Contributing Artists to the PSL Starter Kit 2024
These artists have heeded our call to artists, and their art has was chosen to be a part of the 3rd Annual PSL Starter Kit program. We proudly feature them and welcome you to learn more about them, explore their art, and see where they draw inspiration in their creative process. They are from all over the USA, from the Florida coast, the Midwest, the South, the Mountain West, to the coast of California.
Kelly Anderson / Deborah “Cade” Rosenberger / Aubrie Bird / Heather Dreadful / Brennan Hussey / Liliana Herrera Gutierrez / Jill Parker / Mya Akins
What motivates you to make beautiful art? I enjoy creating first for myself and letting my emotions out and second to show others it is OK to have emotions.
What’s your favorite medium to work with? I work with many mediums. My most unique is melted crayon on canvas. I draw directly on the canvas with my less dominant hand as it melts. The heat is controlled by my dominant hand.
How does it make you feel to know your art will be utilized to spread love and kindness to others? Amazing and grateful!
What is the kindest thing someone has done for you? So my people have done extremely kind things for me. I once traveled to Africa to tech kids art. I had a very limited amount of money on me. Less than $30 on the way home and all my credit cards were maxed out. I had to check a bag and couldn’t because I did not have the $80. The airline attendant checked my bag for me so that I could travel home.
What is your favorite inspiration quote?
Or a compassionate quote? “Without Action, there is No traction.” – K
“In a World full of Muffins, Be a CUPCAKE.”-Kiera Anderson
What motivates you to make beautiful art?
My passion for art overlays my passion for making others feel seen, heard, loved and worthy on their journeys. To take what they may see as lonely or misunderstood and show them that they aren’t alone & that growth is always happening.
My biggest motivation for my work is the connectedness we share on this amazing planet. We are connected to the Earth & to Each other so we must tread with kindness and curiosity
What’s your favorite medium to work with? I work mostly in acrylic paint but also occasionally create offerings in the realm of collage, jewelry, and nature inspired (and inclusive) wall art / decor. I enjoy finding things along my path to incorporate into my work such as branches, stones, shells, etc.
How does it make you feel to know your art will be utilized to spread love and kindness to others? It fills me with so much joy and happiness to know that my work will be utilized to spread Love and Kindness. There is such a need for others to feel seen, heard and validated on their journeys, and I could not feel more honored and fulfilled to be a part of a project that is doing exactly that.
What is the kindest thing someone has done for you? A relevant kindness that comes to mind, is the friend who encouraged me to pursue art. In 2016 they bought me my first set of acrylic paint, some brushes and canvas. I am forever grateful for the support they showed in my desire to be an artist.
What is your favorite inspiration quote? Or a compassionate quote?
A quote that has always stuck with me and inspired me is this from Arthur O’Shaughnessy:
“We are the the music makers, and We are the dreamers of the dreams. Wandering by lone sea- breakers, and sitting by desolate streams; world-loser and world forsakers on whom the Pale Moon gleams; yet we are the movers and shakers of the world forever it seems.”
What motivates you to make beautiful art? I think creating is just something that is innate in me. I have been creating since I was a little girl, beautifying and experimenting with ideas are just part of who I am. Art is a great way to express who you are, what you feel, what you’re going through, and what your story is. And we all have a story to tell.
What’s your favorite medium to work with? Watercolor and micron pens are my go to, I am also having a lot of fun with alcohol inks, and I love doing calligraphy with dip pens.
How does it make you feel to know your art will be utilized to spread love and kindness to others? I feel incredibly grateful to be able to contribute to the People Spread Love Starter kit. Focusing on things that bring me joy, like art, have helped me tremendously in hard times and helped pull me out of some dark places and I hope my art can help lift someone else in some small way.
What is the kindest thing someone has done for you? I have been through some hard things and there are always helper angels that swoop in and just lift in the most amazing ways, I think it would be very hard to narrow it down to just one thing that has been done for me. But I think just being there for someone, being the listening ear, the shoulder to lean on, the meal on a night they need it, just really being in their life and showing you care and are there and are listening is one of the kindest things you can do. Helping them feel seen, heard and cared for.
What is your favorite inspiration quote? Or a compassionate quote? I am actually a quote collector! I have notebooks and notebooks full of them. So it is hard for me to pick a favorite, but one I’ve had on my mind lately is, “Let our hearts and hands be stretched out in compassion toward others, for everyone is walking their own difficult path.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf
What motivates you to make beautiful art?
I’ve always really liked how bright and vibrant the world can be when the sun hits things just right. Those little moments are what inspire me to keep making art.
What’s your favorite medium to work with?
It’s a tie between watercolor and color pencils.
How does it make you feel to know your art will be utilized to spread love and kindness to others?
I love the idea of this project! A little gift of art can go a long way into inspiring another human to do most amazing things!
What is the kindest thing someone has done for you?
After a personal loss, a friend bought me some painted lady caterpillars – watching them become butterflies saved my life at the time and I’ll never forget her.
What is your favorite inspiration quote? Or a compassionate quote?
If you are going through hell, keep going – Winston Churchill
What motivates you to make beautiful art?
I’m driven to create art to manifest my ideas before they fade away. Sometimes, my urge to materialize a concept is so intense that it feels almost painful until I give it form.
What’s your favorite medium to work with?
Food will always remain my favorite art form. One thing I’m striving to overcome is the feeling of guilt associated with creating art, as mainstream society doesn’t always perceive it as productive. This feeling is unwarranted, but it can still creep in. However, when I’m preparing food, I never experience this guilt because food is a necessity. Therefore, I embrace the opportunity to infuse it with creativity, making it delicious and aesthetically pleasing.
