Today I'm sharing the very first brushstrokes on my Parade of Hearts sculpture.
Standing in front of the large white heart for the first time with a paintbrush in hand felt surreal. After months of planning, sketching, and imagining how the design would come together, the moment finally arrived to begin.
There’s something exciting about that first brushstroke. It’s the moment an idea begins to move from concept into reality.
From Idea to Sculpture
Every artist in the Parade of Hearts begins with the same blank canvas — a large white heart sculpture waiting to be transformed.
Before painting ever begins, there’s a lot of quiet preparation. Sketching ideas, refining concepts, and thinking through how a design will wrap around the three-dimensional shape. What works on paper doesn’t always translate easily to a sculpture, so careful planning becomes part of the creative process.
Even with preparation, that first brushstroke still feels like a leap.
The Beginning of the Journey
Painting a sculpture like this is very different from working on watercolor paper or even a storefront window. The scale is larger, the surface curves in unexpected ways, and the design has to work from multiple viewing angles.
But those challenges are also part of the excitement.
Each layer of paint brings the sculpture closer to the finished piece that visitors will eventually experience around Kansas City.
A Community of Hearts
One of the things I love most about the Parade of Hearts is how it brings artists and communities together. Soon, these hearts will be placed throughout the city, creating a public art experience for locals and visitors to enjoy.
With Kansas City welcoming people from around the world this year, it feels especially meaningful to contribute to something that celebrates creativity and connection.
For now, though, the journey has just begun — with those very first brushstrokes.
Full reveal coming April 4th.
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