Meet Trailblazer Kari Bell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kari Bell.

Kari, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My story is pretty simple. Just after I retired from 30 years of university teaching, a friend asked me if I’d like to take an intro painting class with her. I did. I had never held a paintbrush or mixed colors… I was a language person! The instruction was sparse and a bit frustrating but the peace I felt at the easel was incomparable. I’d just never felt that way before. I was hooked! I followed up with classes, workshops and a lot of experimenting until I gained both confidence and (relative) skill. Today, many steps, workshops, classes and much time later, I enjoy a small following with national sales. The biggest ‘OMG moment‘ I had was when I visited a gallery in Telluride, CO and saw the work of a quite well-known painter who uses cold wax medium. The connection I felt to the energy and warmth of her work was so immediate that when I got home I started watching YouTube videos, reading about cold wax medium, talking to a few folks who use it and then trying my hand. My first efforts were sketchy, to say the least, but with time, effort, experimentation and exposure to good instructors, I found my medium.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Being a linguist and educator, I made quick comparisons between language acquisition and painting. I knew it would be a case of taking risks, throwing things away, copying and imitating art I liked and making slow but steady progress. Key to any new pursuit for me is to learn from other people. I watch other painters’ hands and body movements whether they are painting, prepping substrates or mixing colors. I had to be fearless and quiet any inner critic I discovered. I started as most start… with a still life. Disaster! Over time, I found that painting freed me from the rigidity of my previous career. Oh, I know people think college professors don’t have a very organized schedule… folks seem to think we give lectures and go home but the academic life is fairly rigid and very demanding.

It really doesn’t matter what one is studying, learning or doing. The journey is full of starts and stops, pitfalls and pinnacles. The efforts to get my first painting into a show were so painful and the process seemed to take forever. Rejection is not an easy concept for anyone to embrace but it is part of the journey. When the first acceptance came in, I was over the moon and all the negativity receded into the background. I could do this.

As for young women starting out, I would again say it is essentially the same for all professions or levels of employment. It sounds trite but, really, most of the cliches are fairly spot-on. Always give it your best and do it with a smile. People notice smiles. If you’re an introvert (I am), learn how to meet and greet with pizzazz. Ultimately, artists sell their own work. Pursue your dreams fiercely. Be honest and truthful with yourself and others. Persist! I have a Ph.D… half of getting through a Ph.D. program is perseverance and determination. Be grateful. Be humble. Work at what you do. If you want to be a computer genius or the best auto body repair person, do it with everything you’ve got. Being half-engaged will get you halfway. And, always, always keep your integrity intact.

It’s important to embrace the reality that art is a business and so artists need to know how to run their art-making as a business. Dive in. There are hundreds of seminars, chats, educational opportunities that can inform an artist about the concepts of marketing, gallery sponsorship, and sales. Many are free.

Be yourself.

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am quite realistic about my art. I love it and I have a small following that encourages me constantly. But, I paint because I must. It is my sense of self. It is my source of steadiness. It is the most peace-inducing thing I have ever done.

I paint abstract or abstract representational pieces and I always use cold wax medium with oil paints. The process of using cold wax medium with oils means that the painted surface dries more quickly than traditional oils; the waxy surface can be gouged, patterned, pressed, scraped and stained layer after layer. This adds incredible depth and texture to any painting and as a consequence, enhances the visual experience and challenges the viewer to look deeper. I believe this is my signature and it sets me apart.

I am most proud of the simple fact that I paint. There’s nothing in my background that might have predicted this move. I have always enjoyed art, and my wife and I have a tiny collection but, paint? I never saw it coming. So, proud may be too big a word when discussing my art… it makes me happy and brings me a quiet peace. It makes others happy. That’s a lot to achieve in life.

Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
With respect to art and cold wax medium there are two excellent books: Cold Wax Medium by Crowell and McLaughlin and Wabi-Sabi Painting with Cold Wax by Serena Barton. I also greatly appreciate Alla Prima by Richard Schmid. These three books are within my grasp in the studio. The Art Spirit by Robert Henri, is an acknowledged classic for artists.

Beyond that, a Google search will identify a myriad of sources. Podcasts; The Art Angle, The Savvy Painter, The Painting Experience, Painting/Drawing, among many options.

Apps… I don’t use them all regularly but on my computer are PhotoShop, Procreate, ArtRage, Layout, Image Blender… and others. There are so many of these resources and it’s really a question of finding a few that inform one’s work and using them well.

The most recent and wonderful book I read is Ninth Street Women by Mary Gabriel. This superbly written and well researched book discusses five of the “big” names in the Abstract Movement. And, I am always on the lookout for texts on women artists because their stories, lives, aspirations and accomplishments are a pathway to understanding: How did that situation work for them? How have things changed for women in the arts? What can I learn from them and their journeys that will enhance my journey?

I would define my reading habits as eclectic. Poetry, literature, biographies and even a few murder mysteries are my favorite areas but I place no limits on myself. My most favorite book is The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It is full of life’s lessons and is so layered and deep I can find something new, or at least a different perspective, every time I read it.

I also practice mindfulness and so enjoy the books of Thich Nhat Hanh as well as the Dalai Lama.

Contact Info:

• Address: 2641 S. Grant St. Denver, CO 80210
• Website: www.karibellart.com
• Phone: 610-207-3047
• Email: karibellart@gmail.com
• Instagram: #karibellart
• Facebook: Kari Bell Art

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