are you awake, or are you dreaming? dreaming is a part of the process
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are you awake, or are you dreaming? dreaming is a part of the process 〰️
Kalee Bly Choiniere (art alias Barely Awake) is a self-taught painter, muralist, and traveling artist originally from Providence, Rhode Island. Over a decade ago, she migrated to the West Coast, which inspired her to create a visual language that invite viewers into a state of wonder and introspection.
Threaded through all of my work is inspiration drawn from the expansiveness and vibrancy of the natural world. The liberation of truth that can only be found in nature among the mountains, deeply tucked into forests, and under wide open desert night skies, is the reason I create.
I bridge my inner world with the outer to translate stories of how emotion moves through the body by using vibrant colors, intricate line-work and psychedelic design. I am best known for my double-eyed characters and signature dripping flowers that in combination, create a whimsical and dream-like world .
When I first started painting, I knew I wanted to paint murals but didn’t know where to start, so I began painting 4’x5’ works— the biggest canvas that could fit in my car. I fell in love with large-scale art, and the ability I had to create a real impact on another persons self-compassion and overall sense of self. My goal in sharing my art is to transform space into reflective, tender, and uplifting moments for the viewer. It’s been over a decade, and although I move through mediums, I am consistently drawn to acrylic paint on large surfaces — the bigger the better.
