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

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

Most, if not all of my work has significance to me. In my “Inspiring Greatness” series, for which I had a solo show at the National Civil Rights Museum, I capture men and women whose life’s work and ideals are guided by a vision of progress, inclusivity and hope. Even when I paint butterflies in my series called “Journey Into Dawn,” it is as a reminder that life is as fragile as it is fleeting, and to make the most of every day that we are given. My latest project is as meaningful as ever: to paint with joy and curiosity and respect for all who inhabit our planet as a way of to spreading a message of love, hope and resilience.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I feel like I’ve repeated the same story about myself a lot but a few things have recently changed my desire to open up the narrative; I was interviewed last summer by the amazing Roger Durling who heads the Santa Barbara Film Festival and has interviewed an enormous amount of artists (most notably actors, but many visual artists as well). Roger’s questions were so insightful and gave me the permission to share more of myself than I ever had in an interview.
The second thing is that my mother passed away a year ago, and her death has allowed me to look at how much my work (and life) is inspired by her own artistry and aesthetic. My mom was born an artist who was in the fashion business for most of my childhood. Bored with the fashion business, she began collecting antique American quilts, and at one point owned the largest collection of Amish quilts in the United States. My mom opened a small shop in Southampton, NY where she sold her quilts and eventually began to design her own collection of quilts, rugs, pillows and other home furnishings. She had a fantastic eye for color and detail, choosing from multiple variations in color and drawing out every stitch by hand.
My mom was my biggest cheerleader but I now realize how much she influenced my work.
Lastly, I feel that we need to be able to move on to new narratives as we grow. The story of how I got started is no longer as important to me as where I am right now. This must be the time. This must be the place.

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?

Although I believe that we were ALL born to create, some of us have not been encouraged to do so. Many have followed a more linear, professional path and at some point they may begin to tell themselves that they “don’t have a creative bone in their body” or that they “can’t even draw a stick figure.”
Those who do more traditional work may not understand that most creatives see the world differently and function differently. Our work comes as we are inspired and feel ready to do so; it might not happen on a set schedule. Sometimes I’ll paint for days on end and then decide that I’m not happy with what I’ve been working on. I might then paint over the canvas completely, which to most people would seem like failure or a step backwards. But it’s not, it’s just all part of the process. As creatives, we can never know something will turn out- if we knew exactly how it would turn out for certain it wouldn’t be art. There are many times when we will be surprised by a happy accident, something we didn’t do intentionally but love. It’s just easier to allow for the possibility that we might not make something wonderful every time we set out to create.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is that my life is seamless. I am an artist when making art but also in everything I do. I am an artist because of how I see the world, because of my inability to be anything me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://baretboisson.com
• Instagram: @baretboisson
• Facebook: Baret Boisson
• Linkedin: baret boisson
• Other: https://linktr.ee/baretboissonart

Image Credits

Gene Ogami; Emma Serr; Silver Webb; Baret Boisson