We recently connected with Nancy Livada and have shared our conversation below.

Nancy, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

My take on this is slightly different…I work full time as a Physician Associate in the medical device industry. My artwork is my side hustle, and I actually think this is a decent fit for me. Oh yeah, and in addition to running my small business and working for a large organization, I also am a full-time mom to two young kids and two young dogs! I am in a constant state of exhaustion. Sometimes I wonder why I put so much on my plate, but the explanation is simple; it’s not really a choice. My mind needs both art and science to survive, and my family needs the two incomes to thrive. Yes I am very busy, but I find that consistently exercising both sides of my brain is grounding and balancing for me. There have been periods in my life where I have been between corporate jobs and I have had the privilege of just focusing on my art. I look back on those times fondly and I think it really allowed me to grow in terms of my stamina and creativity as a painter. I also remember it being a slightly quiet and lonely experience. I struggled being inside my own thoughts and criticisms all day long, and I missed laughing with co-workers and bonding with my patients. The unpredictable paycheck was also anxiety-provoking. People assume that art and science are two divergent topics, but I love finding the moments of overlapping beauty in both spheres. I think if I won the lottery, I would want to give more time to my artwork, but I would still find ways to remain connected to science and medicine.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My mother is a very talented artist, so I grew up around lots of art. I wasn’t a particularly artistic child, but I started to show some interest during my early college years. My mom jumped on the opportunity to teach me to paint and I was truly hooked from the very first painting I made. To toot my own horn, I think I learned very quickly and I sold my first painting a year later. I studied biology and studio art in college and then went on to pursue a career as a Physician Associate. Through the entire trajectory of my medical career, I have remained a very active artist. I can’t imagine my world without creating and mixing and composing in paint.

I mostly work with oil paints on canvas, in a style that is a mix between expressionism and impressionism. My goal is to create a piece that is recognizable but also has elements of abstraction and evidence of my process. Words that float around inside my head when I’m painting are “chunky, brushstrokes, buttery layers”…maybe I am just craving a croissant, but this mantra helps me to keep my style loose and dynamic. I paint all types of subject matter; landscapes, figures, still lifes and portraits. I love to play with with shadow and light and bright, bold colors. The majority of my work is commission-based, but I also carry a small inventory of completed paintings available for sale.

I love working with collectors to create a beautiful one-of-a-kind piece that can be a cherished part of their home. It is always a fun process to pour over memories and photos with my clients, in order to find a vision that “calls to” both of us. When not working on commissions, I am currently creating a series of underwater figure paintings, which really pushes me out of my comfort zone.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

The world of AI is a scary place for many artists. Legislation to protect artists and creatives is going to be essential to our survival in this age. Sometimes art can be expensive to own and I completely understand the urge to buy mass-produced or copy-cat art. But, it is so important that society continues to appreciate and value original art of all kinds, or we will lose the soul, creativity and humanity that drives culture. If owning artwork is not an option for you, you can still support artists through engagement on social media. Sometimes people underestimate the power of a like, a share, a comment, a re-post. Really any engagement helps bring attention to the artist and the artwork. And yes, this is my plug to please follow me on social media! (@artbynancylivada on instagram).

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When my family moved to our new home a few years ago, I had to leave behind the studio space that I used to share with my mother. We didn’t have a dedicated art space in the new home and being “house poor” meant there was no money to rent a studio. After a few weeks, I began to get a serious itch to paint and knew I just needed to figure something out. Now I have a tiny corner in my bedroom where I can set up my easel and palette. Having to set up and take down the whole configuration every time I paint can really damper my motivation, but my urge to create helps push me to remember that art can happen anywhere. You don’t need the perfect equipment or space, you just need to make that first mark and the rest will follow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://artbynancylivada.com
• Instagram: @artbynancylivada
• Facebook: Original Oil Paintings by Nancy Livada

Image Credits

Feature photo credit: Jenna Brown Photography