Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Andrea Huffman . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation; we’ve shared it below.

Hi Andrea, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I recently received a grant from the Broward Cultural Division for a project called “Listening to the Sky”, which included a three-month exhibit at Bailey Contemporary Art (BACA) in Pompano along with several community events. Although my art has always focused on the Florida environment, I decided to narrow the scope of my project to focus specifically on South Florida Native and migrating birds. Based on my encounters with birds, both in my own backyard as well as my visits to some of Florida’s most beautiful wildlife areas, I created seventeen textile and mixed media pieces. Along with the artwork, the exhibit provided useful materials for the viewers to learn how to protect and enjoy birds, as well as some interesting scientific and historical facts.

Once I committed to the project and began the grant writing process, new connections appeared, including meeting members of South Florida and Everglades chapters of the Audubon society, a local wildlife naturalist and becoming involved with monitoring the colony of Least Terns that were nesting on Pompano Beach. Through these connections I learned even more about the importance of birds in preserving our environment.

Among the many events were three gallery openings, a family workshop printing bird ornaments at the Blanch Ely House in Pompano in December, and two bird printing workshops at BACA. A group of high student volunteers from South Florida Audubon Society visited the gallery and I also presented lectures for two local groups of art enthusiasts as well. The exhibit closed with two guest speakers, presenting information about backyard bird habitats, and Citizen Science.

As an artist, creating a new body of work allowed me to explore old ideas and techniques that intrigue me in new ways. As an educator, I was pleased to be able to offer the community meaningful experiences that connect art and science in ways that are accessible to various age groups and levels of experience. Seeing new people connect with my work has made this project a success for me.

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?

After attending the High School of Art and Design in New York City, I moved to Florida, and received a Master’s Degree in Art Education from Florida International University. After teaching art for thirty-one years in Broward County Public Schools, I retired from full time teaching in 2011 to pursue my own work as a Fiber Artist. As an art educator, having taught almost every medium and technique over the course of my career, I found that working on fabric allows me experiment with a variety of media with successful results.

Through professional workshops and research, I learned various techniques of dyeing, painting and printing on fabric to create a unique “brand” of my artwork. The vibrant colors of hand-dyed silk along with motifs representing Florida’s wildlife are evident, not just in my wall-hangings, but also in my hand-dyed pillows, scarves, one-of-a-kind purses, and fabric covered journals.

My artwork is available at my studio, on my website and through my ETSY shop.

I also offer hands-on workshops and lectures to local groups. Among some of the topics are printing greeting cards, nature printing on paper or fabric, as well as an interactive presentation on looking at art, called “Art Detectives” and an engaging lecture on Women in Art.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I would like to preface my response by recognizing that there have been many times when I have had to rethink or re-evaluate a direction I was going in. I am not a fan of nostalgia, and a firm believer in exploration and innovation (many times to a fault, where I go in too many directions). I always try to be open to new ideas and not become stagnant.

Several years ago I attended a workshop on business strategies for artists, taught by a well-respected national consultant. I followed up with a personal consultation, from which it was suggested that instead of only creating fine art pieces for exhibition, I should also create functional décor such as pillows, for interior design. At the time I dismissed the idea as trite and unproductive. Eventually I created a few items as gifts and received such a positive response, I began creating pillows, scarves, purses, and journals using my hand-dyed and printed fabrics. I have since had a great deal of success selling these items at my studio, online, and at the Boca Raton Museum of Art gift shop. These items offer more affordable options for people that love my work but are not able to purchase a larger piece of artwork.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I would not say they “struggle”, but I think a misconception that “non-creatives” and even artists have is the concept of “Talent”. When we see the work of an artist, we are seeing the results of years of training and practice, just as with a musician, a dancer or even an athlete. Rarely on the gallery or museum walls do we see the practice, yet few, if any artists achieved their success without it.

The work I create is not something that just comes naturally. I must continually work at it, practice and learn from artists. I learned this when I was a freshman in an art high school, and I saw many students whose work seemed so much more sophisticated than mine. I wondered how I even qualified to attend that school. Without an art class in Middle School, the art teacher allowed me and another student to come to her class during her lunch break to prepare us for the entrance exam for the high school. She drilled us on drawing from observation and advised on our portfolios. It was that practice that got me accepted and I realized I would have to work extra hard to stay competitive.

As an art teacher myself, few of my students were interested in pursuing a career in art, and even fewer would be considered what some would call “talented”. Many came in with preconceived ideas that they had to possess this in-born talent to ever draw well or create beautiful art. In the same ways that I learned to improve my skills, I attempted to break down the process into achievable steps. I started every semester assuring my students that if they trusted what I would teach them, that they may not become a famous artist, but they would leave the class feeling that their skills had improved and would have something to be proud to show off.

Whether an adult embarking on a new hobby, or a young person interested in pursuing a creative vocation, I hope that anyone interested in art will find that persistence, confidence, and a willingness to move past our comfort zone will offer beautiful results.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.andreahuffman.com
• Instagram: @afhuffman
• Facebook: Andrea Huffman Art Work
• Other: ETSY: AndreaHuffmanArtWork