We were lucky to catch up with Crystal Despain recently and have shared our conversation below.

Crystal, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I paint people because they are endlessly fascinating and uniquely beautiful. Every in different ways. I enjoy the challenge of going beyond a physical likeness and capturing a spark of the person. I started painting after High School but didn’t find my way into taking workshops and finding mentors until my early 30’s. That was the major turning point for me.
Today I split time between working in my studio, and creating educational content. I’m excited to be in a position to share what I have learned with serious students and give back in the same way my mentors have nurtured me.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think that in our modern culture its a lot easier to stock up on items with little to no value. It’s easier to stop by Hobby Lobby and grab a cheap print than it is to invest in original work. But if we can make the effort to invest in artists and artisans, we not only help the art community thrive but we bring works of art and even functional items into our home that have heart and a story and a history.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I get a lot of people don’t realize how teachable what I do is. I agree that people have different aptitudes but you can get pretty good at art through practice and education. It’s a lot of mental work, a lot of maddening hours in the studio, it can be physically demanding as well. The challenge is part of what makes it so worth doing.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: crystal.despain.art
• Facebook: crystal.despain.art
• Youtube: crystal.despain-art