We were lucky to catch up with GayLynn Ribeira recently and have shared our conversation below.

GayLynn, appreciate you joining us today. One of the toughest things about progressing in your creative career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

There was a time about ten years when I came very close to abandoning art altogether. We had recently moved to Silicon Valley for my husband’s medical residency and the combination of astronomical rent prices, with humble resident wages, put new financial pressures on me to bring in some reliable income for our family of five. Just when I was ready to accept a non-art job that promised a steady paycheck, I got a call from a collector who wanted to buy the one painting I had finished that year. Additionally, she offered to commission two more paintings and would give me $25,000 for the whole series. I am so grateful for that timing–it gave me the confidence I needed to keep going at a pivotal crossroad.

GayLynn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I didn’t pursue formal art training until college, and I was extremely fortunate to study illustration because it gave me a solid foundation in both drawing and storytelling. Telling people’s stories with my art has been a central mission from the very start. For my BFA capstone project, I was interested to do oil paintings of a group of Ghanaian people I had read about in Dr. Abu Kissi’s book, “Walking in the Sand.” I applied for grants and was able to travel to Ghana to interview and photograph many of those people in person, and then had an exhibition of their portraits at my university the following year. That project taught me the joy of meeting with people face to face, and the importance of that human connection when translating their stories visually with a broader community. Last year, I had a solo show in Palo Alto, and the most meaningful piece for me was a 4’x5′ painting titled, “Zoom In” which featured 12 immigrants and refugees to California on a large scale zoom call. While interviewing them I learned that their reasons for leaving their home countries were varied, but they were all united in their goal to learn English through adult education in order to achieve their full potential in the United States. Their stories were displayed alongside the painting, and I shared ways that the public could get involved with their local adult education centers. I see art as a function for connection and community and aim to continue this mission of sharing meaningful stories of real people in both gallery and museum settings.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I graduated with a BFA in illustration the same year my husband was accepted to medical school, and the same year we found out I was pregnant with our first child. (We now have four children ages 15, 12, 10, and 4). Most artistic and medical careers require considerable time and training up front, with delayed financial gratification, so it has been critical that my spouse and I have give each other our full support each step of the way in order to both progress in our career goals.

My art career has never looked exactly the same each year, as there are many hats to juggle between shows, commissioned work, continuing my own art education, teaching, and family demands. But with creativity, grit, and a whole lot of support from my spouse, extended family, students, and collectors, each year has been filled with progression. And as I look back, that growth is what fills my cup.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I think one of the best things about being an artist is how willing people are to share their stories when we are curious enough to ask. It’s like the paintbrush creates a safe space for sharing and connection. There have been many times when a model is posing for a portrait, and we start talking, and I learn so much about them as the artwork unfolds. Even when the model is a good friend, I still find that they will open up a bit more when being painted. It’s like magic. And hopefully that deeper connection is reflected in the work itself. There is so much good that can be accomplished with art and I can’t wait to see what other stories and projects I will be blessed to get involved with in the future.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gaylynnribeira.com
• Instagram: @gaylynn_ribeira_art
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GayLynnRibeiraArt/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaylynn-ribeira-b53b406/