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

Darlene Olivia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Learning your craft is not only about putting in 10,000 hours, it is also not being afraid to experiment and to fail. I consider myself the mad scientist when it comes to art techniques. I am always asking myself what will happen if I do this or that. It keeps me free and I become both the teacher and student by experimenting. If I fail, I may end up with a happy accident or I have learned something important. With every art piece I create, I try and learn something new and push myself

Darlene Olivia, 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?

Darlene Olivia McElroy is a contemporary narrative artist with a focus on the figure, as well as an author and educator. McElroy, born and raised in Southern California, is descended from an old New Mexico family of artists and storytellers. She has been deeply influenced by the summers she spent growing up on her family’s ranch in Santa Fe where the rich tapestry of Hispanic life filled the nights and brightly colored the days.

Her process of working on a painting is like a puzzle wanting to be solved, moving the pieces until they resonate and giving new meaning to the elements by their juxtaposition. The experience is similar to reading Turkish coffee grounds – a story is revealed as one looks at the surface, through painted texture, color and imagery. She works with acrylics, collage, paint skins and image transfers to reveal her vision. She draws from her multicultural DNA and travels to create her narratives.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

There are so many pluses to being an artist from very interesting and colorful friendships, the lifestyle, the travel and to be able to express my soul with paint, Because of the work I do, I get to do research which I love and explore a theme by working in a series until I have explored it to my satisfaction.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I knew earlier to ask for what I want. I am totally comfortable asking my galleries for a show, ask for an article or asking a publisher regarding writing a book (or five). Getting comfortable in my own skin and art allows me to just ask. They may say know but, believe me, they will remember you for future opportunities.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.darleneoliviamcelroy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlene_olivia_mcelroy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darleneoliviamcelroy/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@collagegoddess