1. What’s your background?
I grew up with two neighbors, sisters, who were both artists and I took art classes from them throughout my younger years. I have always painted, even while focusing on my career and raising a family. And now I’m really ramping up a new phase with a lot more life experience, to go public with my artwork. I’m fulfilling a calling that never really left me.
2. What does your work aim to say?
"I want to have this in my home, and this looks beautiful in this room.” I strive to make it something you’re not going to get sick of in a week, or even a year. Something you can even move from space to space in a room, it doesn’t necessarily have to stay in one spot, so it flows with the entire house or individual’s style.
3. How do you get ideas for each piece of art?
Some come to me in the moment as I’m painting. Others are inspired by my travels or experiencing beauty in the everyday moments of life. It’s a piece by piece experience for me that can evolve as I paint or the composition can change multiple times mid-painting.
4. Tell me about your technique and anything you’ve been experimenting with.
I’ll share a few. I use various solvents to get a desired consistency for my medium. Then I will move the paint around the canvas by shifting the canvas with my hands, up and down, right and left, to let it flow. At times guiding it with my finger or brush. Alternatively, I’ll put thinned medium on a canvas and I’ll actually blow on it so it moves (laughs). I think this comes across in the paintings, the colors and shapes look like they’re moving organically. Lastly, I have been experimenting with conveying more minimalism…leaving the interpretation up to the viewer. This requires a more precise application and perhaps various methods of layering.
5. You tend to let the texture of the canvas come through, rather than covering it with color. How do you feel this impacts your paintings?
Surprisingly, I think it actually makes the work look softer, even though you’d think the canvas looks harder. It comes through in part because I’m thinning the paint with thinner or water and the colors are sometimes softer, and not as bold.
6. What do you believe is the key element in creating a good acrylic painting?
Creativity! Some of the best pieces are the untrained ones that come from mistakes. These are some of my most beautiful pieces.
7. How have you developed your career?
Networking, local art galleries, some hotels actually have galleries where you can buy pieces. I like to make connections with various people in the art world. I sometimes auction off pieces or donate them to get my work out there.
8. How do you cultivate a collector base?
I get a lot of feedback, so whoever buys a painting, or the auctioneers, I ask for positive and negative feedback. As much as possible, I try to cater it to what they like, while staying in my own role and style.
9. How do you navigate the art world?
How do you navigate the real world?! (Laughs.) You have to go with the flow — that’s Art. There will be people who will always love your work, and also those who will always hate it. Being okay with that and staying confident in my work is important.
10. How do you price your work?
It’s based on the finished product. Some involved how much time I spend on a particular piece. Or other times it’s how the end product speaks to me or the feedback will affect the pricing too.
11. Which current art world trends are you following?
I see a lot of artwork sold online, especially Instagram, and it’s not my first choice. I can’t believe I’m saying this as an artist! (Laughs.) It looks better in person, so I struggle with the online sales side of it, even though I’ve done it. Aside from that, a cool trend is unexpected showcase for Art. People who wouldn’t necessarily be going out to see it are exposed to Art for sale as it pops up in restaurants, hotels, and even clothing stores — expect the unexpected!