Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Glenn Lamp. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Glenn , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Born and raised in San Diego, California, the love for the sea and art has been a part of my life since as far back as I can remember. From a very early age, I began pencil drawings and my love to create began. After attending college on an art scholarship, I went on to work with a large publishing company in Charlotte, NC. Shortly after getting married, I took my first leap of faith in 2000 and started my own business, Glenn Lamp Studio, providing commission art to the area’s designers, business owners, and high-end custom home market. Eleven years flew by and I was very successful according to the worlds standards. Yet, something was missing. At the age of 44, Heather encouraged me to accept an invitation to serve on missions in Guatemala. It was in a small cinderblock home with dirt floors my heart posture turned back towards my first love — God. Only Jesus could satisfy the longings of my soul.
Day Five Art slowly birthed during that time of brokenness, seeking understanding and truth, deep trust, praying and creating works of vibrant sea life in the quiet presence of the one who created me.
In 2015, we left our lucrative careers, sold nearly everything we owned and made a risky (big faith) move to open Day Five Art Gallery. Almost eight years later, we have survived Hurricane Florence displacing us for seven months, two years of COVID and now an economic recession. Heather will often times say, “It’s not our business or we wouldn’t be here today. This is God’s business, and he will sustain and provide for us as long as He desires. Until otherwise notified, we will gladly steward Day Five Art and share the stories of a great fisherman.”
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
Adopted from the first of the avant-garde movements in France, I choose to paint in fauvism style. The Fauve painters, also called the WILD BEAST, were the first to break with Impressionism as well as with older, traditional methods of perception. Their spontaneous, often subjective response to nature was expressed in bold, undisguised brushstrokes and high-keyed, vibrant colors directly from the tube.
Influenced by sea life, nature, new color combinations and more importantly my personal time with God, all of these elements are in each piece.I choose to paint in a fauvism style. Influenced by sea life, nature, new color combinations and more importantly my personal time with God, all of these elements are in each piece.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Along our journey we have encountered several seasons of opposition. Some small while a couple of others pretty near wiped us out. The one we remember vividly was Hurricane Florence in 2018. It was a season that deeply tested our trust and our faith in God. The island where our business is located was evacuated the day after we decided it was time to go. We had packed our life and business into two vehicles and the “new to us” 29′ travel trailer that we purchased just a couple of weeks prior. What we didn’t know at the time of our departure was that when we returned a little over a month later we’d be out of home and work an additional six months. That was seven months not a single person walked through the doors of our storefront, including us. However, God proved his faithfulness to us once again. We were crying a lot the days after the storm. Wallowing in our thoughts of, “What now?” We had opened the business debt free and continued to operate debt free. We had money in the bank in case of an emergency but that wouldn’t be enough for us to start over. After a week of praying for God to help us know what we needed to do next, we heard an old familiar sound ding our phone. It was the notification sound from an online sale. Almost everyday someone either purchased an item online or called and wanted to gift us some money to help us get through. We didn’t have more than enough neither did we have a need – God provided. He was making a way! Looking back, it was not because we had a will to fight and return stronger and more self empowered, it was only the tenacity of faith that my wife and I had cultivated through many other difficult moments in our life that God entrusted to us so that we might grow closer to Him. We had learned in the tough times you give thanks always for the things big and small. If you have a choice so choose, give and help others and look back frequently and remember how God did great and wonderful things while bringing you through times of hardship. The resilience is found in prayer and pursuit of the God we serve.
So what were our moments that we look back on? He gave us a camper two weeks before not knowing it would be our home for six month. He blessed us with friends and family that poured out there love for us which gave me a new softness in my heart for others. He inspired new art with a substance that has continued to encourage others and after the six months were over our business had new look, Our 1970 condo had a new look but more importantly our trust and faith in God had a new look too!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I have been an artist in some sort of fashion or another my whole career. I knew it is what I wanted to do and who I was from junior high school on. Through out my late 30’s and into my early 40’s I had my own studio where I serviced private clients and interior designers. My early 40’s brought some heart changes for me. I remember one particular turning point for me as an artist. I was approached by a client who’s story and faith really touched me. As we got to know one another, he asked me to paint a painting that would convey the story of faith God had brought him and his family through. That commission was a fully immersive experience. The very beginning of how I paint my pieces still to this day. I included a story, a song of inspiration, symbolic elements and a hand sculpted frame. I was in awe of the endeavor. Upon the time of revealing the family gathered to read the story about the piece and as the art was revealed the music played as a soundtrack to their experience. The tears, the hugs and thankful hearts ignited something powerful inside of me. I knew then God had given me more than the gift of being an artist but also a remarkable gift of being invited into someone’s life story and having the honor of capturing in color the journey of their faith.
Not all of my creation solicit such a response but even when the bright colors or maybe the unique style combinations brighten someones day just a little, it brings me back to why I do what I do . So, since Jesus, who makes my heart sing, is at the core of who I am before I am ever identified as an artist it is such a highlight and a must for me to share about Him in each of my paintings. To give thanks to Him in my work. To give all glory to the creator of all things. When this connects with another person at any level and they choose to include it in there everyday life it is the sweetest reward I could receive.. It reminds me who’s I am and who we are in Christ. INVITED.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.DayFiveArt.com
- Instagram: @dayfiveart
- Facebook: @dayfiveart