We recently connected with Nila Jane Autry and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Nila Jane thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I was laying in my bedroom, thinking how I would decorate my bedroom if I was all grown up. I may have been about 10 years old. I envisioned wallpaper that matched my bedspread and my sheets, that matched my table cloth, that matched my pillowcases and my carpet. Everything would be the same flower print. I would even have a nightgown that matched. And slippers. Well, that was a little girls first inclination that I liked pretty things. My room at the time was dark purple paint on a cement wall in the basement. Dark and scary.

Fast forward to Junior High and High School. My Dad taught school, Band and Orchestra. He had all 9 of us kids playing an instrument of some kind. He interviewed me, and asked me what I wanted to play. His description of the violin was intriguing. He said, “Anyone can make noise on a violin, that’s easy but it is the hardest instrument to play beautifully.” And his eyes got dreamy. Well, that did it. Violin it was. I became first chair and was enjoying the experience, except my best girlfriend made fun of me for playing a violin, and boys made fun of me because I lugged around my violin in a big square case my dad had made for me. “Why you carrying your coffin around?” ( I was one of 9 children. There wasn’t much money…) So In 8th grade I gave it up. My music teacher cried…I just thought that was weird. To earn my art credits in high school I took my first Art Class as a Junior, and a creative writing class. I discovered I had a talent for creativity, All my other classes paled in comparison to the excitement and enthusiasm I discovered, especially in my Art class.

I always knew I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up, like my Dad. Music didn’t seem creative to me, it just seemed like a lot of practicing. But that Art class especially got me hooked. I knew, I absolutely knew I would be an art teacher. My art teacher, Mr. Max Durrant wasn’t an especially magnificent teacher, he wasn’t even very encouraging, but he gave me some tools and techniques I didn’t even know existed. As many people, I assumed artists were born that way. My best girlfriend was an amazing artist and it just seemed to come to her naturally, and there I was sitting right by her in art. Secretly, I really hoped Mr. Durant would move me away from her, I was so intimidated. He didn’t. So I made an inner pact…I was going to do my best and ignore her. (She did have a tendency to be a Mean Girl…yes she’s the same one who made fun of me for playing a violin. Ohhh, those sensitive Junior High years!) But now I knew exactly what I wanted to teach…so I got brave and declared Art as my major and minor going into college,earning my art teaching degree and the journey began.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

In the midst of life happening, and 30 years of art teaching, I have finally earned the right to retire. I spent many hours in my various classrooms teaching my students exactly what I wanted to learn, specifically about painting. After school, I came home later than I probably should have because my own art projects were happening in the quiet moments after the students left. I quickly realized I needed and wanted to have my own art business, and about half-way through my career I determined to start taking art marketing classes. I’ve spent literally thousands of dollars taking workshops from artists I admire, and many marketing workshops. Currently I am taking a Media Marketing workshop with Jessica Hughes. I participate in 2 or three webinars a week learning how to do the marketing better. There’s nothing I love more than being in the middle of a painting. I love the focus, the creativity, solving problems, and pulling it all together. Then I love sharing it on social media, at Art Events, and in art galleries. My home is set up as an Art Gallery. I have my messy studio, my classroom where I teach art lessons, and every wall, including my laundry room…is covered with either paintings by me, or paintings and artwork I have collected over the years. My colleagues have labeled me a ‘Beauty Hunter’, and ‘Old Fashioned’. Both labels I have embraced.
My motivation to make art, and bless the lives others with my art and my teaching is all consuming. I do have many other obligations. I help run a Non-profit Art Group called the Tooele County Arts Guild. I served as President for 3 years and am now the Treasurer. As an art group we paint together every week, in the summer we go out twice a week to paint outside, called ‘Plein air’. During the winter months we meet once a week and practice figure drawing from live models. My art friends are really important to me. We enter local art shows, host art shows, and participate all over the Wasatch Front in art events together.
Oil Paintings of flowers in their natural habitat have become my trademark. Because I spend my summers painting outside, I have been attracted to flowers in nature, rather than vases of flowers although I love those too. Anything beautiful! I paint in series. Landscapes, architecture and portraits call to me. I just want to paint everything…painting something glorifies it and makes it more significant. I love the ability to point out the beauties of the earth through artwork. Emotions are such a big deal to me. I love sad, happy, excited, dark, and empty. I want to illustrate it all. I also love to write and am writing a novel.

So often I wonder if I should loosen up and just splash paint all over canvases and paint faster…then I remember how much I love the detail, the focus and the ability I have to make a flower petal turn gracefully, and look so transparent and lifelike. It is who I am. Like beautiful music, my artwork evokes emotion and tells a story. I’m patient. I have learned to be myself. To embrace the emotions, talents and challenges the Lord has blessed me with. I’ve learned that others need my energy, my passion and my enthusiasm. I’ve been blessed to bless others and to help them in their life journey.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

The world is made up of a wondrous variety of people. Through the years I have learned that inside every person is a creative spirit. This creative spirit needs permission to thrive. If you give your creative gift the attention it deserves, there’s no telling where you’ll go and how amazing you can be. I truly believe there is greatness inside each of us. My passion for creativity is all consuming. I’m amazed when I look back at the wisdom of one so young, and thank my parents profusely for supporting my decision to major in art. I may not have ever become a professional artist if I had not had the opportunity to teach art. I’m forever grateful for that ‘mean girl’ who made fun of me, and then challenged me to be as good as she was as an artist. It is sad that I gave up on the violin, but truth be told, if I hadn’t I wouldn’t’ be an artist today. And, I had a cousin who heard I played the violin and encouraged me to pick it up again, which I did at 40 years old, and now I have that talent to entertain myself with too! I play the Viola now, and participate in the Community Orchestra. Yep! I’m a busy girl!
I’m also a church goer and enjoy the sociality that exists in my community through worshiping with people I enjoy and serve with. My 40th wedding anniversary is coming up in June. I love going on Road Trips with my husband. He helps my business by being my best critiquer, and taking me places to paint. We have 6 children, and 14 grandchildren. Family is also very important to me. I practice my viola every day, and play the piano and the organ. Singing is restricted to choir groups…there is not enough time in a day but I thrive on stress, and focus. I love who I am. I love love love my life. My blessing are numerous. Gratitude is the key to all of my success. All I need to do to come out of a funk is count my blessings, paint, play music, write, or garden.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Financial gain is a byproduct of living a rich, full life. The people who I’m drawn to are vulnerable, and searching. They are seeking peace and reassurance that the life they’ve chosen will bring them joy and blessings they can share. I suppose happiness is what my art gives them, and not only my art, but my art spirit. I believe everyone needs the opportunity to express themselves, to be valued and listened to. Art opens many doors. My people are out there…so are yours. Find your creative passion and follow it where it leads you. I work so hard each day, so that I can paint every night. Even though my art hasn’t made me rich yet, I strongly believe it will. But that will be a by-product of blessing your life, and many others.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.nilajaneautry.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nila_jane_autry/
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/eternaloilsbyjane
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7ZtUh7GLDb5VcG1DUiE7KQ
• Other: I love to paint commissioned pieces: nilajaneautry@gmail.com

Image Credits
All photos were taken by me.