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Finding the beauty in everything

Local woman believes everyone is an artist

T-R PHOTO BY SARA JORDAN-HEINTZ Local artist Keeley Weeks serves as the Central Iowa Art Association’s director. She collects pictures, photographs, quotes, sayings and objects she keeps as artistic inspiration for her paintings and mixed media projects.

Editor’s note: This is part of an occasional series profiling artists in Marshalltown and the surrounding area, discovering what inspires and propels their creativity.

For artist Keeley Weeks of Marshalltown, the glass of creativity is not merely half full, it runs over.

“I have always been attracted to the little things — the beauty that you see in everything. I find myself admiring and respecting the process of art and what comes with it and how much it affects the brain and the human in general. It’s like a fingerprint or the human eye.” Weeks said.

The artist, who grew up in Marshalltown and Des Moines, credits her parents John Elsberry and Val Elsberry with nurturing her artistic endeavors.

“My dad is an amazing artist. He would encourage me to find my own answers. My mom loves the art gadgets and buys me the latest finds,” Weeks said.

Upon completing high school, Weeks headed to Marshalltown Community College where art instructor Tim Castle encouraged her to pursue a career in art.

“He handed me a sheet of things you could do with an art degree. I found myself drawn to art therapy and the idea of working with kids,” Weeks said.

She took a break from college, due to health issues, and later getting married. After having her son, she decided to stay home with him the first two years of his life. She worked for a daycare center, and also ran her own for a while. In 2015, a college friend told her about the Central Iowa Art Association and its Art Center, located at the Fisher Community Center. Weeks got a position there teaching kids’ art clubs.

“[CIAA Board Member] Renata Pecar was my fairy godmother,” she said of gaining the opportunity to teach classes, thanks to Pecar’s assistance.

Weeks then became the organization’s program director and part-time office manager, adding new programs and classes for children and adults, as well as organizing workshops, art camps and bringing in artist exhibits. She recently was promoted to director of the CIAA.

Teaching art sessions has allowed Weeks to combine her love of art and children, utilizing relaxation techniques.

“Taking 10 minutes everyday to focus on something creative that enhances the use of the right side of your brain would have an extremely positive effect on our world,” Weeks said.

The artist, who works primarily with acrylic paint and mixed media, describes her style as “a colorful, semi-abstract mess.” She is influenced by Salvador Dali and likes creating optical illusion paintings.

“I have to break down my ideas when I create, and put my ideas together like a puzzle,” she said. “I collect everything that inspires me — it’s like a way of charging my battery.”

Beautiful pictures, photographs, quotes and sayings and random objects are all collected, set aside for inspiration.

“It’s like an art hoarding filing system,” Weeks explained.

The artist most enjoys the spontaneity of a blank canvas and having tons of materials spread out before her.

“I like to get overwhelmed with mixed media,” she said.

Sometimes Weeks needs motivation to start an art project, but once she is ready to create, she loses all sense of time.

“Time doesn’t exist when I’m creating — I’m definitely in the zone. It’s like self-therapy. I always try to make sure to take breaks and look at something else. If I don’t take breaks and try to do too much at once, I’m not happy with the results,” Weeks said.

She continues to build the CIAA’s programs, always on the hunt for new artists, exhibits and concepts. She accepts commissions, and examples of her work can be viewed on her Facebook page.

Weeks attends school online, working towards earning a bachelor’s degree in art and psychology. She is also earning a non-profit management certificate.

“Everyone is an artist; it’s just whether or not we want to express it. Art is whatever you produce or create,” Weeks said.

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If you know someone willing to share what inspires him/her to be an artist, contact this writer at the information provided.

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