How Kay Burnett Explores Nurturing Self-Expression within the Artistic Community
Photos by Susan Fried
Seattle and Tacoma-based artist, Kay Burnett aka Kay The Paint Lady, Recently, stopped by The Day With Trae show with host Trae Holiday to discuss her art journey and upcoming events.
Kay Burnett, a lifelong enthusiast of art, initially found herself drawn to doodling and drawing from a young age.
“I've always doodled as a kid,” Burnett said. “I've been drawing my whole life, but I didn't start painting until about 15 years ago. So then fast forward, I've been doing paint and sip classes for about eight years now. And I got into that, because I just wanted my art in everyone's home, and my art, like my personal art, wasn't selling.”
Burnett said she felt she needed to come up with something quick, and the painting classes became a way to bring people together and have fun.
“I always start each of my events, whether it's a kids event, all ages, doesn't matter what type of event it is, we always start with a toast,” Burnett said. “I tell them when to repeat after me, I promise to relax and have fun. Because at the end of the day, it's just about having fun. Doesn't matter what your painting looks like. It's how you feel while you're painting.”
Many of her events are themed, drawing inspiration from various cultural elements such as the '90s era or specific motifs like boomboxes or sunflowers with a twist. Kay actively seeks feedback from attendees, inviting them to contribute their ideas and preferences for painting subjects.
“I just tried to come up with things that not a lot of other people are doing,” Burnett said. “I know a lot of painters like landscapes and trees, and I was like, I'm gonna think outside of the box. You guys can go to those all day long, but you're not gonna get it from me.”
While she previously relied on her existing gallery of designs, she now prioritizes freshness and novelty for each occasion.
“I'm choosing something new every time because people are coming back,” Burnett said. “There are people who come twice a month because I do them weekly. So there are people that come twice, it has to be something new every single time. Otherwise, people are not going to come because they're always coming.”
Burnett reflected on the profound impact of her paint-and-sip events on attendees and the deep resonance it held for her. Recalling her initial event, she vividly recounts the overwhelming sense of support and community she felt from the attendees.
“I didn't know what to expect,” Burnett said. “I didn't know who was going to show up, and when I walked into the room, there were 25 black women, I was like, Oh my God, no, like, you're supporting me. And it's been like that for eight years.”
She said the encouragement has remained a constant throughout her eight-year journey.
“The general feedback has been, ‘Oh, you've helped me through this’ or ‘I was going through a tough time’ and then ‘These classes really helped me get through it,’” Burnett said.
Beyond classes, Burnett is focusing more on her personal art.
“I've always put that on the back burner,” Burnett said. “When I start painting, I'm like, Okay, I need to paint in a way that I can teach it to others. So then I was like, Okay, well, then I can't fully paint. So my focus now is like, I want to put my feelings onto a canvas and I want to showcase it. I don't want to teach it. I just want to tell my story through my art, and it's been working so well for me for this past year.”
She said she felt like people were starting to get to know her through her art.
“I'm not a real big talker or anything like that. It's just that I want you to see it,” Burnett said. “I want you to see what I see when I paint.”
Burnett shared with Holiday the inspiration behind some of her notable pieces. One of her favorite pieces depicts intertwined women leaning on each other, symbolizing unity, strength, and support within the black community. Another painting, inspired by a comment from a follower, aims to celebrate women of all body types, emphasizing inclusivity and representation.
“Some phone girl commented on my posts that you need to do something for the big girls,” Burnett said. “And I'm like, okay — so I painted that one because I wanted something for everyone. I wanted everyone to feel included.”
Burnett’s upcoming events include transforming her art studio into a public gallery on April 27 with a 90s theme and live DJ. She also announced a Mother's Day brunch and paint session on May 12.
Tickets for these events and more information are available at kaypaintjoint.com or find her online at @k_thepaintlady.
To hear more about local art events in Seattle, tune in to Trae every weekday at 11 am on all Converge Media platforms and The Day With Trae YouTube Channel.
