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

Dee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I was once a Graphic Designer for a year or two in my early early 20’s. I didn’t have the confidence to really successful, and even though I loved the design work, I hated having to “sell” myself. I decided to go back to school for Art Education. I received my Certification for 7-12 and got my first and only art teaching job right after! I believe I had a successful teaching career of 35 years and then I decided to take the risk. I quit my teaching job ( some say I retired, but being too young to retire I like to say I chose a new career path.)
I stopped teaching in June 2024 and have been non stop ever since. I am working on growing my art presence in the community, having local shows, and selling my cards and prints in various shops around the state, mostly in the Northern part of Vermont. I am going to start going out to other stores around the state so people will have the ability to purchase my work wherever they may stop.
The risk? giving up my career in teaching, and a steady salary is scary, and at times overwhelming. I have the confidence that I wish I had at 21 to help me be successful now in my next career, but being self motivated, self employed and finding my creativity even when I am struggling is a risk that is worth taking.

Dee, 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 was a high school teacher, and have always had the philosophy of not asking anyone to do anything I wouldn’t do myself. So, I started a daily art practice. Our school library was tossing out old books and if anyone knows me I hate to see things go into a landfill. My students have always been intimidated by the white paper of a sketchbook, so we started a daily art practice in these old books. The text on the pages, were liberating. It made everyone feel less constricted by the perfection of a white page of a sketchbook, and it allowed my students and myself to be free. I also wasn’t producing a lot of art for myself at the time, so i started doing 30 minutes a night in an old book. The paper was porous and i started collaging, painting, writing words and quotes and developing a huge body of work.
I am most proud of my work is that it ‘speaks” to many, many different people. The words and images are not commonly seen on note cards, and they evoke emotions from all that read/view them. I love using colors and imagery and I think that helps draw the viewer into what I am trying to share. I love when I hear back from someone who tells me my work has helped them through a rough time, or a happy time or whatever it is they chose my artwork for. I make the pieces relatively small ( cards & 5×7 prints) so anyone can afford them and find a place. Everyone deserves to find art that speaks to them and makes them happier, stronger, etc.

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

I just spoke to this, but having people love what I do, and the interactions I have with people viewing my work. It isn’t art that is museum quality, it is more fun, whimsical and hopefully motivational. I love the stories that people share with me, about their lives, their animals their family that makes them connect with my art. It’s important to me that people feel the connection to my work. I love living in the creative world, being able to mingle with all walks of life who love to appreciate, create or talk about art. You meet the coolest people and I love when I can inspire anyone to go try what I do in their own discarded books. I love sharing, my ideas, my techniques, my books, I just love to share and help someone find their own creativity that they don’t even know they have!

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

I think this question is on point for our times. Society can best support artists, creatives and help create a thriving ecosystem, by buying local. It doesn’t have to be a big purchase, it could be a $4 card, or a magnet or sticker. What it does is say we as artists are worthy of your time and your money. Yes, can you buy something online through a big distributor, cheaper? Absolutely, But, will that help your local artist or local business that is trying to make a living by having artists in their store? Or when we have a artisan/craft show, come out and buy something. We all spend our weekends at events, when we have spent weeks getting ready for a show, in the hopes that someone comes by and loves our work. I think it is important that non artists know how much time art takes to make. Some time the smallest art pieces take more time than a giant piece of art. Considering the expertise, the creative design, the hustle, the money it costs us to be creating & marketing our work. We are lucky to live where we live because I feel that we as artists are appreciated, there are many different venues to show our work. So if we could get more people to get off line, and go out into their communities and find something that speaks to them ( or a friend) it would help our creative ecosystem grow and thrive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.deechristieart.com
• Instagram: deechristieart
• Facebook: dee christie paintstorms studio

Image Credits

Monica Walk Bolthouse (portrait)