Kari J Young, Seattle, WA
Member Since June 2009
Artist Statement I was born in Oregon and spent most of my childhood in the middle of the woods, in a house that my mom and dad built, along the Clackamas River. Most of my time was spent climbing trees with my best friend Smokey (my cat) or playing with my little sister, Janene (also my best friend), riding bikes, cooking with my mom, hiking and camping with my family. The forest was my sanctuary and my world. I went for nature walks with my dad who taught me how to identify plants, animals, insects and always answered all of my silly questions... and I mean ALL of them! I loved being able to walk for miles with no fear, just curiosity, creativity and playfulness.
Then I grew up and was on my own. For many years, I worked in the corporate world in administrative and various support roles, getting great reviews, getting raises, working so hard, moving up the “ladder”, had the good salary, the 401k, profit sharing and was for the most part fairly happy with my career track. I was doing what I was “supposed” to be doing. But as I was approaching 40 something began happening to me. A fire began to stir, the truth of the life I had not been living began to come to the surface. Once I started to allow that feeling and used my intuition as my new compass, I knew there would be no turning back.
In 2006 a month before I turned 40 I quit my stable, safe, non-creative job. I did not know then what I was going to do next but I decided to see what it would be like to let my life unfold from day to day. I wanted to see where my heart and intuition would lead me. I was terrified and I cried a lot. What had I done?! I didn’t know who I was without my job because my ego was so closely identified with it and that was who I thought I was. I began traveling, spending many days alone in silence, I wrote, became a Creative Life Coach and started teaching on-line art workshops. I allowed for creativity and the unknown to come into my life with full abandon. I began to grow and change in ways I never knew I could. I learned about patience, process and I learned to be brave. I learned to be REALLY brave.
What I finally learned was that I am here, whole and perfect as I am. My purpose is to reveal the extraordinary in the ordinary, awaken power and dance in magic and mystery. It is also to create, connect, help others and to put myself out there. I put my fate in the Universes’ warm and loving arms...
Click to save as artist's preferred kit 
