We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marcia Perry. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marcia below.

Marcia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

After 25 years of our own art making, my wife and fellow artist, Meg Biddle and I opened the doors of Youth Arts Collective (YAC) in downtown Monterey on Martin Luther King’s Birthday, January 15 2000. Inspired by the spirit of his dream, we created a place where all young people of every race, religion and orientation are valued and supported. YAC’s mission is to inspire creativity, kindness and confidence in our youth through artistic expression and mutual respect. With our community’s support, we grew YAC from just the two of us mentoring the first ten years to adding other dear friends and fellow artists as well as YAC alum to our staff.. More than fifteen hundred young creatives have benefitted from YAC. I can’t imagine anything more meaningful than being able to help young creatives create. Our lives have been touched by so much love and joy because of each of them. Now there are ten of us artists mentoring young artists at YAC weekly. Meg and I handed over the helm of YAC in 2023 to the next generation to take it forward. It still feels like a full-on miracle to us- all built on art making and being kind. Do art Be kind. To learn more about Youth Arts Collective visit www.yacstudios.org

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?

I have been into “making” ever since I can remember. It is my favorite thing to do. I grew up in Colorado and spent the first fifteen years of my art career there. In 1990, I moved with my family to beautiful Monterey, California. I have been a working artist throughout my entire adult life—creating public and private murals, illustrations for books, images for product licensing, as well as paintings and sculptures for homes, businesses, and galleries. As a published children’s book illustrator and author, it delights me to have my art in the hands and mind of a child. My favorite art medium/technique is airbrushing with acrylic paint. I also enjoy working with pastels, colored pencil, watercolor and collage. I love creating ceramic sculpture and making kinetic mobiles of found objects. In addition, throughout much of my career I have taught art classes and workshops to all ages, from preschool to college.

I think the key to success in your chosen career field is keep going- don’t give up. There are so many times in an artists career where it seems impossible
to make ends meet. Keep building your skills and relationships. Rely on them both and stay open to opportunities. Just keep being creative. You will find a way. And be grateful for enough to get you by and on to the next project. And stay generous.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I am inspired by the beautiful truths found in nature, humanity, and spiritual wisdom, I make art to encourage a kinder, more colorful world by illuminating the good. I have faith in the immortal potential of our souls, that each one of us is a creator. I believe in the power of free will paired with intuition, I count on the grace of generosity and gratitude. Love is our best reason for being alive. It connects and heals each of us. My art makes my love visible. I hope to spread some joy.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I get to live my life following my intuition and imagination, exploring life freely. In visual art there is always more to learn. Being an artist requires a great deal of trust and living comfortably with uncertainty, but I own my life. My hope is to add to the joy and color of our world. And to live without doing harm. As artists, we always have something to give and to share. I wish more people would invest in their own happiness and do what they love to do. Also my message to the reader is “Please purchase art that you love- it will improve your environment and enhance your daily life by uplifting you with color, truth and beauty.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marciaperry.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/marciaperryart
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/marciaperry
• Youtube: youthartscollective