Kelly Burke - Inspiring Creative Stories
It’s becoming a tradition around here to share the Inspiring Creative Stories of some of our Flourish: The Art of Creative Living members & alumni. As humans, we grow when we are in community with like-minded souls, and my hope is you find these stories inspire you in your creative life, too.
I love these interviews! Getting to peak inside member’s studios, hear how creative expression supports them in their lives and how they fit creativity into their days and routines…
This year, I’m delighted to kick off the series with Kelly Burke who came to creative expression to help find some balance in her life. As she says, she wanted to ‘stop focusing on work so much and have some fun.’ Her story is relatable in so many ways and I hope you love it as much as I do!
Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself and your paintings? I would love to know what led you to pick up a paintbrush.
I am not a naturally creative person, in fact quite the opposite. I am a Programmer and Data Analyst by trade and very left-brained in general. For the first 45 years of my life, I pretty much ignored any creativity that did exist within me, because I thought it would just distract me from my school and my career.
Then last November I was hit with several family and health issues all at once. I became consumed with the thought that I needed to make some major changes in my life, stop focusing so much on work and relax and have some fun. About the same time, I saw a Facebook post about your Flourish program and I decided that spending some time exploring my creative side sounded like something a ‘relaxed and fun’ person would do. I jumped in with both feet, bought a ton of supplies and with the guidance of the Flourish program I picked up my first paintbrush.
The Flourish program was 100% what I needed, I don’t think I would have made it very far without it. The supply list alone helped me focus, I had absolutely no idea how to get started and without it, I would have quickly spiralled into a state of overwhelm. The monthly lessons brought me back to being creative over and over and introduced me to so many wonderful techniques and ideas. At the same time, I had to let go of so many ideas around everything in my life needing to be perfect and move quickly. I am neither quick nor perfect when I am creative and yet I am productive, and I really enjoy the process. My artwork is not about trying to recreate or capture something specific, yet. It is simply about experimenting with colours and mediums and seeing what I can create, and I have been absolutely amazed by the results.
What do you love most about being creative?
For me, it is a time to turn off my brain (at least the left side). I do not really think about what I am doing, I just do…The colours magically come together and do things that I could never plan or even try to do on purpose.
And what are some of the challenges?
I still get caught up in trying to be perfect with my art and it is never perfect, and I must keep reminding myself that I have been doing this for less than a year, I can not have those kinds of expectations of myself. I have tried a couple times to paint something specific (a sunset, a tree) and it just never comes together, and I get very frustrated and I must remind myself that this is not relaxing and having fun, so I make myself stop and try something different.
Can you please describe your creative space? Where do you like to create?
It has been a work in progress. We rent our home, so it is difficult to find a good place to be messy. I started working in the same room and on the same desk I used for work and that did not last long. I did not like having to clean up and remove my artwork in order to do my day job. I wanted to be able to allow things to dry and to be able to do something creative in the middle of the workday when I had a moment without it being in the way. With all the isolation and time at home this last year, I was able to get my husband’s approval to take over our guest bedroom and I am slowly making it a creative space that I can enjoy.
How do you like to set up for a creative date?
I do not really set up… I am very much a spur of the moment creative person. I will just get an idea or see something that inspires me and get to it. Which means my creative space can be in a state of chaos often, but I just gotten some shelves set up so I can have things close and ready to go, but with a bit of order to them.
How did you develop your skills?
The Flourish program. Just trying all the different exercises and exploring the ones I enjoyed. It is just a matter of repetition at the moment and trying something a little different each time.
Has anyone ever made you feel discouraged about your creative expression with their criticism – I hope not – but if so, how did you navigate that experience?
No, I think I am my own worst critic. I have not really put my artwork out there much, but anytime I do, everyone has been super encouraging.
What do you find inspiring? How do you nurture your inspiration?
I find my inspiration in nature. Sunrises, sunsets, rainbows, the color changes of each season. I try to get outside, in nature often. I am also just trying to pay attention more. I am seeing so much good art all around me that I have never really noticed before. I constantly find myself thinking, I think I could do that.
What is your creative process like? Do you work in seasons, picking up and putting down your creative projects, or do you have a consistent routine?
I tend to like to have multiple projects going at once. Somewhere along the way I was introduced to resin and that has just been so much fun, but it is slow and there is a lot of waiting for things to dry. So, for example I currently have an oil painting drying, waiting for the next step and so I just started mixing some resin for another piece of art. If I do not have something waiting to be finished it can be hard for me to get started, so I always try to leave something to be done at the end of my sessions.
What surprised you most about expressing your creativity?
How easy and natural it has been. After ignoring my creative side for all these years, I thought it would be difficult to be creative and nothing would look any good. I have surprised myself on a regular basis and created so many nice-looking things. The house we are in has multiple picture hooks in each room and I am slowly filling them up with my art and while what I create may not be nice enough to sell, seeing them on my walls makes my heart happy and right now that is what matters to me.
When do you like to be creative? How much time do you spend in the studio during the week on average?
No real set time or duration. I tend to do most of it at night and on the weekends, outside of my day job. Just as I am inspired, and I regularly take advantage of some slow time at work to do something small and creative.
Does your creativity support you? If so, how do you feel it supports you?
Yes, it does. I think it gives me something outside of work to spend time on, a way to de-stress. I also recently went to visit my family in the States and ended up spending a large amount of time with my nieces and nephews creating art projects. It was such a great bonding experience with them, and we created some beautiful things that everyone enjoyed.
Thank you so much for sharing your creative life with us, Kelly!
If you would like to make creativity a priority in your life, I would be honoured to paint with you and support you in making that intention come true. I invite you to explore Flourish: The Art of Creative Living and all details about this fun-filled, supportive, year-long creativity school, right here.