Artist Statement - Kyah Starr

My shoes that I painted in the style of Georgia O’Keeffe, hold a very special place in my heart. It was very challenging for me because I was used to painting on 2D surfaces.

When starting this project, I wanted to challenge myself, but also give back to the community. I wanted people to see what I could do, as well as inspire others. O’Keeffe painted many abstract objects, which was new to me because I tend to lean more towards realism, but with the shape of the shoe, I felt her style would look great.

When it came to picking images to recreate, I picked the famous poppy and something more abstract. The poppy wrapped so nicely around my shoes and the colors blended so easily. The swirl painting was neat to me because it was different and used many different colors.

These shoes took a lot of time and effort, and allowed me to be creative. This project inspired me to be better and express myself through my talent and creativity. I hope that others look at my shoes and build their own interpretations, and while reading the writings from our authors, get something more. This was a great project, and I want the community to see and help lead them to their best selves.