Lines of Resilience

Welcome to another episode of Project Red Cord Chronicles, where we celebrate hope and support survivors in pursuing their dreams.  We’re excited to introduce Kay Kay, a new artist unveiling her unique work to the public for the first time. Join us as we explore her inspiring journey and creative process.

Transcript

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You are listening to Project Red Court Chronicles a podcast of the Renee Jones Empowerment Center. Welcome to this edition of Project Redco Chronicles. We are so excited today to introduce you to a special guest, Calisa, who is a client of the Renee Jones Empowerment Center. And we want to share with you her story, her journey, and the wonderful artist that she is. Welcome, Calisa to the Project We Record podcast. How are you doing today? Great. Can you share with our audience a little bit about your background? I would sit on the bed and do some drawing, and I would go downstairs to show my mother how good of a artist I was. But to be honest, nobody never really believed in my art. I would show my mother it and tell her, Hey. I would like to go to art school, and she never really listened to me or told me, oh, I love it. Yes, I would never get that fuel from her. So I would go back upstairs and one thing that I would never lose is just believing in myself. When it came to being an artist, I never gave up on myself. I took myself back upstairs and I was the person that had to tell myself that I can do it. Nobody else would tell me that. So once I went back upstairs, I did my drawing, and every single time I did a scribble or any type of anything, I would just let myself know that I can do it. But any other time that I would show my mother that type of painting or drawing, she would never listen or hear me out. She's an artist herself, but it just never came. To her that, Hey, I wanna go to art school, or, Hey, I wanna pursue this dream, or it was never clicking through her. But I made sure that I never lost that hope. I always stayed with it. I always got in tune with it. Anytime I would feel overwhelmed by daily stressors with being with family or being with anybody, I just go upstairs, close that door, put some music on, and just tune right into my art. That's wonderful. And so you didn't give up on yourself? No. Which was powerful. Yes. And you believed in yourself, which is very powerful. Yes. Because that's so important. Yes. You talked about when you were a child, but when did the moment come that you really wanted to pursue or seriously? So growing up, like I said, when I was nine years old, growing up continuing on with life and no matter what I went through, I just always loved art. And what made me get real serious is when about 15, 16 years old, I just knew that I needed to start taking it seriously. Not just taking a piece of paper and just. Drawing things. I'm talking about stepping outside of my comfort zone, something that I've never done before. Not just putting, not just expressing feelings on a piece of paper. I'm talking about shaping my whole reality. On just one piece of paper, I would take booklets. Anytime I would go to the store and I'm serious, I would go to the store. Dollar Tree, any type of store that's in my area and take a booklet and just drawing it all day long. And when I'm in my room and I'm drawing, my family members will come in. Whoa, why you in this room? What you doing? I'm drawing. So when I'm drawing, I tune everything out. Everything just comes past me. And I knew when I was 15 or 16 years old, I felt like that right there. Yeah. Let alone I just knew that I wanted to take that serious. It was time to stop playing around. It was times to stop. Joking around, thinking about what could go wrong or what could go bad. None of that didn't matter. When I drew, I just drew and I felt so much better afterwards. And the feeling and the fact that after I got finished drawing, I felt so much better. That's what kept me going. Wow. Yes. That is wonderful. Yes. You've been coming to the center a couple years now, and we first got introduced to your art and we were really amazed seeing your art and our art therapy sessions just part of the art therapy. We began to really see your work as you began to feel comfortable and show us the different art that you had created. How has your art evolved over these last couple years. Okay, so first off, prayer is everything. I started from drawing on paper. It was just, little stacks of paper. I'm talking about 300 pieces of paperwork, nothing but designs, abstract drawing on them. I went from drawing on the paper to being inspired to draw and take it on a canvas. It ain't start off on the canvas. It starts straight on the paper drawing every single last piece of paper. I would go to the store and grab white booklets of paper and draw from top to bottom all the through all the papers. And then I was inspired, okay, draw that on the canvas. Once I started drawing on the canvas, then I figured out that I can not only just put drawings on the paper, but I can also put it on the canvas. I started doing lines. Designs different type of strokes and different type of ways to do my art. It has evolved from me going from doing it on the paper to understanding that I can also take this type of work and put it on canvases, covers everything. Anything you can put your artwork on, covers, canvases, you can put it on anything that you can put your mind to shoes. Evolving for me was putting it on a paper then on a canvas and many more to come. Yes. That's awesome. I remember you with those stacks of papers Yes. When you first came, that's how we got introduced to your art. It is been a pleasure to watch you evolve. Yes. Since you've been here going from paper to canvas and creating some really magnificent art pieces. The next question I have for you is the art and the process. How would you describe your artistic style? My artistic style is abstract. I like different when, first of all, when I draw, I like doing white and black because it's, it pops out. It's like a unique style that I love doing. I will go on Google and I would look up abstract, but not only that, I would not look just up abstract. I would look up abstract lines doodling, because. I got my inspiration from doodling. I