Illumination: The Art of K.C. Cannon
by Art with Altitude
This article originally appeared in theWinter 2025-26 issue of Art with Altitude.
A glow emanates from K.C. Cannon’s art—well, not just in her work, but in her way of moving through the world. “There is a sense of wonder for life that has captivated me since childhood, growing up in a family of creatives,” she said. That wonder—rooted in the wild beauty of Colorado and the quiet reverence of faith—radiates from every piece she creates. Her recent collaboration with her brother, photographer Brown W. Cannon III, is a visual symphony, two worlds colliding. “The energetic language of light magically delights when starting a work of art with my brother,” she says. “Much like a stained-glass window, the true resonance of this artistic exchange evokes the interior light of the soul to express outwardly, authentically and without reservations.”
K.C. describes their process as a form of artistic magic—layering mixed media, drawing, printmaking, collage and gold leaf into Brown’s photographs, transforming them into shimmering reflections of divine grace. “Brown’s symphony of sepia tones on moon-glow shimmering paper is an awakened gift to his darkroom days,” she explains. “The alchemy of our work begins when synergistic techniques harmonize together.” Her process is intuitive: “I begin my art-making process in prayer, taking time to be in the uninterrupted presence of peace, quieting the mind and communing with inspiration. Within this sacred space of art-making, a flow of receptivity generates waves of understanding, and I just know instinctively what needs to transform.”
GOLDEN LIGHT AND LIVING PRAYER
To K.C., art is both offering and conversation—a way to give thanks and to heal. “I have a personal vocation to uplift children through my art that God has put in my heart,” she says, recalling when her son was in the ICU at Children’s Hospital Colorado. “I want to bring relief, comfort, joy and encouragement to children, parents and caregivers along their path of suffering and toward healing.” Through donations of her work to hospitals and foundations, she hopes to infuse each space with the light she paints: “Gold leaf as the symbol of alchemy, the golden light of God, the blessing of wellness, the gratitude and service for the collaboration and the health, prosperity, peace and tranquility for all and to all that it might inspire.” Within the works are numerous entryways to the art, points of focus for parents to start conversations with their children. What do you see there? Why do you think that’s there? This intentionally refocuses a time of what could be sorrow or pain into curiosity. A distraction that lets the mind wander to more positive spaces, the worlds of wonder that K.C. carries within her.
Her outlook on the world is a legacy passed down through generations. “My grandmother, Sparkie, was my unconditional love,” K.C. recalls. “She had the most amazing attitude—‘Live, Love, and Laugh’ was her motto.” Sparkie was, as K.C. describes her, “a groundbreaker, change maker, a risk taker and Whirlygirl,” who taught her granddaughter to live courageously, to “ride horses fast, paint and express unabashedly,” and to “show up to dinner in proper attire.” Sparkie’s joy and faith became K.C.’s compass. “She was an uplifter and peacemaker,” K.C. says. “She never complained, never spoke ill of another, and at her death she said, ‘See you soon,’ and her faith had set her free.”
K.C.’s work is steeped in humility and thankfulness for her ranching roots and the Western spirit that shaped her. “The wild outdoors, the mysteries and the grandeur of the natural world led me down a path of exploration—and a desire to know this Master Creator called God,” she says. “What began as an outward quest became, over time, an inner peace of knowing.” Her art honors that balance between earth and spirit. “No grit, no pearl,’” she says. “The artist’s journey is a gemmed voyage, adorned with insights and discoveries, passion and humility. It’s not the easy path, but it’s a luminous adventure with unimaginable rewards.”
Elevate the Arts: Seek out the beauty in the world, in each moment, each hour, each day. Where can you focus that sparks curiosity or ignites joy, peace and wonder? Visit Schoonover Gallery to see K.C.’s work.AwA
