We were lucky to catch up with Courtney Simone recently and have shared our conversation below.

Courtney , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

If I could switch this question around it would say, “Are you happy with your full-time job? Do sometimes you wonder what it would be like to be a full-time artist?” I am an artist who has a full-time job, and though I am grateful to have a job I enjoy, I do often wonder what it would be like to 100% do art full-time. I see my job as a resource to help fund my creative career while I get to a comfortable space to one day pivot into full-time art. I found that once I allowed myself to not put financial pressures on my art before I am ready, I have more freedom to explore my personal art style and grow into the artist I am today. I am a firm believer that your passion will always find you, so if you’re in a season where you have to work a regular job, I believe your passions will always find its way back to you. It’s not always easy coming home from a long day of work, and feel the inspiration to create, but I know little steps day by day make a big difference.

Courtney , 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?

My name is Courtney Simone, and I refer to myself as a visual artist. The main medium I work with is acrylic and mixed media, such as oil pastels & paint markers. I like to call my style abstract expressionism. I highlight black women in my work, with an abstract element. I have been making art for as early as I can remember, but I feel like the time where I began to take my art more seriously and formulate more of my personal style was in 2020. I began dabbling into abstract art at that time, and that’s when I began to combine my love for both illustration and abstract art. My art has a whimsical aspect to it that combines both art forms. I am most proud that I get to share my art with the world and make sales to complete strangers across the globe. The fact that there are people who resonate with my art, and connect with the words I share means everything to me. If there is one message I could get out there, it would be to create what you love! I felt most free when I started painting the work I enjoyed vs trying to fit a box and cater to what I thought was “popular.” I found that more people connected with my art the moment I began to paint what I enjoyed, and thats when I feel I truly began to hone in on my art style.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist for me is the ability to find healing and freedom to express myself. I used to think every art piece I made needed to have a profound meaning, but the more I continued to just make art, the more I realized that the deeper meaning is showing people that creativity is important and it matters. You don’t always need to make art that means something, but the simple act of creating is important enough. Being able to create art in any form paves the way for you to express yourself and provide a sense of peace in the chaos that surrounds us. Art is healing, and for me the biggest reward is self expression. Sometimes your ability to create gives others permission to do the same, and find a sense of peace and healing for themselves.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I started to truly build an audience that resonated with my art once I started making the art I enjoyed to make, and sharing my personality. One thing I try to do along side just posting my art, is telling a story with it. I can have a habit of getting wordy in my posts, which at first I felt like was “too much,” but then I realized it was what I feel truly started to connect people to not only my art, but me as a person. Being someone who shares vulnerably, and encourages others to dive into their passions is what I feel helped grow the audience I have now. My advice to anyone starting out would be to continue to share even the messy and “bad” art. Tell your story, and share about you! People will love your art because they love you as a person first.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.courtneysimoneart.com
• Instagram: @CourtneySimoneArt
• Youtube: Courtney Simone Art