would always, what is that line? What is that they're drawing? I would go on Google or go on Instagram and I would always see people doing doodling, these little circles and lines and different type of shapes or colors. And when I did that and I got my inspiration from that, the internet, then my style became lines. I figured out, whoa. I like lines, I like different patterns everywhere that I would go. I would look at different lines on the walls or different patterns, and I just knew right then and there, that was my style. That was the only thing that mattered to me. So when I took that piece of paper, took some lines and started drawing, I figured out right then and there, this is called Abstract line Art Line works. So yes. I remember seeing your work and being amazed at the work that you were creating with those lines. It was very unique. Yes. What materials or mediums do you prefer to work with and why? When I'm on a canvas, I have a 20 by 24 canvases, Uhhuh. The paints that I work with is acrylic pour, acrylic paint, I get my stuff from Michael's, but it's acrylic paint. I work with acrylic pour with different type of gold, silver. Sometimes I would paint the background in gold, and once I paint the background in gold, then I would wait till that dry and then start going on with a Sharpie. I love Sharpie. Shout out to Sharpie. I've been doing Sharpie for so many years for me as a artist, I love the texture of it, the way it bleeds, it's just beautiful. When I take my Sharpie, I draw on the canvas, do my circles and my lines, and it just comes out so beautiful. So yes, Sharpies acrylic paint, and I also do acrylic pore. So mixture of both of those. And the sharpie for some of our international listeners. So that's like a marker? Yes. Okay. Yeah. Yes. Do you have a specific ritual or routine when you're creating art? Yes. Before I start doing any type of art, it could be paper, it could be anything. I sit on my couch and say, God, please. I don't have any type of inspiration right now, but. Can you please just give me the inspiration to get up and know exactly what to draw? Don't give me the power to just understand that. Soon as I get into that drawing, everything will be okay. Just relax, sit down and just think. But I would pray. Prayer is everything. I pray before I draw. I pray before I get frustrated and don't know what to draw. If I get frustrated, I just pray and say, Hey, I can do this guy. I need your help.'cause I can't do anything without you. So once I get finished praying, I go on the table, I take my, take that black Sharpie, it's a black Sharpie. And when I do that, before you know it, the canvas is done within an hour. Once I get finished with it, I don't even know how I did it. I just know that it's from God. Yes. So yes, it's wonderful. We are excited because you're gonna have your first art show here at the center. It's gonna be in September, we wanna talk a little bit about your upcoming show.'cause it's really important for other people to see your magnificent art. We've been seeing it. Now it's time for everyone else to get a chance to see what you're creating. How does it feel knowing you're about to showcase your work for the first time? It feels amazing. It feels great. It lets me know that it's hope out there. And I want to also make people feel welcome when they look at my art. When people see my art, I want them to look at that canvas and be like, wow, that's amazing. I want a message to show through. Like whatever you going through in life. Whatever you can't express out your mouth, you can put it on a piece of paper or on a canvas. With a new art show coming up, I feel amazing. I feel inspired, I feel like I'm ready to do this. Yes, I feel motivated. Driven. Yes. That's wonderful. you have lots of art. How do you think you're gonna choose which pieces will be displayed in your first show? I will be choosing a few different pieces Some abstract pieces that I have, some pieces with lips on'em and some with designs all over'em. not just one thing. Multiple pieces different colors, gold, black, sharpie, everything. They're beautiful. A mixture so people can see the variety Yes. You had a collection of lips, Yes. When you first started. I know people will ask you what inspired you for the different pieces we're hoping will find out more about what inspired you at your art show. We're excited for you to showcase. what's been the biggest challenge preparing for the art show? Yes. My biggest challenge preparing for the art show is It'll be my first art show, so me just believing that I can do it. Yes. That will be a challenge because I don't have a lot of things or people in my life to let me know I can do it. Yeah. I do have a couple of people that are very inspiring. Just keep me going but the biggest thing that I need to be worrying about when there's a challenge is just prayer before I even walk in that room. I need to be praying. So when those challenges come on, oh, I can't do it, or Oh, I don't feel like, or I don't wanna, I need to knock that outta my mind and understand there are people out there that are willing to see my artwork and that are willing to sit there and, get some type of great positive emotion outta my art. Yes. Yes. The center. Is going to help you do your first show? Yes. You have the support of the center and the clients that come, and how does that make you feel? That makes me feel amazing, first of all, to even be in a place that's so inspiring just being around so many positive people that has hope in me that alone makes me feel amazing. Somebody actually cares about me. Yeah. And willing to spend the time and dedication this ain't no game, it's people that's really struggling out here. So for this center to invite people and let you know that everything is gonna be okay and we got you. That is just beautiful. Oh, that's wonderful. That's what we want. Yes. That makes me feel amazing. Top tier. That's wonderful. How do you hope the audience will feel and react when they see your work? I want them to feel welcoming. When they look at my piece, I want them to know I can do this. This is really nice, but I want them to go home and understand that I can do this. This is very inspiring. You can go inside of a art gala or anywhere and look at some type of art and be