We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Naomi Silver. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Naomi below.
Naomi, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?
I started painting as a dare to myself after having interviewed artists here in St. Louis. My first attempt was a total mess, but I kept going. I sold the first painting I posted on Facebook to a friend who’d just lost his job. I remember how touched I was that someone was willing to pay for one of my paintings, no less someone who was unemployed.
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 background and context?
I decided to try painting after having run an arts and culture website and interviewing artists for several years. That was back in 2009. And it has just stuck.
I paint in two main styles-colorful abstract finger paintings (actually painted with my entire hand) and graphic, minimalist, mountain paintings created with a very small brush. The abstracts are fast and very intuitive while the mountain paintings can take weeks or even months and are extremely detailed. It’s a nice contrast for me to paint in these two very different ways.
My work helps people feel better-happier and more calm. There is a tremendous amount of fabulous art out there, but it’s rare to find art that has a soothing effect for so many people. I’ve heard from people who’ve used my work to heal from PTSD or to facilitate a yoga or meditation practice. In a world that feels chaotic and uncertain, I feel honored that I have
a gift to help in some way.
And not only do I feel good knowing I’m helping people, but when I create the mountain paintings it helps me as well. When I work on the mountain paintings, the process of studying the details of the photo I’m working from and translating those details onto a canvas requires me to focus and slow down. Watching the dark paint flow slowly from the brush onto the canvas is so satisfying and relaxing. It’s a very meditative experience.
Is there a mission driving your creative journey?
I don’t feel like being an artist is a choice so much as it’s who I am. When I walk around outside, the thought “I wonder what it would be like to paint that?” often pops into my head. I don’t think people typically think like that. Creatives are different. We create as part of our existence on the planet. It may be how we make money, but first and foremost it’s simply who we are.
So I can’t really say I have a goal or mission because it’s just who I am.
What do you find most rewarding about being creative?
I get to repeatedly create something out of thin air that has never existed before. It’s magical when I think about what I do in those terms.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://naomisilverart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naomisilverart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NaomiSilverArtist
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomisilverart/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/NaomiSilverArt
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NaomiSilverArt/
- Other: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/naomi-silver
Image Credits
Derek Cadzow (personal photo only)