Why Study Georgia O’Keeffe (even if you’re not an artist)

As a confused two-headed teenager in the 1980’s, I emulated both the serious, brilliant, independent artist Georgia O’Keeffe, and the feminine, wholesome pop star Olivia Newton-John (especially with her gutsy finale with those black sexy pants in the movie Grease).

Two very different women to idolize as a teen.

Georgia O’Keeffe excited, eluded and haunted me. She never had children. She was old and almost blind (still working) and spent over 40 years as a widow, living independently, still fully and completely devoted to her art and to her surroundings. AND this enigmatic woman artist was still deeply sensual and living a beautiful artistic life on her own terms.

She epitomized a feminism I craved and would never reach.

It didn’t matter what the meaning of her giant flowers were—she was creating a spectacular, colorful, unique life, her way. She was different than other famous women I followed; she had quiet self-determination, genius vision, and it was wrapped up with her own version of feminine strength packaging.

She exuded a gutsy glow that I yearned for, but which starkly contrasted my real life in the 80’s, where women’s bodies were weaponized with perfect thinness as the “pièce de résistance,” motivating me to treat fats as poison, and obsess with dance and exercise. I had chosen to train and be a musical theater performer in the 1980’s, when dieting and being “too thin” was framed as the height of style and the natural direction of control for women. Trying to carve an inner, authentic artistic life for myself was an inconceivable goal.

As I got older, stronger, and found my grounding, I began reading, visiting, and trying to absorb the wisdom and art of Georgia O’Keeffe. She continues to be an important role model for me as I enter this “third” chapter of my artful teaching.

There are so many lessons to soak in from Georgia O’Keeffe. Her art invites us all into a deep perception requiring slowing down, paying attention, and feeling the emotional undercurrent of form and color. Her work has so many variations and explores different techniques. But central to everything she created she begs us to see things differently and ask questions. This invitation to connect the outer world with our inner landscapes is why studying and emulating Georgia O’Keeffe is so important.

Come with us on this next GREAT ARTIST Footstep ADVENTURE—

Please let me know in the comments what connects, interests, or motivates you about Georgia O’Keeffe?