Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Billie Lu Bright. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Billie Lu, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I pursued music when I was young so creation was not foreign to me, but expressing ideas through visual art took a conscious effort and a desire to improve. I was not “born a painter” but I was determined to pursue it because I enjoyed it. In my early years of learning to illustrate I was wrapped up in this idea that I was not naturally “gifted” with the ability to create therefore my understanding of the fundamentals would forever be lacking. But the call to create was louder than any doubt I had, so I continued.

I would then go on to create work that was visually appealing but lacked structure. Regardless, I adopted the idea that no matter how “bad” my work was if it spoke to me & to others that was all that mattered. I have the understanding now that “bad” work does not even exist! When I decided later to embrace the challenge & revisit the fundamentals, not only did I discover I had learned more than I ever thought I would just through practice, but also that information was much easier to absorb with this shift in perspective. I moved my focus away from what I was making/doing and more toward the act of making/doing in general.

Creation is integral to being alive. Learning a new skill is a microcosm of the human experience. The technical and emotional challenges that learning bring reflect into every part of your life. And conveniently, there are no laws of learning to express yourself through art. If you want to improve your ability to translate your ideas into art, the key is to move at your own pace, don’t let the expectations of others define you or your work- dig into your own intuition, don’t judge your work before it’s finished, be continuously inspired, embrace every flaw or mistake as a learning opportunity, & understand that to be human is to be an artist; you are already there! They are one in the same.

Billie Lu, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a freelance artist, and I paint visions, impressions, feelings, & ideas. I consider myself a mixed media painter, print designer, & folk artist with a knack for illustrating the points where dream & reality intersect. I am self-taught and a philosophical person by nature, and am most inspired by liminal experiences & emotions. My work combines them with other themes like meaning, sanctity, transcendence, queerness & sexuality, divination, & the metaphysical. I most often depict these concepts with expressionist portraiture, environmental vignettes, and other scenes from life. My digital, traditional, & mixed media paintings & illustrations can be characterized by my vivid expressionistic and non-naturalistic use of color & poster-print-style rendering.

Artwork by BilliePaint!, my painting & print studio, was established in the Autumn of 2018 with the goal of sharing my work with the world. My creative intention is to capture holy moments & fleeting feelings in images that resonate deep within the most human part of us. My work is meant to invoke feelings of connection, solidarity, & celebration of life (even through all its hardship). Since the creation of the studio, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with numerous people and hear the stories of their lives, their interpretations of my work, and how my work has connected & resonated with them. That alone is my passion & purpose.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Absolutely. Growing up I struggled immensely with my mental health. The only way I discovered I could cope healthily was through painting & illustration. I was able to put my thoughts and feelings that were “too big” for words to paper and use the images to connect with the people around me. Struggling with existentialism and a search for meaning as a teenager drew me to art in all forms. The goal at the root of everything is connection. I want to connect to others, I want others to connect with my work. The mission is that it moves you, or at least serves as a reminder that art has the capability to move you. And that is one of the greatest pleasures of being alive!

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I try to stay inspired by absolutely everything I see. & I look up to many great artists! So many that if I were to list them all it might overwhelm the webpage. So instead if I can I would like to shoutout the Missouri Fine Arts Academy, a summer pre-college program I attended in 2016. This program and others like it encourage students to pursue artistic careers & help them achieve those goals. MFAA changed my life by exposing me to art education I could have never afforded at the time, surrounding me with other creatives, and encouraging us all to think critically about art. Programs like these are often at risk of losing funding, severely limiting the accessibility of them. I encourage those reading to explore ways they can support local programs that encourage young people to create, or what art clubs or programs might be available locally to explore (there are more than you think!)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://billiepaint.ju.mp/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/b1lliep4int

Image Credits
Work by BilliePaint!