L7: What inspired you to become an artist? 

Kree: Isn't everyone an artist of one kind or another? I love the idea that the Balinese have no word for "artist" because it simply exists in everyone. In my life, probably the formative years I spent in the Netherlands from 1959-1965 and the encouragement I received from my Dutch teachers who recognized my early skills contributed greatly. I have always drawn, illustrated and made things but did not have the drive to paint professionally until I met a family member who was a successful painter – he encouraged me to respect my skills and make use of them. 

L7: Did you receive any formal training, or are you self-taught? 

Kree: I’ve taken occasional art classes in school and junior college, and here and there a workshop, but largely I’m an autodidact. I have taken workshops in gouache and collage and, long ago, calligraphy, egg tempera and watercolor. 23 years as a henna artist and body painter have contributed greatly to my canvas art techniques. Henna paste is a remarkable medium, and I have invented new ways of using it in my artwork. 

L7: How would you describe your artistic style? 

Kree: Higgledy-piggledy anarchic ecodystopian? Depends on the mood. I am focusing currently on abstract expressionism – still working with a lot of detail, but in an abstract way. 

L7: What mediums do you primarily work with (oil, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, etc.)? 

Kree: Acrylic, collage, mixed media, gouache. Henna paste, oil markers, fabric paint, paper clay, digital collage ... and garbage! 

L7: Are there recurring themes or subjects or images in your work? 

Kree: Not so much in the way of subjects, which are varied, but definitely patterns, colors, movements, details. Politically my paintings have always dealt with war, waste, racism, history. 

L7: Do you plan your compositions in advance or work intuitively?

Kree: Very little planning, usually intuitively – often I will dream about making a piece and then try to actualize it. I am learning through making abstract work to let go of judgment and do what feels good, which is very liberating. 

L7: Where do you find inspiration for your work? 

Kree: It comes from experience, nature, history, other artwork, all different directions. I paint when I'm happy, I paint when I'm angry, I paint when I'm healing or solving spiritual problems. I love to travel and see how other cultures express their innermost feelings through art, some of my favorite work is culled from my own travel photographs. I'm awed by human technical brilliance and fascinated by the infinity of patterns in the universe. Space inspires me, water is present in many of my paintings. 

L7: What emotions or ideas do you hope to convey through your paintings? 

Kree: I see some of my work as ecodystopian warning – the destruction of our planet, the extinction of our beautiful animal life. Painting is the best way I know how to express those feelings of desperation. Color for me is uplifting and I hope people can experience some of the joy I communicate in the colors and patterns of some of my work. I am more than a bit eclectic, and I communicate through my painting. 

L7: Where have you exhibited your work? 

Kree: I have had two of my pieces chosen for book publishing, one piece (Mehndi Tiger) was used on the NY Times best selling series "Tiger's Voyage." Another piece of mine, "Twitter Revolution In Heaven," was chosen for the cover of Iranian scholar Sima Shakhsari's book on the impact of social media on Iranian youth, "The Politics of Rightful Killing – Civil Society, Gender and Sexuality in Weblogistan." I have mostly shown in local galleries, CoCA, A/NT, group shows, cafes and salons around Seattle, Washington. The last solo show I did was the closing show at Bonfire Gallery in 2023. 

L7: Any recent awards or recognitions we should include?

Kree: I won the First Place Award in the L7 Gallery exhibition “Sharing Mythologies”.

L7: What are you currently working on? 

Kree: A series of large abstract pieces in a series called Underworld – dealing with an intense trauma suffered earlier in 2025. 

L7: Who are your favorite artists (past and/or present?

Kree: Remedios Varo for a famous one; I also admire some of the mische technical painters like Brigid Marllin, Assemblage artist Yvette Endrejautski, and locally I admire abstract painter Laurie Barmore, painter Jeff Mihalyo. But really, I love almost everyone locally! We live in a richly creative environment. 

L7: Yes we do! We really enjoyed visiting your art community, Equinox. All of the artists we met there were so dedicated to their craft and the atmosphere is rich with creativity and joy. I know you feel lucky to be part of that, and your contributions to that community are definitely valued by all. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us and best of luck with all of your future projects. 

See more of Kree’s work at rebeldogstudio.com.