Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Missy Reuland. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Missy, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I was a stay at home mom for 20 years. My last two graduated and moved off to college in 2019. I began to spin out because I felt my purpose had been served, I had completed my mission. My job was done.
In Febrauary of 2022, I was visiting the MoMA in NYC for the 4th or 5th time. I have always loved art and museums and gallery visits but this visit was different. Something opened up in me and I took in every inch of it, I soaked it all up. I suddenly felt alive again.
Once home from the trip, I bought paint and canvas and just started throwing ideas around. I fell in love with what I could do with my imagination. I began to dream in color and images. I knew that was God telling me, “This is your new purpose!”
I have painted almost every day since. I love to use bright, happy colors. Everyone needs a piece of joy and I try to give it to everyone.
Missy, 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?
After raising kids for 20 years, I fell in love with creating art. I began to use it as therapy for “empty nest syndrome” and it quickly became an income. I began to follow other artists and taught myself different techniques. I am constantly learning. I do not have a particular style of painting, other than “abstract”.
I dream in color quite often and I put that on canvas. I may see a beautiful object and recreate that on canvas in my interpretation.
All of my work is original on canvas, and, recently I have begun painting on raw canvas. I love the way the paint soaks into the raw canvas and how the final products are more edgy and rough.
I have many commissioned paintings and love to work with my clients on a vision. Many of my clients give me a color palate and size and let me create and some have an exact idea in mind. I love learning from clients who are well rehearsed in art and help me create a new vision; Something I never would have thought about.
I started out using basic paints and quickly learned about pigments and thickness, among other qualities.
My preferred paints are Liquitex and Nova Color. I use many tools, including brushes of various thickness, palette knives, pastel crayons, spray paint, alcohol inks, oil crayons.
I am proud of the work I create because I taught myself all of it. I love hearing ideas from my clients and their vision of what they want created in a piece. I am grateful to be a part of developing their vision.
I am honored my clients also trust me to have free rein over their ideas and put on canvas my vision as they describe theirs to me. I have been truly blessed to discover my passion as a 50 year old empty nester.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I am often astonished at how my customers and clients react to seeing their finished piece. I am always honored that they chose me to create the vision they had in their head. I want to spread my joy, my color palette, my soul and my love to everyone I come in contact with in this world. Being able to reach into someone’s life and share a piece of me in their home is the biggest blessing.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My ultimate goal on this journey is to spread happiness through my art into each home I can reach. I believe the brighter the colors, the happier the outcome. I am filled with color and I dream it and see it everywhere. Where some people see the darkness, I am here to spread light into your life. That is my mission.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.missyreulandart.studio
- Instagram: @missyreulandartist
- Facebook: Missy Starr Reuland
- Linkedin: Missy Reuland
- Twitter: @reuland5
