• Other: Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RaebirdCreationsArt