We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Allison Clements a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Allison thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I wouldn’t change my story; I do believe that everything happens for a reason. Following college, I did begin to pursue my art career. I was painting, selling my work, and teaching art at the Toledo School for the Arts and The Toledo Museum of Art. I loved teaching and inspiring young students from kindergarten through high school. I left my job as an art instructor after having three kids in four years. I chose to stay home with my amazing kids and put my art career on hold.

In 2020, the pandemic hit, I had three teenagers at home doing remote learning and I needed an outlet. I escaped to my studio and quickly realized how much I was missing painting and that I needed to be making art. I spent a lot of time reflecting and searching to rediscover who I was, as an artist, as a mom whose kids soon would be leaving the nest, and what this next stage of my life as a full-time artist could become.

So here I am, the next chapter of my life. Older and maybe a little wiser. I have experienced more life and am able to tune out a lot of the external noise that a younger me could not. Previously applying to shows was labeling slides and sending them out and now everything is done online. While I have a lot to learn about social media, building a website, and digital reproductions of my work, the number of opportunities and ways to market yourself as an artist now is endless.

The biggest challenge I face is feeling like I need to explain or defend why I have not been painting for so long. I may have a huge gap in my resume and a lot to learn about all the social media platforms, but I am back, and nothing is going to stop me from pursuing my art career.

Allison, 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?

I received my BFA from Ohio University with an emphasis in painting, studied art in Prague, CZ and earned a master’s in art education from the University of Toledo. Art school was a great period of development for me as an artist working with some wonderful professors and peers to develop my style. A big piece of that was a semester I spent studying art in Prague, where I also met my husband of 24 years.

My work has always been driven by the conversation between colors and the rhythm colors create on the canvas. These conversations reflect the joy and love that comes from creating and are a celebration of life and its imperfections. Every brushstroke, every color choice is an expression of my journey – one of healing, growth, and rediscovery. Both art and life are journeys of growth, learning, and embracing the process – the raw emotions, the mistakes, and the eventual triumph.

For me every day in the studio is a reminder that art has the power to transform not only the canvas but also the artist. In both my paintings and my life, I’m trying not to dwell on mistakes but to keep painting until those layers can turn into something better. By embracing the process, you can find a pathway to celebrate life’s moments, both big and small. I have a profound gratitude for the transformative power of art and a belief that in creating something beautiful, we can find beauty in ourselves.

The flowers have evolved as a subject matter in my paintings and are a good symbol for me of both the rebirth and renewal in my personal life and professional career, but also a reminder to find beauty in the little things. Flowers are also a sign of giving love or thanks and are a great reminder for me to be grateful.

As for inspiration, my three kids inspire me. They all have such a focused and disciplined work ethic as they pursue their passions, and this inspires me. My hope is that they see how I have committed to the pursuit of my own goals as an artist and that I can inspire them in return.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I am a renewed artist, a revitalized spirit, and have an unwavering belief in the healing power of art. Painting is more than just strokes on a canvas; it is a celebration of life, resilience, and the pursuit of beauty in all its forms. Art saved me, and now, through my art, I hope to inspire others to find their own sanctuary amidst the chaos of life and celebrate the beauty that remains within us all. That is what I hope viewers find in my work.

During the pandemic with everything turned upside down, I questioned many things in my life, one being the unhealthy role that alcohol played in numbing me to a lot of things including my art. Until I decided to give up alcohol, my previous success as a professionally trained artist seemed like a distant memory.

Admitting that you need to make a change and then having the courage to do it are two very different things. When I decided to quit drinking, I had to unlearn bad habits, beliefs from society, and I needed to relearn who I truly was.

As a mom, it is my job to take care of my kids’ needs and is very easy to neglect taking care of yourself. It was not easy putting myself first for once, but it was what I needed to do in order to physically, emotionally, and mentally feel better. Choosing to put me first awakened my soul and reignited my passion for painting, but it also made me a better mother, wife, and artist.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

As an art instructor, the most rewarding and inspiring moments would come from encouraging my students to pursue their passions and to see the creative process unfold and bring them joy.

As an artist, there is a selfish reward in that the act of creating is a calming/meditative force in my life, but ultimately seeing my work resonate with other people is a wonderful feeling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.allisonclements.com/shop-art
• Instagram: @allison.c.clements
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/art.allisonclements
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonclementsart

Image Credits
Kellee Laser Photography (image credit for headshot and shot of artist in studio with the 3 paintings).