We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelli Wassom and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Kelli, what role has risk played in your life or career?
A few years ago a friend said, “If you never ask, the answer is always no. But, if you take the chance, the answer could be yes!” I wouldn’t consider myself a jump out of an airplane type of risk taker, but I don’t let fear or worry hold me back from trying something new. So many career turns and wonderful surprises have developed because of my willingness to push out of my comfort zone. Taking risks has been something that has not only helped my business grow, but has also helped my creative process. I weigh the costs of each risk. Some cost a small amount, like time spent experimenting with a new art form. Others require a large financial investment. The bigger decisions are not made flippantly. I often spend time in prayer and discussing larger risks with my husband. One thing that I know is that taking risks would not be possible without the support of my family. It can be daunting to step out and wonder if you will stumble. Having support that believes in you and your vision despite the possibility of failure makes all the difference.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Creating art has always provided a way for me to fully express my ideas and reflections on life. I consider myself a modern impressionist painter and desire to create a sense of emotion and story through my paintings. Color is my love language. Creating new palettes and discovering how color can create form on canvas is addictive. The challenge of figuring out how different colors fit together excites me and brings me back to the studio everyday. Although my color palettes are abstract and push the truth, my subject matter is realistic. Currently, I am working in collections. Each collection is developed around a specific story that I want to communicate or feel the need to study. Oftentimes, it is through the process of documenting a life experience through my art that I gain a deeper understanding of it. One of my favorite things about creating art is seeing how it connects on multiple levels with so many different people. I am looking forward to releasing my newest collection towards the end of May 2020. This collection has been developing since January and is my reflection on walking through hardship, while at the same time holding onto an overwhelming sense of peace. Hard and devastating things find their way into all of our lives. After walking through one myself, I needed to reconcile my emotions and thoughts. As I reflected, a beautiful analogy to my story was revealed. My collection, “The Farm: A Reflection on Peace in the Chaos” is my way of telling this story and I can’t wait to share all of the pieces.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We actually just moved to Houston about a year ago so I am still discovering all of the fun and interesting local places. I would definitely take them for a morning and possibly afternoon (because it is that good) cup of coffee from Land of A Thousand Hills Coffee and Bakery in Cypress, Texas. Then we would probably head downtown to explore Discovery Green and visit the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. We would have dinner at Bravery Chef Hall or Backstreet Cafe.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
March 2019 was a turning point in my career. I took a course called Making Art Work by artist Emily Jeffords. Throughout this course, I gained valuable knowledge and direction for my business. There were many life changing aspects to the course, but my favorite has been the peer group I was assigned. When I received the email with my peer group members, I never imagined I would gain so much beauty and support in my life. While some peer groups stopped meeting once the course was over, our group continued. A year later we continue to meet weekly. Our group is made up of five artists- Lori Fowler, Shanae McDevitt, Krizia Liquido, Amy Kadrmas, and myself. We discuss our businesses, life, art, and so much more. It is a beautiful community that I am thankful for everyday. Growing a business is hard work and having this strong community has changed my story for the better.
Website: www.kelliwassom.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kelliwassomart
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kelliwassomart
Other: Pinterest: @kelliwassomart Email: kelliwassomart@gmail.com