We recently connected with Florencia Clement de Grandprey and have shared our conversation below.

Florencia, appreciate you joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I never “wonder” what it would be like to have a regular job…because I’ve already had plenty of those and, honestly, wouldn’t go back to them!

After my career in aviation, I worked in high-end interior design for nearly 15 years, where I was exposed to rich fabrics, patterns and textures, and other materials which reignited my artistic passion. My choice of becoming a full-time artist came after many years of frustration and a constant feeling of needing to be more creative.

In 2014 everything seemed to conspire against me, or rather, for me, to start anew. I had lost my home to foreclosure and was forced to declare bankruptcy, was miserable at a job where I was underpaid, overworked, and unappreciated, and was on my own. At that point, I really didn’t feel like I had much to look forward to or to lose by trying something new.

I quit my full-time job and packed my bags to go volunteer for four months at a retreat center in Hawaii to collect my thoughts and try to decipher what my purpose was.
They say one must reach rock bottom to make radical changes…and I did and emerged more determined than ever.

Someone asked me what I would do for a living if money weren’t an object.
I went back to basics, to what really makes me feel alive and excited to get my day started. My answer came easily: create art.

I didn’t have any formal training in art but didn’t let that deter me because I knew I had a message to deliver, and I could do it through painting. And so, I began creating pieces that focus not only on the aesthetics but that are also meaningful, empowering, and inspiring. Technically speaking, my artwork is best described as mixed media figurative art.

I paint to celebrate us as perfectly imperfect beings by bringing out our strengths and our beauty, to use as a reminder of who we really are, and to say: “I see you and honor you”.

What was initially just a dream, very quickly turned into my full-time passion, and dare I say, an artistic obsession. I’m so glad I finally listened to my heart and followed my calling and don’t regret it a single minute…!

Art is what makes me want to wake up every day and brings me more pleasure and satisfaction, on a soul level, than any of my previous jobs.

Florencia, 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?

Born and raised in southern Spain, I’m the daughter of an American mother and a French/Italian father, living and working in Fort Lauderdale, FL, since 2004.

I’m a self-taught mixed media artist, whose mission is to empower and inspire through positive and meaningful artwork. My artistic adventure began in late 2014, when I quit my full-time job in interior design to pursue my real passion: painting.

Because I didn’t receive any formal art training, I have developed a style without rules, which gives me great freedom. I combine my love of the classic masters with contemporary design flair to produce mixed media paintings.

My style and media have definitely evolved over the last few years as I’m continuously exploring surfaces and materials…
Initially, I set out to paint on canvas and incorporated up-cycled and repurposed materials that would otherwise be disposed of, such as discontinued fabric and paper samples, to create backgrounds and “dress” my subjects. Three years into my adventure, I discovered I could paint directly on upholstery fabric and area rugs and have fallen in love with the effect I’m able to achieve in this new medium. The patterns become intertwined with the image and add yet another dimension to it. I find these layers are a metaphor for us to look deeper than what meets the eye.

During the pandemic, I started a series entitled “Guardians of Sacred Space” composed of my largest pieces yet, ranging between 6’x4’ and 10’x8’, painted on area rugs. They are powerful portraits that command attention and infuse a sense of protection and calm to the space they are in. In 2022 I’m working on a new series entitled “In My Eyes”, painted on vintage Persian area rugs, exploring life as a keen observer of what surrounds me while also looking into who I am as part of the whole.

At the heart of my artwork is my desire to portray strong and confident, soul aligned men and women. I want to celebrate who we are and everything that makes us unique, perfectly imperfect beings, by bringing out our strengths and our beauty, as a reminder of who we really are and to say: “I see you and honor you”.

I believe portraying a variety of ethnicities is the best way to promote inclusion. It is important to me that everyone feels represented in my artwork as a mirror of society. My artwork is very much a reflection of my life and, therefore, I am in some way, in every one of my paintings. Painting is my therapy, and, so, as I heal myself, I also hope that others can recognize themselves in my work and that it may ease their pain as well.

I’m constantly striving to give form to my own feelings and visions, as well as others’. I welcome commissioned artwork and love working with my clients to create unique pieces that perfectly fit their heart, space and décor…

E-mail: [email protected] Cell: +1 (954) 446-4126
IG: @ArtbyFlorencia
FB: ArtbyFlorencia
www.ArtbyFlorencia.com

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

There are several aspects of being an artist that are very rewarding including having creative freedom, working on my own schedule, and being my own boss, but by far, the most rewarding aspect is being able to help people heal and celebrate. I consider my artwork more than just decorative items. I paint with intention and want it to be meaningful, empowering, and healing. Painting is therapy for myself, but I know if it helps me, it could help others as well.
During the pandemic, I created a series painted on large area rugs titled “Guardians of Sacred Space” because I felt that we needed, more than ever, positive images that would bring peace and calm to our space while reminding us of our inner warrior.
On many occasions, I’ve had people come up to me to thank me for creating artwork they could connect with. My artwork celebrates us…and I’ve created portraits and artwork celebrating cancer survivors, those who transitioned, life milestones, and all who are happy to be alive.
Once, I had a lady write to me thanking me for a piece that allowed her to find her voice again after being in an abusive relationship.
I never know how exactly I’ll be able to touch anyone. Even if I touch just one person positively, it’s “mission accomplished” for me.

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

The best way to support artists is to think of us as humans with a full-time job creating and sustaining ourselves through it. This means that when the public buys a piece of art from the artist, they are literally allowing that artist to pay their bills, eat and continue doing what they do best: create more art. When people want artwork for their space, they should consider hiring an artist to create a unique piece or buy one they have already created, rather than buy something that is mass-produced and found at a big box store. Also, buy from live artists, the dead ones don’t need it!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ArtbyFlorencia.com
• Instagram: @ArtbyFlorencia
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/artbyflorencia
• Twitter: ArtbyFlorencia