Tell me about your background. How did you first get into art?
My art background is probably very different from other artists. I was planning to become an art teacher and had gotten a scholarship at a nearby community college, but the tables turned when my father got me a job at Goodyear Tire Manufacturing in our hometown of Gadsden, Alabama. I worked there for 10 years and while I appreciated the opportunity, it wasn't for me. I have always been creative so I truly blossomed when I later began a job with an interior design business working with faux finishes and murals. Moving forward another 10 years, I found myself dreaming bigger and moved to Nashville to grow my business. I met a wonderful man named Ira, who is now my husband of 21 years, and five years later, we opened our art gallery in downtown Franklin.
Recall the moment you realized art was something you were meant to do.
When I was living in Gadsden, I rented a duplex from a sweet, talented pianist and teacher - this was the moment I realized art and painting was in my future. She was stern yet sweet, and we became close friends. She would tear out pages from magazines and put them on my screen door with a wooden clothespin. The note would read, ‘I bet you can't paint like this!’ Then the next delivered note and article would read the same with different famous artists that she would turn me on to. We would critique the painting over a margarita, and she would say, ‘Flip it upside down and you will see what is not right with it.’ She was always right. Betty Smith, I miss you and thank you for your inspiring collaborations.
Tell us more about Gallery 202 What was it like opening your very own studio and what has the support from the community meant to you?
Opening up Gallery 202 in Historic Downtown Franklin was a dream come true. Ira and I found the property and it was absolutely perfect. The stars were aligned. We purchased and closed at 2:00 in the afternoon, the address is 202, and the former artist and owner, Bunn Gray, gifted me a painting with 202 painted on it years before. We opened in 2010, with our friend Jim McReynolds, to have a place to showcase my paintings and bring in other local, talented artists. Jim is a lifelong friend and the curator of the gallery. We are fortunate to have him in our lives and are thrilled to have such talented artists in the gallery to share with our community. My studio, where I paint, is on premises, is open to the public most anytime and we’ve now configured the back room into a public studio so customers can walk in and see what is on my easel. Our customers have been amazing with continued support. The gallery is in a beautiful 1821 Federal-style building that was built for parties and entertaining guests of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Clouston, and we are still honoring his dream of it being ‘The Party House.’ We have added a carriage house for my new studio and event venue.
What does your artistic process look like?
Each time I approach a blank white canvas is always the same in the beginning: get rid of the screaming white gesso. From there, I like to draw with a thinner, gray-tint paint and plan the painting. If it is an abstract, I usually use the saved paint from pieces as a primer. You never know what colors you will get! Sometimes, as Bob Ross would say, ‘happy little accidents’ occur. The abstracts
are my favorites, but I also paint a lot of animals.
Your art has taken you all around the world. How do you find constant inspiration to create new pieces?
My inspiration comes from life and living it on my own. It's my happy place most of the time. I am a dreamer. When I travel and visit museums, I always come back inspired and motivated.
As we know, art is not limited to just a paintbrush. In what ways do you feel inspired when decorating with art?
Besides paintings, I don't have a favorite. I think a home should have all types of art, including glass, sculpture, mixed media, etc. to make a collection that one can visit in their own home to enjoy. It is wonderful to look at a piece and provoke the memory of meeting the artist or a trip that they had where they purchased the artwork.
In your eyes, how does art bring people together?
Art provokes a wonderful sense of joy, and it can be shared through conversations of what each person sees or feels. Of course, it can also be seen as dark and uncomfortable if the artist created it that way, but I don't surround myself with anything but happy thoughts. Gallery202Art.com