Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Deirdre Sullivan-Beeman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Deirdre, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I’m very happy and very fulfilled by my career as an artist. From childhood, I’ve always loved creative acts. Before I was working full time as a painter, I had a career in event design, which felt nearly equally as creative.

I’m a free spirit, which always seemed problematic when I was working in a more systematic, structured workplace. Working alone as an artist, I’m completely responsible for myself. I’ve had to train myself to not get discouraged by rejection and keep my focus going with little external guidance – which has been hard. I wouldn’t trade it for the world, though.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a figurative surrealist painter and curator based in the US and Canada. I paint with a modified Renaissance-era technique called Mischtechnik. It was developed as a way to combine oil and egg tempera (water-based) paint in order to extract the best qualities from both types of paint. I think that the luminosity Mischtechnik lends to artworks is unparalleled. I also find it meaningful that at the time of this technique’s development, women were not permitted into the field of professional arts; now, I can study and master it (even modify it) however suits me.

My subject matter explores femininity through the history and lore of girlhood. I often use my dream journal as inspiration for my work, exploring both the collective unconscious and pieces of my own identity. I see immense power in femininity and also immense strife. Portraying both of those realities feels important to me as a voice for self-expression and also as a voice for too-often-quieted young women.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

Right now, the popular opinion on NFT seems to be that they are dead. I tend to think they’re just taking a snooze. I see blockchain technology as a huge part of the future and its potential applications to art feel numerous. I sold an NFT with the largest piece in a 2022 solo show, “Delirium,” with Bert Green Fine Art in Chicago.

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

Absolutely! There seems to be no manual in the art world and, too often, a degree of secrecy. A curator and writer who I’ve looked up to and has become a dear friend, Alix Sloan, wrote a book called “Launching Your Art Career – A Practical Guide for Artists” and I couldn’t recommend it more highly. It’s easy to read and has a lot to offer: insight, tips, and further resources. One of the resources she mentions is open call sites such as CaFÉ (Call for Entry), which I think every young artist should be aware of.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sullivanbeeman.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dsullivanbeeman/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sullivanbeeman/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sullivanbeeman/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DSullivanBeeman

Image Credits
Photo of Deirdre Sullivan-Beeman by Jeffrey Sklan