Carlee Pakes, an illustrative painter and designer from Omaha, created our own version.

Born and raised in Omaha, Carlee earned her BFA at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Her work has been shown throughout the city and other parts of the Midwest in solo and group exhibitions. Primarily working in watercolors and gouache, she enjoys mixing mediums and exploring themes ranging from historical symbolism in nature to pattern and design elements from various cultural backgrounds.

Like most of her ideas, Carlee’s red fire horse started with a simple pencil sketch, which she scanned and reworked to become the digital composition it is now. She wanted the silhouette to be instantly recognizable and chose bright, eye-catching colors, specifically red for the body. Including the fire element was a must, so she added flames to the horse’s mane, tail and hooves. She also wanted the finished work to reflect her personal art style, as she’s been experimenting with digital drawing and painting.

Below are the artist’s responses to Ming Toy Gallery’s 5 with series.

Q: When did you know you were going to be an artist?

There wasn't really a defining moment when I came to this realization. I think art has always been so ever-present and personal in my life that it’s been the pathway I've chosen over everything else.

If there was a moment when I knew I’d pursue it seriously, it would have been in high school when I had to figure out what I wanted to study in college; The only thing I felt I could dedicate myself fully to was art. I’d always had very supportive art teachers throughout my schooling who were very encouraging of my skills and how they could be useful for my future as an artist.

Q: Describe your approach to creating art in general.

I've always been a big sketchbook person, so I usually have 4-5 sketchbooks I'm working on simultaneously with ideas and concepts. Whether it's a few words or a phrase or very rudimentary sketches, my sketchbooks catch all my thoughts and ideas. It can be overwhelming sometimes, but when an art block is imminent, it has sparked my creativity more times than not.

If I'm really inspired, I skip the sketch phase and jump head-first into a piece. Sometimes going into a project blind with no guidelines is thrilling. It can make the result satisfying if you don’t start with any strong expectations for the outcome.

Q: Name the 3 most important things in your studio space.

• First and foremost, I would say my computer, but I've become more reliant on my iPad in recent years. It's portable, has a bigger screen than my phone and has become a new type of canvas for me to work on. If I'm working on a traditional painting and need to reference some images and/or a color palette while also listening to music or a podcast, it's a perfect catchall for that. I could literally go on and on about how useful it has become in my art practice.

• I'm big on organization, so another necessity for me is storage. As a chronic art supply collector, I need something to have a place and be easy to find when I need it. I have lots of different storage pieces, but the main one that sits at my desk is the most important, and I've had it since I was a kid. It's a simple plastic, three drawer organizer that holds all the essentials I use on a regular basis - watercolors, sketchbooks, brushes, tape, ink, markers, etc.

• Lastly, a sentimental piece that I hang anytime I move to a new workspace: my motivational 90s cartoon Batman image. It was a joke meme I found online when I was in college working on my fine arts degree. It's literally a picture of Batman from the 90s animated TV show leaning forward and pointing with the words "Quit procrastinating. Work on your art.” It was meant to reference the iconic Uncle Sam recruitment poster. I loved it so much I printed it out on my basic desktop printer and pinned it to my bulletin board to "keep me in check” while I worked toward my BFA. I've never gotten rid of it and never plan to.

Q: Where do you find inspiration?

I'm a huge lover of nature and the natural world, so I feel it’s the most constant source of inspiration I've had over the years. The myths and folklore that cast animals as a way for us humans to understand the world around us are stories that have always captured my fascination. I use a lot of pattern designs in my work, which is based on my love of folk art and decorative art from various cultures around the world. Being a graphic designer, I find myself very drawn in by bold, unique designs that pair colors and shapes in a pleasing manner. I'm a bit all over the place with my inspirations, and they're constantly changing.

Q: What do you want others to know about you/your work?

My art tends to be very personal, so whoever looks at what I've created, I'd like people to know they're getting a glimpse of my inner self. As much as I love making art and having people respond positively to it, a small part of me hopes it can inspire others to create, too. I love supporting and being inspired by other creatives, so having another person or artist be influenced by what I create is the biggest compliment.

To learn more about Carlee’s work, visit carleepakes.weebly.com.