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

Chantal, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I sometimes think I would have loved to be a full time artist when I was a bit younger, but I would not have been the same person. I believe that my experiences have added/shaped my intuitive painting and mark making. As a young person, I think I would have focused more on “getting it right”, rather than what I wanted to discover.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a Canadian-born artist residing in Raleigh since 2006. Even as a young child, I have always had a talent for drawing. Although my path did not lead me to be a full-time artist, I have always yearned to paint. Over the years, while living my traditional life, I have carved out time to paint… first with watercolors, then in oils, and now acrylics.

I am self-taught, with the help of many classes, workshops, and books. Retiring in 2019, I was looking for a way to make painting a priority and considered art school. As luck would have it, I found a wonderful community with Nicholas Wilton’s “Art2Life” programs out of California (http://www.art2life.com/). My association with his course of study has changed everything about the way I now see my art, my life as an artist, and the direction I am heading.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

At this time in my artist journey, I am looking for permanent placements within galleries. I feel that my work is ready.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The lesson that I have learned very recently is to be myself as I paint. The goal is NOT to only produce a product, but to focus on the process of painting. My art practice revolves around painting what I love no matter what others may think. I am always looking for FLOW, when I lose track of time and am totally present. That’s where I want my soul to live!!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chantalpaints.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chantaltomiello
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chantalpaints