How does it make you feel to know your art will be utilized to spread love and kindness to others?
It brings me happiness and hope. The past few years have been challenging for me, but what has kept me going is the kindness of friends and others. Things are steadily improving for me, and now I’m eagerly anticipating the chance to send that positive energy back into the world. I hope that someone, inspired by my illustration and recipe, decides to prepare a nurturing meal for themselves because they deserve it.
What is the kindest thing someone has done for you?
I think it’s the accumulation of small gestures that truly matters. For instance, last year, my birthday coincided with Thanksgiving, and we were celebrating with my partner’s cousins. I hadn’t anticipated much acknowledgment, but to my surprise, they had prepared presents and a cake for me. It made me feel incredibly loved and appreciated.
What is your favorite inspiration quote? Or a compassionate quote?
My favorite quotes are constantly changing. Recently, I’ve been reflecting on this line from Dune, “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings obliteration. I will face my fear and I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past… I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
Or a tough love quote from Gordon Ramsey cause I can use it once in a while. Check out his episode of Hot Ones, I found it inspiring haha.
What motivates you to make beautiful art?
One of the things that motivates me to make beautiful art is knowing the impact it creates for those who view it. It touches peoples’ souls, and many have expressed how a part of them feels heard and seen. It means everything to me that my art can bring healing, just as it does for me.
What’s your favorite medium to work with?
My favorite medium to work with is fluid acrylic paints, because you can layer or use them like watercolors. They are easy to blend and dry quickly. They can also go on almost any surface.
How does it make you feel to know your art will be utilized to spread love and kindness to others?
It makes me feel like I am living up to one of my dreams/goals in life, which is to be able to spread healing and love through the use of art. Art is a beautiful tool anyone and everyone can use no matter the skill level, it’s about being able to express what we can’t with words. That is such a beautiful gift we can spread.
What is the kindest thing someone has done for you?
When I went through a breakup, for the first time I reached out to my immediate family and close friends and told them I was not okay, and they all took turns taking care of me and that’s when I understood the question, “what can I do for you?” and I just needed to he held and not be alone. They all helped put back a heart they did not break. That’s the kindest thing in my book.
What is your favorite inspiration quote?
It’s between my mantra, “Love and be loved,” and my classroom expectation, “Be respectful. Be kind. Si no? No digan nada. (If not? Do not say anything-like the phrase “if you have nothing nice to say don’t say anything.”)
What motivates you to make beautiful art?
As an artist that mainly paints people’s homes and businesses, I am inspired by the magic of what makes a house a home, and the stories homes hold inside their walls!! I am also motivated to convey themes of mental health and perseverance.
What’s your favorite medium to work with?
My favorite mediums are watercolor and Gouache paint.
How does it make you feel to know your art will be utilized to spread love and kindness to others?
I love seeing the impact that art can make on people’s lives. I believe art is one of the most powerful ways to convey a message, and this piece in particular will uplift the memory of Kali Randall and her children. I’m honored to have played a part in memorializing her lasting impact on our community.
What is the kindest thing someone has done for you?
This one is hard to answer, as I’ve been blessed with so many kind people in my life. But I’d have to say that the universe continues to bring kind, generous and empathetic people into my life, which in turn helps me to try and embody all of those qualities as well, and grow to be the best version of myself.
What is your favorite inspiration quote? Or a compassionate quote?
Not a quote but a poem, which inspires me to keep moving and growing in life:
Keeping Things Whole
BY MARK STRAND
“In a field
I am the absence
of field.
This is
always the case.
Wherever I am
I am what is missing.
When I walk
I part the air
and always
the air moves in
to fill the spaces
where my body’s been.
We all have reasons for moving.
I move
to keep things whole.”
What motivates you to make beautiful art?
Bright color, exploration, the mountains, butterflies, wildflowers, animals, adventures, stars, joy, love, and so much more! I find motivation and inspiration in so many different things and love sharing my version of the world.
What’s your favorite medium to work with?
It depends on my mood! My top two are watercolors and oils, but I also love acrylic and any other medium I get to play with.
How does it make you feel to know your art will be utilized to spread love and kindness to others?
It makes me feel like my heart is bursting with joy and I can’t even contain it. My biggest hope is that my art helps others heal, brings people joy, inspires people, encourages people, and gives them whatever they may need/be seeking in that moment. If my art helps others feel happy then I feel like the world is just that much better.
What is the kindest thing someone has done for you?
My mom giving up everything to be there for me during a scary health diagnosis when I was a young teen. She stayed with me in children’s hospital for weeks on end, sleeping on a very uncomfortable cot, and cancelling her dream travel plans to be with me and support me. She also learned how to care for my pic-line and woke up at early hours to be able to do timed injections all while taking care of the rest of our family and her own personal life. She never showed any sign of tiredness, frustration, just pure love and support.
What is your favorite inspiration quote? Or a compassionate quote?
Pretty much any Brené Brown quote!! “Stop walking through the world looking for confirmation that you don’t belong. You will always find it because you’ve made that your mission. Stop scouring people’s faces for evidence that you’re not enough. You will always find it because you’ve made that your goal. True belonging and self-worth are not goods; we don’t negotiate their value with the world. The truth about who we are lives in our hearts. Our call to courage is to protect our wild heart against constant evaluation, especially our own. No one belongs here more than you.” Brené Brown
