juggling raccoons ), Kay smiled warmly and from her expression , her mind drifted into the past . “ My form of magic realism , or narrative realism – whatever it is – is based on actual events in my life . Life inspires my art : people , animals , events , tragedies , small powerful moments that bring you to your knees — even politics , pandemics , and yes , juggling raccoons because I once actually saw one . I call these moments the ‘ paw prints ’ of my life journey .”
Some of these paw prints end up in her paintings . In fact , O ’ Rourke did an entire series of juggling raccoons while her mother endured Alzheimer ’ s disease . She had just gotten through a bad day taking care of her mother when she spotted the raccoon tossing her dog ’ s dish in the air and according to Kay , “ It lit up my entire day !” She has incorporated other wild visitors into her paintings , such as the skunk family in “ Guess Who ’ s Coming to Dinner ,” and her most recent model is a porcupine that used to drop by to enjoy her apple tree . Kay named her Priscilla .
Now that vaccinations are available and life outside the house is slowly resuming , I asked Kay how the pandemic affected her .
“ The pandemic only affected me in that I couldn ’ t cook and have family and friends over . Painting kept me busy and my mind full . I could still go there ( her studio ) and lose myself . I do paint every day until gardening starts . I am so grateful for this gift . When you have a talent , you have to trust that talent will take care of you . Art-making has saved me throughout my life . It has also brought people into my life who I never would have met before . They all have enriched my life in a thousand ways .” other visual artists — a fact I can appreciate . She shared that she enjoys the poetry of Octavio Paz and the narrative prose of Annie Dillard , as well as the short stories of Wallace Stegner , “ The Dean of Western Writers .” But most of all she credits her Grandmother Hilda .
“ As a young woman , she was sent from her family at the age of twelve to work . She went on to graduate from Whitman College at the top of her class before she married my grandfather , went back to the farm , and raised a passel of kids . She was so bright . She could have been a great writer . She wrote me wonderful letters I wish I still had . She encouraged me and taught me so much . What did I learn from her ? To learn who you are and cultivate the best of you . Nurture your talents . Tend your life well , with kindness and respect .”
From that , Kay also learned , “ Good art-making comes from being intuitive and empathetic to the world around you . Never get comfortable . Challenge yourself always . Good art-making , authentic art-making , is not about sales , fame , and fortune ; it is about living life fully aware and creating within it your story .”
From everything I ’ ve seen , heard , and witnessed of Kay O ’ Rourke , she has made her life and her art into a series of incredible stories . If you would like to learn more about her you can see some of the paw prints of her life ’ s journey , her artwork , at The Art Spirit Gallery in Coeur D ’ Alene , Idaho ; Earthworks Gallery in Yachats , Oregon ; through the MAC ’ s art resource rental program , and in her studio by appointment only . You may also find her on Facebook .
Kay also shared that her life and work have been influenced by writers , more so than
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