Support Local Artists
Practice
Find an artist (painter, chef, barista, farmer, musician) you appreciate.
Tell them how much you enjoy their work.
Share their story and art with others. Use social media to promote their work.
Become a patron of the art you love. Buy their work. Become a regular.
Expand your own creativity. Take a class or workshop to explore art you enjoy.
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
As I was growing up, the smell of turpentine and the whir of a sewing machine filled my senses. My mom was an artist and my husband David’s mom was a musician. His home was alive with the beautiful sound of Bach flowing from his mother’s piano. Being raised in creative homes, we learned the value of both artist and art.
It has been natural to fill our home and our lives with art. After decades in pastoral ministry, I am now working in my second-half career as an abstract artist. I delight in celebrating the work of fellow artists. You’ll constantly find me stopping at street performances or buying things crafted at kitchen tables.
Frederick Buechner says, “To help us out of our blindness, part of what the painter is doing is saying, see what’s there, not what you expect to see. See what is really present in your life. See yourself, see each other.” Art truly helps us see people and place, the beauty and even the pain, that surrounds us. Art helps us see and make sense of our world.
Art is a beauty-filled vehicle that drives us more deeply into people and place, neighbors and neighborhood. When David and I travel, we visit galleries, museums, and local art festivals. We find art to buy and bring home to remind us of the place we visited and the people we met. We are always interested in talking to the artist. We ask questions about their pieces or process, listening and affirming their work.
This summer I’ve discovered a local jewelry artist at the Farmer’s Market in Salida, Colorado. I’ve bought a few of her pieces, telling her how much I love her work. Even now as I type, her art sparkles on my finger reminding me of this talented person in a treasured place.
When you purchase original art, instead of mass market work, you’re connecting to a person whose work is deeply personal and flows from their heart, a person who bears the image of their Creator. Supporting artists connects us to the people we’ve encountered and the places we’ve experienced. Their art fills our homes with creativity and cherished memories. It is a joyful practice to support an artist and their art, celebrating the beauty of people and places.
Kay Morrison paints abstract expressionist and figurative acrylic paintings. She loves to read and sew, watches too much football, and drinks a lot of coffee. See her work at kaymorrisonart.com
