Artist Spotlight Series: Kayce Hughes

I feel like I find inspiration everywhere. (Nature, museums, vintage stores, books, magazines, instagram, pinterest… ) I am inspired by beautiful hand writing and the art of calligraphy. I am inspired by color combinations in interiors and vintage porcelain.

I am often inspired by “mistakes” that happen while I am painting. For example last week I was doing a painting that was supposed to have dark blue “writing” on top of a mostly white ground that has some texture. I didn’t like the lines that I made so I was trying to remove them with a rag and turpentine. I ended up loving how the thinned dark paint was looking over the white texture and decided that I would spread it all over the canvas instead of removing it. Now I am planning on doing a whole series using this “technique” that was originally a mistake. (…and yes this is a metaphor for life)

What is your favorite piece?

That is a hard one …but one of my favorites is this one that I did for my very talented friend Sarah Bartholomew’s living room that is in this months Southern Living. Sarah is a decorator with amazing taste so it was both a challenge and super fun to create not only with the beautiful space in mind but also for a friend. I tried to create something that felt a bit like both of us and I really liked how it came out.

How has the your area influenced your work?

I am originally from the North but have lived in Nashville for over 20 years. I have made so many creative friends here that inspire and encourage me.

What is your favorite restaurant in Nashville?

My favorite restaurant is Café Nonna. We have been going there for so many years that it sort of feels like home.

What is your favorite cocktail?

Hmmmm that is almost as hard as picking your favorite child. Because I am still pretending that it is summer….my favorite summer cocktail is a watermelon mojito made with agave.

How do you balance personal life and work?

Not as well as I would like to but I am working on it.

Dream trip?

I love sunshine and sand somewhere beautiful with my whole family. As my kids get older I know that having us all together is going to get harder and harder so I am really savoring it when it does happen.

Dream commission?

Any time that I get to create a painting for a beautiful room it is a dream commission. It is great when it is photographed and put in one of my favorite magazines but it is also wonderful when I do a tiny painting for a powder room and the client is thrilled. I really still pinch myself that I get to do what I love and that other people love it enough to buy it and put it in their homes.

Your favorite host / hostess gift to give?

I love it when I find the perfect vintage treasure to give some one.

Who is your style icon?

My mother. She is beautiful and stylish and I love how she is current yet always true to herself and her unique style.

Your favorite up and coming artist?

Christina Baker (whom I featured HERE) might be more than up and coming but I fell in love with her paintings a few years ago. I blogged about her and we later became instagram friends and now we are face to face have lunch friends. I am still a big fan of her work and I am especially thankful for her encouragement and advice as I transitioned from clothing to full time painting.

What is your most treasured possession?

Photographs of my children. My husband is an amazing photographer so we have some good ones and they remind me of what is truly important.

What are you reading?

Nothing at the moment so I am needing some suggestions……

What are you listening to?

I usually love quiet. But I almost always listen to Beethoven’s fifth symphony when I do the line portion of my paintings. And if I need to clear my head I love the song “oceans” by Hillsong United.

What are your favorite blogs / publications?

Other than The English Room… so many but some that immediately come to mind are

As for publications I have never meet a home décor magazine that I didn’t like. And even though I can pinterest with the best of them….nothing beats sitting down with a glass of red wine and turning one glossy page after another.

Kayce’s work in situ in Sarah Bartholemew’s home…