Today, we have the pleasure of sharing Kelsey Koprowski’s story. Kelsey is a talented artist whose intricate black and white Southwestern landscapes capture the beauty and gradients of the desert. We’ll share her creative journey, the balance between art and life, and how she navigates the challenges of sharing her work with the world. 

Okay, time to shade in the details and get started. Please introduce yourself and what you create. 

 

My name is Kelsey Koprowski, I draw intricate Southwestern landscapes in black and white because I'm mesmerized by how contrast and shadow play on desert surfaces! 

 

I’d love to know when it all started for you. Were you very artistic at a young age?

 

My memory is not so great, but I think I was drawing since the moment I could hold pencil to paper. I was always drawing horses because I wanted to grow up to be one and genuinely thought I could accomplish that. 

 

Has your creative adventure been an easy one? Were there moments when making art felt especially difficult for you?

 

Definitely not easy. I took a long hiatus from art in my early adult years because the pursuit of perfection grew to be far too intense and other priorities replaced art-making. Along with that came a lot of self-inflicted disappointment. Over the years, I have learned that stepping away from something doesn't equate to failure. I continued to create in other ways throughout those droughts and that's what I view now as most important.

 

 

Would you have done anything differently to help cultivate your craft?

 

I would have taken more art classes!

 

It’s interesting how we often value structured learning more once we’ve had distance from it. But sometimes the paths we don’t take end up shaping us just as much as the ones we do. What role does creativity play in your life these days? Is it a top priority or more of a side hobby for you? Do you manage your creative time in any particular way? 

 

I am always seeking ways to express creativity, so in that sense it's a top priority. But often my creativity comes out in ways most might not consider "art" at first glance. For example, I find cooking, sewing, landscaping my yard, and decorating the house for Halloween as creative endeavors, and I probably spend more time doing those activities than drawing landscapes. When you have so many means of creating, I suppose it can be challenging to manage them all.

 

It definitely is a balancing act sometimes! Especially when creativity and selling require different skills. Do you feel that both creativity and marketing your art comes easily to you or is that something you are still fine tuning?

 

This is the biggest friction point for me in the process of creating. I suppose I have found a balance of sorts, but it basically entails outsourcing the marketing/selling part. I really dislike being a salesperson, nor do I have much experience with business and marketing. I struggle to reconcile the impacts of capitalism and social media. So about the only way I can manage to put my art out into the ether, without feeling like I'm compromising myself, is by means of art galleries and art festivals. Art galleries and events provide that piece of the puzzle so artists like myself can focus on other things. For that reason, I feel so grateful and lucky to be a part of the Moab Made and Tumbleweed galleries and for the abundance of festivals and exhibits that occur in our little desert oasis. 

 

Moab is so special that way. Do you feel like it is helpful to have some down time and creative breaks throughout the seasons here?

 

I take production breaks, not necessarily creative breaks. I do most of my landscape drawing in the winter months when the weather is not great for being outdoors. I tend to gather my inspiration during the warmer months of the year when I'm outside playing and interacting with the landscape. I keep records of these so that when December hits, I can get to work. By March, I'm definitely ready to put down the pencil and get back outside. This process of creating "seasonally" mirrors what's going on in the natural world: in spring my ideas start to grow, in summer and fall I'm harvesting, and in the winter I can hibernate and put my ideas to paper. This helps me feel connected to the landscapes that I draw my inspiration from. For anyone who struggles to balance outdoor recreation and indoor art-making, I definitely recommend embracing a seasonal approach.

 

I love your seasonal analogy. Where do you like to go or what do like to do in your inspirational season that really satiates that for you?

 

My inspiration is primarily drawn from my time spent in wild places in the West where the impact of humans is subtle or imperceptible to my eye. I also find ample inspiration when bikepacking or backpacking abroad.

 

 

What are a few of the details in your method or work that you are most proud of and feel sets you apart? We admire these things about each of our artists and would love to hear straight from the source what those favorite parts are for you as well.

 

I think the fact that I work in black and white sets my artwork apart from other Southwest landscape artists. I totally understand the appeal of color in the Southwest and I myself envy painters to a high degree for this reason. But I just love the black and white gradient!

 

What keeps you motivated and pressing forward in your art?

 

Of course, I love when I see one of my pieces at a friend's house or a community member requests a commissioned piece. If a piece of mine speaks to someone, that makes me happy. Those moments greatly motivate me to continue making art for the public. Mostly, I hope that my art imparts on people a sense of awe at the natural world and in doing so a desire to protect it from human impact.

 

Absolutely! In light of the growing threats to public lands, how does your work reflect your connection to these spaces and the need to protect them?

 

I guess you could say that the entirety of my work is a tribute to the public lands around us! I didn't anticipate access to these wild places to become threatened until now. I hope that my artwork helps to convey the beauty of these places such that people want to protect them by all means necessary.

 

Is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?

 

It is helpful to work as if the project you're engaged in is bigger than you.

 

Thank you so much Kelsey! Your thoughtful seasonal approach to creating art and honest reflections on overcoming self doubt or pressures were refreshing to hear. Kelsey’s story reminds me that creativity isn’t just about the finished product in the shop but how it can be incorporated into our daily moments not everyone gets to see. We all can’t wait to see where her next season of art takes her!

To see more of Kelsey Koprowski’s work and get in touch with her you can visit her website at kkoprows.wixsite.com/website