The Blue Whole Gallery is honored to feature Kaylee Steed as its June 2025 Student of the Month. A graduating senior with a lifelong passion for painting, Kaylee brings both talent and introspection to her art—offering not just images, but an emotional narrative of growth and self-discovery.
Kaylee’s journey with painting began as a child at Monterey Bay Charter School in California, where weekly art classes sparked a deep and lasting love for creative expression.
“When I held that paintbrush, I felt like everything else disappeared and it was just me and the paint,” Kaylee recalls. “I felt more free, more alive. That’s where it all started for me.”
But like many artists, Kaylee faced the challenge of creating in a world filled with opinions and expectations.
“For a long time, I used to worry about whether other people would like what I made—trying to paint things that felt impressive or that I thought others wanted to see,” she explains. “As an artist, it’s extremely difficult to refrain from being swayed by other artists’ talents and opinions, as well as those of teachers, parents, or friends.”
This year, however, as she prepared to graduate and began discovering more about who she is and what truly matters to her, Kaylee made a conscious shift in her approach.
“I’ve made the choice to paint for myself.”
Her featured piece—a sunset painting of whales—marks this turning point. Unlike her earlier work, which often carried layered symbolism or deeper narratives, this piece is simply about beauty, joy, and freedom.
“It doesn’t have a super deep meaning behind it, but that’s kind of the point,” she says. “It’s something I thought was beautiful and that made me happy to paint… It brought me that same freeing feeling I always felt at the charter school.”
For Kaylee, painting has evolved from a childhood escape to a meaningful way of capturing peace and presence.
“It’s become my way of holding onto the moments that bring me peace. I’ve learned that I want to create for myself—not to impress anyone else. So I choose to paint what makes me happy, no matter what other people may think.”
Kaylee’s work is on display throughout the month of June at Blue Whole Gallery, located at 129 W. Washington St. in Sequim, WA. June is also the gallery’s 28 on the Strait exhibition, celebrating 28 years of creative inspiration on the Olympic Peninsula. The public is invited to view the exhibit and attend the First Friday Art Walk on June 6, from 5 to 8 p.m.