like, okay, that's really nice. I really wanna do that. But it's people that are walking in there and don't have that type of drive to be like, oh, I can't do that. That's the first thing that come to their mind. But when you sit there and you really look at that piece of artwork. I want you to feel like there's something out there for you. Anytime you feel mad, sad, somebody done made you upset. When you walk inside of this place and you look at my art, I want your whole perspective to change. It don't matter whatever happened, when you look at this art you gonna feel like you belong here. That's what I want people to feel like. Like you belong here and feel like when I get outta this place, I'm gonna do what she did. I can do it. So an inspiration to others is what you want your art to display. I want you to smile. I want you to look at that art piece and just blush that's wonderful. Being inspirational to others and letting them know they too can follow their passions and do things. Yes. How important it is to have support. And people that believe in you. Yes. Have you had any meaningful conversations with people about your work? Yes, I have had very meaningful conversations with people, especially, being around a lot of inspiring people. I've went live on TikTok with artists lately. I have actually built a artistic community on my TikTok, when I go on there, I go live and I draw with other people and they just describe how they work. Their work has evolved over time and how it has inspired them to just keep going and find different strokes. Now, understanding that this little piece, yes, I can create this little piece, but how big can I go? To the point where I just be like, okay, I can conquer this and do anything. That's wonderful. And it's wonderful to be able to share that with other artists. Other artists, yes. Looking ahead, what's next for you after this show? Yes. I'm gonna keep getting my inspiration from,, everywhere I look, I don't care if it's a small little piece of art and it's sitting in the corner. No matter where I go I'm gonna get some type of inspiration. And I always keep in the back of my mind, what's next? What's next is me taking myself to that store, grabbing some more canvases after the show, and keep on creating. Don't never let life get in the way of what I need to be doing. Because when I was a little girl, I knew exactly where I needed to be at. God made sure I knew exactly where I needed to be who I needed to go to and what I needed to be doing. So while I'm here, on planet Earth, I understand that I have a mission to be chasing. Just like everybody else in the world, you have a mission to chase and you're not just on this earth to sit down. No, that's not what God put people on this earth for. He put me on this earth. To keep going to that store, to keep buying them canvases and to keep creating, to just keep on going. After my shows, I'm definitely gonna have some more inspiration coming just by paying attention and looking for what God need me to do. I know you have another opportunity coming up where you've been invited by another artist. To join them at a art show. Yes. So how do you feel about that? Ooh, I feel amazing very amazing that I even get the chance. I've never been on nothing like that ever before. I've never sold a piece of art or in this spot and everybody's looking at, wanna buy my art. I've never been in that type of position before. So to even be there. I'm just honestly appreciative. Not too many people get on that day, I already know that I'm gonna keep on moving forward and feel the best that I can feel and and keep on and not. Sitting there having doubts, oh, nobody's gonna buy my order. When you get that type of opportunity. You take it head on. Yeah, stand there and be like, okay, I'm gonna do this. This is what's gonna happen today. And that's gonna be that. And that's the motivation I wanna give everybody before you even sell a piece of paint and you pray and say, God, please just show me the way. Once you tell him to show you the way, you'll be fine. That's wonderful. What advice would you give to other aspiring artists who are just starting out? Keep going. Keep on going. Don't stop. I don't care if somebody tell you, you can't do it, or, you're not gonna make it Uhuh, because I'm telling you, I done heard so many people that told me that for example, my own mother, just keep on going. I don't care if your mother's never take you anywhere in life. When you get older and you leave your parents' house at that point in time, you control your own destiny, not your mother, your sister, your brother. Don't nobody control your destiny. At that point, you control your own destiny. So once you step foot outdoors, you start to feel like, oh, I can't do it, or, oh, I'm not gonna make it. Uhuh. You don't need to be thinking like that. That's how you don't get nowhere. You gotta sit there and have a head on thought, I can do it. Just keep on going. Don't let nobody discourage you. Don't be around nobody that's gonna discourage you because that's the first mess up. So just keep going. Don't be around nobody that's don't put you down. Always be around people. That's inspire you to keep on going and to keep on doing it. Because around those people, you're gonna go home and be like, I don't care what you say, or I don't care what this person say. I'm going to pursue my destiny and this is how I'm gonna take it on. Once you do that, you will be fine. Just keep on going. That's my word of advice. Yes. Don't stop. Because the minute you stop is the minute you miss your blessings and opportunity. Yes. Just think about that when you feel down. Yes. I think that is some beautiful inspiration. Yes. And words of advice to encourage other people no matter what they've been through, trauma people that don't believe in you, whatever it is. Number one, believe in yourself and keep pursuing your passion and your gifts. Thank you Khalisa, for sharing with our audience today. Yes your passion for art. We are very excited to be organized and getting everything together for other people to get a chance to see. Your beautiful artwork. Yes. Thank you for joining us today for this episode of Project Red Chronicles. Thank you. I appreciate you to even have me on here is a blessing itself, thank you so much.