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

Courtney, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

My current project is most meaningful because it incorporates sculpture into my repertoire, starting with an ambitious project called “The Circle Conversation.”

The Circle Conversation:

A three piece foundry bronze sculpture consisting of three 8′ circles.

In honor of everyone who has navigated through suicide, schizophrenia, depression and other brain chemistry challenges themselves or with ones they love.

My need to understand emotional intelligence & mental wellness is personal and familial; schizophrenia, depression, bi-polar disorder and suicide are part of my life. As complicated as these diagnoses and events are, they also can be an awakening. I’m being called to help or heal others and my artwork is one vehicle that allows me to do so.

The project is in an early stage, yet the CCI [Colorado Creative Industries] grant I was awarded in August 2022, provided funds for me to have 3D renderings & animation made to explore the relationship between the viewer, the work, and the site.

I intend “ the Circle Conversation” sculpture to be a combination of community engagement and ultimately a three dimensional 3 piece sculpture that encourages sharing, healing and lifelong conscious awareness.

What is the Conscious Awareness that the Circles want to promote?:
Forgiveness, Self Forgiveness, Emotional Wellbeing [ this takes inspired action], Nature/Outdoors,
Breathing, Walking, Meditation, Stillness, Electronic detoxing, Healing practitioners ( energy work/body work ), Plant medicine, Nutrition, Writing, Listening, Showing up,Taking risks & Intention. This list will soon grow as people share their experiences & stories.

Where: Denver and or Colorado to start, and then duplicating the process for other towns, cities & countries.

The How:
Engaging Community by collecting stories [data], Engaging businesses that have a wellness focus,
Workshops, School Visits, and Artist Talks.

The Design:
A 3-part foundry bronze sculpture that will rest upon the ground. The sculpture will not move, yet the circle will convey movement [energy]
Material: Foundry bronze metal material works well with the environment, is durable and enforces the idea of alchemy [the medieval forerunner of chemistry, based on the supposed transformation of matter] because it is a combination of tin and copper.
Circle: represents energy – energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
Symbology: The circle is a universal symbol with extensive meaning. It represents the notions of totality, wholeness, original perfection, the Self, the infinite, eternity, timelessness, all cyclic movement, God (‘God is a circle whose centre is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere’ (Hermes Trismegistus)).

Three: this triad represents Body Mind Spirit

“I share my lived experiences and offer support to others with my art.”

Courtney, we would 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 am a professional artist, currently living & working in Denver, Colorado. I studied fine art at the University of South Carolina with a concentration in interiors. After working in architecture and design for 8 years I decided to dedicate myself to painting and having a family.

Recently, I have achieved notable milestones, including receiving a prestigious “Best in Show” award for my painting “Landing.” I also had the privilege of exhibiting my work in my first museum exhibition. Additionally, I was honored to be granted a Colorado Creative Industries career advancement grant in 2022 & my art has been acquired by Charter Communications and Marriott Hotels in 2023.

This fall I am off to study at The Ballinglen Arts Foundation in Ballycastle, Ireland and plan on applying for more grant money & artist residencies now that my children have left the nest.

As more private collectors and businesses continue to support my work, my artistic path reflects an unflinching willingness to experiment. My adventurousness is evident in the wide range of works that compromise my oeuvre.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

To me, being an artist is about expressing myself. I learned in my 30’s I cannot separate my roles i.e. artist, friend, daughter, sister, mother, wife, volunteer, educator etc.. I am an artist first and foremost that happens to have a full
life with various aspects. Some of my favorite books that help me be the best version of myself are:

The Four Agreements by Don Miduel Ruiz
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Art & Fear by David Bayles & Ted Orland
The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
It’s not your Money by Tosha Silver
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach

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

I had to unlearn to work hard and for long amounts of time. Energy, not time, is the fundamental currency of high performance.

The backstory is that I made myself sick with an autoimmune disease trying to do it all.
Rest was not in my vocabulary nor did I feel comfortable doing it. Not being able to say no, perfectionism and caring about what others thought of me led to bad decisions and ignoring important signs and messages from those I loved.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://courtneycotton.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneycottonetal/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artistcourtneycotton/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneycotton/
• You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB8AlQFtNV4XC7z-8WsSoCQ
• Other: https://linktr.ee/courtneycotton?utm_source=braze&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20221004_Marketing_All_Onboarding_Triggered_MultiChannel_Global_English_FeatureIntroduction&utm_content=canvas&utm_term=Day1Email1Free_CTA4

Image Credits
Images: Artist photo by Sunny Sheldon Artist hand photo by Sunny Sheldon 3 images of sculpture renderings by Ferdousss