Helping growing artists to find their creativity, Australian artist, art teacher, and lesson planner Kerry Daley inspires us to find ideas in everything around us.  She is passionate about art in all forms and has been expressing herself creatively since day dot. Somehow, Kerry finds time to wear many hats, putting together easy art lessons for busy teachers (@kerry.daley_artteacher), running classes herself, and creating her own diverse artworks (@kerry.daley.artist). 

We were lucky enough to ask Kerry some questions about her inspirations, tips for creating with kids, advice for young artists, and more. Read on to learn about her life and how she balances personal creative expression with inspiring others!

How did you discover your creativity? Was it a gradual process or a surprise discovery?

I may have been born with a pencil and a sketchbook in my hands, as I have been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. I have kept a sketchbook on and off since I was about 9 years old, and I have always been told that I am artistic and creative. I used to take this for granted, but as I get older, I realise that I am lucky to be able to express myself in so many creative ways.

Who inspires you the most?

I am constantly inspired by other artists. I love to learn about their creative processes and see inside their studios and sketchbooks. I spend quite a lot of time online looking at and reading about artists and illustrators.

Do you have a go-to piece of advice for growing creatives and budding artists?

There is no accounting for taste. There will always be those who love what you do and those who don’t. You may as well make whatever it is that makes you happy.

What 3 art supplies would you take to the moon?

A pencil, a sketchbook and a black felt pen.

What’s something that you’re proud of, that you don’t often get to talk about?

I have a daughter Cleo, and a son James who are the most beautiful people that I know. They are by far the best things that I have ever made!

What tips do you have for creating with kids and managing mess?

It is always preferable to have a place where mess is appropriate and tolerated. Somewhere for kids to be creatively free, but at the same time I think that kids should be taught how to use art materials and how to clean up after themselves. In the classroom, as our lessons are quite short, I limit the range of materials that I make available and explicitly teach my students how to take care of them.

Where do you find your creative inspiration for a piece or a lesson?

Ideas come from everywhere, from books, from nature, and from looking at and making art. I keep an art teacher sketchbook to record my ideas, but also to doodle in and to draw. Most of my lesson ideas come from this creative practice. Something will spark and idea, and the next thing I will be incorporating it into the lesson plan.

When was the last time you got creative goosebumps?

When visiting the National Art Gallery in London I was moved to tears to see artworks that I had studied at university. It was overwhelming to see them in real life. More recently, I visited an exhibition of artists’ sketchbooks, I felt inspired, but also privileged to see such personal work.

Aside from art, what other hobbies do you enjoy?

I often joke that I don’t do anything other than look at and make art, and there is more than a grain of truth in that, but I do read quite a lot, and embarrassingly, I love to watch TV.

What’s your favourite place to sit and watch the world go by?

I love a road trip. I like to sit in the passenger seat and watch and think and dream.

We hope you feel inspired by Kerry Daley and her passion for creating. She has taught us that ideas can come from anywhere, so let’s explore the world and express ourselves through art!

You can find more of Kerry’s art here, as well as her lesson planning and teacher inspiration here. Feel free to also check out some of our other featured artists for more ideas on getting creative.

If you want to get sketching yourself, check out our collection of pads and paper, as well as our sketching sets so you can channel a world of inspiration into your art!

#montmarteart or tag us @montmarteart on Instagram or Facebook as we’d love to see what you create. Also join our Creative Community by scrolling to the bottom of our website and popping in your email, too easy!