Hello!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  Our Thanksgiving holiday was lovely and so relaxing.  We’re back home now, and I’m so ready to get back to work!  This week begins a very full three-art-shows-in-three-weeks for me.  Craziness.  Instagram followers, get ready for some behind-the-scenes photos over the next few days!

You have met Lauren Gray before, so I think you’re really going to appreciate this little interview she was kind enough to do for us!  It is full of down-to-earth advice, and open and honest conversation about her creative style.  Lauren is self-taught artist and has gained some very practical and real experience in her career as an artist.

Enjoy!

When did you decide you wanted to be an artist?
I have loved drawing since I was very young, my first memory of realizing I took drawing and art more seriously than the average kid my age, was probably around 13. Then in 2002 I had decided to sell a painting on Ebay for the first time. It sold for $78. That, and my insane obsession for art, was the beginnings of my realization that this is something that I would like to make my career.

Can you describe your creative process?
My creative process is a little screwy. I have never been the type that could successfully plan something out. If I see something that inspires me, I get right to it by grabbing a fresh wood panel and a pencil. I can’t do preliminary sketches or anything like that. When I have tried, they end up coming out so drastically different that it’s not even worth it to try to create a focus for the piece in the first place. I also work on about 4 things at a time. I don’t allow myself to get frustrated or forceful with something. If that happens, I put it aside until I have distanced myself enough that I can see it with fresh eyes again.

Do you have any advice for young artists just starting their art career?
The best advice is to stay true to subject matters that are close to your heart. In the beginning (especially if you are a self-taught artist, like I am) it is also important to try out all of the different media that you can get your hands on. I have spent countless money over the years on buying new supplies. I still buy new spins on materials just to give it a shot and see if it’s something that I can incorporate into my work. By trying new materials and new combinations of materials it can help you identify a unique style. And lastly, do not ever give up on the big picture. Every single artist out there has failures. I have them once or twice a week. You work so hard on something and you stick it to the end and it might end up not being a strong piece at all, something you might even decide to box up or throw away. Those missteps do not define you as an artist. Each one of them is a tool and in the end they all do offer bits of information that you will take along with you to the next piece of work.

Thank you Lauren!  Go check out Lauren’s Etsy Shop and facebook page to find more amazing artwork and information.