My name is Kylee Lawson and I am a 23-year-old scratch artist. I grew up with a passion for art and all things creative. I can thank my grandpa Ron Weil for this amazing trait, that I got handed down to me. I remember him teaching me to first color inside the lines in coloring books, which then grew into him teaching me to draw animals, nature, buildings and so much more! Over the years I watched my grandpa create for people and saw his paintings hanging in the Space Museum where he worked, and I thought to myself how proud I was of him and how proud of himself he must be and yearned to have that feeling for myself.

Why Scratch Art?
When I signed up for art my senior year of high school, I instantly had a reason to wake up excited for school where I felt seen. We learned more advanced skills, new mediums and techniques, plus how to feel the art you create. One of the mediums we learned was scratch art, I fell in love with this practice on the first scratch. It was easy for me, but not in a sense where it wasn’t challenging, easy in a sense it gave me peace. It was technical, unique, and I felt like I was somewhat good at it, I felt so confident in myself.
Life went on after high school and I stopped doing art completely. I moved to Bend, Oregon in 2020 in the middle of the pandemic. I found myself missing my family, feeling very alone and being in a new place in my life, not sure what was next. During this road bloack in my life, I found my art again. I called the local art store, asked if they had scratch boards. Sure enough, they did! I got an exacto knife, a picture I liked, and I scratched for hours. I completed a piece and posted it on social media. After 24 hours, I received comments, likes and messages…I was completely taken aback, and someone offered me to purchase it! I had never experienced a feeling like that before. Scratch Art is what helped me look forward and become Me again.
I’ve spent the last 4 years chasing that feeling by recreating images of beloved pets, and my heart has never been so full. I now have 8 pieces of my art in the lobby of the Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon in Bend, Oregon. I have created an abundance of art for people around the U.S. and I’m living my absolute dream life. I sincerely hope I get to create a unique image for you as well.