A New Chapter

Reflections from the studio as I approach the end of my BFA

There is something rather strange about reaching the end of a journey you've been working toward for years. On one hand, I'm excited to finally finish my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Valdosta State University. On the other, I find myself looking around my home, at the piles of wood, metal scraps, unfinished paintings, tools, and bits of inspiration scattered everywhere, wondering how on earth I've managed to collect so many things along the way.

And I'm not just talking about art supplies. Although, admittedly, those have multiplied at an alarming rate.

As I prepare for my senior exhibition, Reverence & Refuge, I've been thinking quite a bit about how my artwork has evolved and how much of my life has found its way into the things I create.

Two Sides of the Same Artist

One of the most interesting things I've discovered while studying fine art is that I don't fit neatly into one artistic category. I love painting and drawing, but I also love working with wood, metal, fabric, digital fabrication, and just about anything else that catches my imagination.

Sometimes a project begins with a sketch. Other times, it begins with a piece of discarded material that I simply cannot convince myself to throw away. (A habit that makes organizing my studio a rather hopeless endeavor.)

My senior exhibition theme, Reverence & Refuge, reflects two important parts of who I am.

Reverence is rooted in my experiences as a military spouse and mother. It speaks to service, sacrifice, family, tradition, and the memories we carry through different seasons of life. Some of these experiences are difficult to put into words, but creating art gives me another way to share them.

Refuge, on the other hand, is where my imagination wanders. It is filled with the influence of books, nature, fairytales, and the wonderful possibility that the ordinary world might hold something extraordinary. I have always loved stories that invite us to imagine what might exist just beyond what we can see.

These two sides may seem quite different, but they belong together. They are both parts of my life, and both have shaped the artist I've become.

A Little Bit of Everything

If you've followed my work for any length of time, you've probably noticed that I have a difficult time sticking to one medium.

One week I might be working on an oil painting, and the next I'm experimenting with a laser cutter, carving wood, or assembling a sculpture from materials that weren't originally intended to belong together.

Some of my favorite pieces have come from those experiments. And sometimes I'm working on 4 projects at a time...I do love a challenge.

I've discovered that I enjoy figuring out how materials work together, especially when traditional art techniques meet newer technology. I don't particularly want to limit myself to being only a painter, sculptor, or digital artist. I like having the freedom to move between them.

For me, the material is often part of the storytelling. The texture of carved wood, the warmth of copper, the softness of fabric, or the glow of a small light can completely change how a piece feels.

And sometimes, of course, an idea that seems perfectly reasonable in my head turns into several hours of troubleshooting in the studio. That's part of the process, too.

What I've Learned Along the Way

Returning to college as an adult, while balancing family, work, and my own creative endeavors, has certainly been an experience.

There have been long days, late nights, projects that didn't turn out as expected, and plenty of moments when I questioned whether I had taken on too much.

But there have also been opportunities to explore techniques I might never have attempted on my own, conversations that challenged how I think about art, and the satisfaction of seeing an idea finally become something tangible.

Perhaps one of the most valuable things I've learned is that I don't have to create art that looks or feels like someone else's to be taken seriously as an artist.

I can appreciate art history, study contemporary practices, and learn from artists whose work is very different from mine while still holding on to the subjects, materials, and stories that matter to me.

My imagination, experiences, and personal values are not things I need to separate from my artwork. They are part of what makes it mine.

So, What's Next?

As graduation approaches, I'm looking forward to continuing my work beyond the classroom. I want to create more sculptures, experiment with my newly gained materials, participate in exhibitions, and continue sharing what I've learned with others.

I also hope to pursue graduate studies in art or art history someday. And, of course, there is Owlchemy Art Studio.

My hope is that Owlchemy will continue growing into a creative space where I can share my artwork, document the process behind it, and encourage others to explore their own ideas.

That is partly why I've decided to begin this little journal on my website.

I'll be sharing finished artwork, works in progress, materials and techniques, thoughts from the studio, and perhaps the occasional creative mishap. There will probably be plenty of paint, sawdust, books, and cups of tea along the way.

Finishing my BFA feels like the closing of one chapter, but certainly not the end of the story.

If anything, I think I'm just getting to the interesting part.

Thank you for being here and for taking a little time to wander through my creative world.

— Kira R. Keller, Owlchemy Art Studio