Life & Work with Dora Kearney of Lee’s Summit

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dora Kearney

Hi Dora, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey to professional art and design has been a rewarding and fun one! I am a self-taught artist with a passion for all things creative. I was always interested in art, drawing since I was little and as I grew a bit older, taking as many classes or workshops as I could. I grew into so many facets of the art I do today, just by learning new tools, mediums and techniques. I didn’t have the support from my family to pursue art in school, so I had to learn art this way. As the youngest kid in the family, I was usually left in the corner to do my thing and I loved every second of it. You see, I was able to develop a keen sense of ability to create from my imagination without all the distractions from everyone else. My reliance on thoughts and visions has helped me become an expert at getting creative images out of my brain and onto my canvas.

By canvas I mean actual canvas, paper, walls, and floors! My art is not limited to traditional formats. One of the first projects I completed on a wall was for my mom. She asked me to paint a marble wall in her bathroom. Little did I know way back in the late 90s, I was on my way to being a decorative artisan. Just because of that marble wall for my mom, her friends all wanted the same and it led me to commissioned work in many homes. Then one of my clients had asked me to teach other people how to paint the marble, granite and stone finishes I was putting in my clients homes. I was nervous but decided to go for it. My class was a hit! It was an all day class at the local community college on Saturdays for a full 8 hours that sold out every Saturday! I had realized the level of fulfillment I got out of teaching and sharing my knowledge. I have been an instructor for various art subjects ever since.

I joined a non-profit organization called IDAL, International Decorative Artisans League, that is focused on education and teaching old world techniques to new artisans keeping this art form alive. I found my tribe! These talented folks have taught me so many things and embraced my style like never before. I have been an instructor at their annual conventions, a speaker as a representative of the organization and advocate for continuing the nuanced teachings of these amazing talented artists. I was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2022 and will be stepping into the President of the Board of Directors seat in April this year. I am so honored to be running this organization and forging new opportunities for all of our members in the years to come.

Having the experience in speaking, creating and sharing my process, I developed a Creative Coaching training presentation. I have presented to creators of all kinds including writers, painters, decorative artisans, project managers, Agile teams, Interior Designers and the list keeps going. I give them tools on how to organize chaotic creative ideas into completed projects, without all the stress. I figured out in my own creative process that if I break down all the chaos, I can get things done more efficiently, gather the tools I need, articulate to collaborators and have fun while doing it! I can teach you how to do it too.

In the Historical Jazz District, I have my own art studio. I am a resident artist at the Zhou B Art Center KC. My studio #310 is open every First Friday and by special appointment. I teach classes in my studio during the summer months in painting, color theory and Zentangle. I am a CZT (Certified Zentangle Teacher) and incorporate Zentangle in many of my paintings, murals and designs. I welcome all of you to come by the studio and see my work and register for a class or workshop.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would venture to say all creative roads are bumpy! Finding your style or your voice in your work requires some trial and error. That trial and error is where the bumpy bits come in. Learning to be open in your art without fear is a huge obstacle. What if people don’t like it? I used to be that artist, creating for other people’s tastes or expectations and it stifled my process. I had to learn how to be unapologetic in my creations. This allowed people to really see me in my art. Now, I have collectors that can walk into a room full of paintings and point to the one that’s mine and say “that’s definitely a Dora”. I am so grateful for that!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
When you walk into my studio, you can see all of the styles I practice. I consider myself a mixed media artist. I like to marry different materials, textures and tools. You can find fabrics, glass beads, plasters, drywall mud, inks, acrylic paint, high polymer latex paint, glitters, gels and papers applied with varying tools and techniques. My studio tool box has trowels, spatulas, brushes, and even custom cut plastic cards. Even with all this fun texture, mixed medias and tools, my use of color is always bold and has become a signature in my work. My boldest works are my florals painted in a Contemporary Impressionist style. I have a photographer friend that keeps me flush in floral photos that I like to interpret with amped up color in my paintings. They are always a crowd pleaser in the various art exhibitions or model homes I have put them in. Home Stagers love them too!

As for what sets me apart, I’d say it’s that I am an artist with a designer eye. I approach my projects with both senses of an artist and designer. I love the juxtaposition of a soft palette designed room with a bold bright painting or mural on the wall. It creates an air of playfulness and sophistication which is often hard to put into a design without overwhelming the feel of the room.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I would say most surprising is that I took a year off from painting specifically to learn the classic French drawing technique known as the Bargue Method. It is traditional, restrictive and how many of the great artists in history began drawing. Most people wouldn’t know that I enjoy drawing classic figurative pieces to practice shading and light values. Maybe I will do a studio series of them one day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dorakearneystudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dora_creates
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554309219654