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

Cindy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

As far back as I can remember I have always wanted to create art. I remember being in elementary school and getting into a bit of trouble because I was drawing or doodling all of the time in class. In junior high, I was fortunate to have an incredible art teacher who introduced me to oil painting. I am dating myself, but my first painting was a deer drinking from a forest stream. It was on black velvet! My art teacher loved it so much she purchased from me for $55. That was my first sale! In high school, we had a huge variety of art classes from which to choose. When not in my regular classes, I was always in the art studios, working to improve my drawing and painting skills and trying new artistic avenues like commercial art, jewelry (which included casting), and pottery. In college, I supplemented my income by selling paintings. After moving to Canada in 1998, I studied drawing and painting with an incredible instructor, Bob Grant, who taught studio art in Ottawa, Ontario. I began by returning to the basics with drawing, moving on to tonal work, and finally painting. I studied still life, anatomy, and portraiture. Many still life studies were done along with studies of some of my favorite artists such as Jean Baptiste Camille Corot. I was and still am fascinated by the incredible detail captured in the old masters’ styles.
I also was able to start painting en plein air, which gave me a greater understanding of painting from life. Painting with various artists and groups opened an entirely new world of social interactions and helped with my understanding of other artists’ styles and techniques. One learns a great deal from others through observation and inquiry. My plein air paintings and studio work are very different. The majority of my studio time is spent finishing details. Plein air work is looser and captures the feeling of the moment. Both are rewarding and I divide my time between these two disciplines.
I feel that an artist is continually learning the craft. So I love to see what other artists are creating and look for inspiration in my paintings daily.

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?

Along with being a working artist, I owned and operated an art gallery and framing business for almost 10 years in Canada. This was my first experience being solely responsible for curating and exhibiting the works of local artists. Working with artists, clients and conservators was challenging and extremely interesting, and I loved every minute. It was a fantastic experience and I am very proud of the artists I was able to represent, promote and launch their careers, including my own. Since 2008, I have been with Springfield Art Museum, currently as its Exhibitions Manager, but I stay very active in my own business of painting and exhibiting my own art. I enjoy going out with my husband and others to paint en plein air. I spend as much studio time as possible working on new series and painting commissions. People really connect with the subject matter in my work and like to reminisce. Currently, I have started a new series titled “Americana” in which I capture and preserve memories from around the Ozarks. I love to paint landscapes around the entire United States and Canada, especially in the Midwest where I grew up. I have an attraction to old cars, farm machinery, barns, rolling hills and fields. It is important to me to document and record relics and scenery from the past before they slip away and are completely lost.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

As with many artists, early art production was insufficient to support a decent living. So I focused upon a few interesting career choices, including being a co-owner of a construction company and a custom cabinet shop, and becoming a qualified Ophthalmic Assistant. Throughout those early years, I continued to paint, occasionally selling a piece to family and friends. The “’big pivot” occurred after I relocated to Ottawa, Canada. Initially, I found employment as an Ophthalmic Assistant, but shortly thereafter, the opportunity to buy a gallery and framing business became available. That move opened for me a vast network of local and international artists and friends who shared similar creative drives. While fully invested in the business, the environment in which I found myself re-energized me. I began to pursue my art with even more vigor, beginning new courses with local instructors, joining plein air groups, and curating and exhibiting both solo and group works. It was through this period before returning to the US in 2008 that I honed my techniques in both plein air and studio work, and found what I truly love to capture on canvas and panel.

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

I feel the need to create every day, no matter what it is. My job as an Exhibitions Manager is creatively satisfying, but my real passion is painting. It is so rewarding to create a painting from ideas and images that capture my attention, and to challenge that creative spirit. It is also very rewarding for me to connect with a client when they fall in love with a piece of art. At some point in the near future, I hope to be able to pursue painting and exhibiting full time. It has always been my dream. Owning my own art gallery was both very inspirational and educational for me. I thoroughly enjoyed curating and hosting monthly art openings along with my permanent stable of artists. I could sell and market my own art, but also have the satisfaction of promoting other artists.
My art is in a variety of private and corporate collections, including the collection of foreign ambassadors with whom I connected during my art gallery years in Canada. I have been featured in artist magazines and other publications throughout my career and enjoy participating in both solo and group exhibitions.

Contact Info:

• Website: quaylesneststudio.wixsite.com/quaylesneststudio
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/quayles-nest.studio

Image Credits
Photo credit – Cindy Quayle