Meet Vernan Kee. I acquired to know Vernan on a photograph shoot excessive within the San Juan Mountains of southern Colorado. Whether or not working, designing, or rescuing puppies, he’s all the time out in nature, drawing inspiration for future initiatives. Check out his design work and maybe you too will discover some inspiration from Vernan.
Vernan Kee’s love of canine evokes each his working and his artwork. All images courtesy of Vernan Kee.
What began you down the artwork observe? How did you discover your area of interest in graphic design?
I come from a household of creatives, so rising up it was inspiring to see totally different kinds of artwork, resembling Navajo rug weaving, beadwork, and portray. I grew up on the Navajo Nation with my grandmother, and one factor I might do was draw my environment on a small sketchbook. As a present, I acquired a e-book referred to as “Methods to Draw Animals,” and that helped me a lot in my improvement as an artist. I discovered my area of interest in graphic design after the navy after I went to artwork faculty in California.
And likewise with working and shifting outdoors — when and the place did that begin? What motivates you to get outdoors at present?
It began with my grandmother, who would wake me earlier than the solar to run and bless ourselves with the dawn. Today, I nonetheless get up with the solar to run, however with my canine for additional motivation.
What, or who, evokes your work? And what, or who, evokes the way in which you progress outdoors?
I get my inspiration from being outdoors and seeing particulars in nature just like the traces in sandstone or the ridges of a mountain vary.
How has panorama and the place you’ve grown up and lived influenced you?
Being outdoors has all the time been my consolation zone and as a child that’s the place my inspiration got here from. I might sketch my environment underneath a juniper whereas watching grandma’s sheep. Now, I carry a small sketch pad and pencil in my backpack when open air.
In case you might give recommendation to a younger artist making an attempt to make it their dwelling, what would you say?
Don’t be intimidated to attempt one thing new.
As a inventive, work and motivation ebbs and flows, how do you retain it going?
Don’t be in a rush. I take lengthy breaks if wanted to finish a design.
Do you have got any favourite initiatives you’ve labored on? Are there initiatives that you’re enthusiastic about for the following yr?
I take pleasure in designing for the canine rescue my associate and I began. I exploit my artwork to lift funds to assist canine on the Navajo Nation. I’m excited to create extra artwork for the rescue.
You additionally rescue puppies?! Inform us about that!
I believed working was my method of therapeutic, however I spotted it was canine. When shifting again to the Navajo Nation, my associate and I began a rescue for canine and cats referred to as RezRoads Rescue. It has been a tremendous journey, and now I get to run with so many canine.
Remaining random query that I ask everybody, for those who may very well be a tree, what form would you be?
Undoubtedly a juniper tree.
Name for Feedback
- Are you acquainted with Vernan Kee? What’s your favourite of his works?
- What different artists would you prefer to see interviewed right here?




