We were lucky to catch up with Gail Mancuso recently and have shared our conversation below.

Gail, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Like so many people, for years, I had a fear of public speaking. It bothered me and I was determined to overcome this obstacle in my life. It had prevented me from doing things I wanted to do, one being to present my art in group settings and speak on artists’ panels.

My first big step was to attend meetings at Toastmasters International, an organization devoted to improving speaking skills and self-awareness. This involved speaking in front of small groups, followed by a performance review. I gradually began to feel more comfortable, not only recognizing the positives and negatives of my delivery, but feeling more comfortable speaking when all eyes were on me. This experience allowed me to step forward with future speaking opportunities.

My ultimate test was a keynote speaker opportunity where I spoke for one-hour before a large group of professionals, focusing on my life as a woman and an artist. While the preparation was arduous, I pulled together the content, delivered the talk to a receptive audience, and was gratified with the response. This was life changing, a huge hurdle, and it paved the way for me to do more of the same.

While I still get nervous, I don’t think anyone knows but me, as I’m told I do well in these situations. So I’m living the truth of what is said–you have to face your fears head on if you want to truly overcome them!

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

For years, I was in the fashion industry and worked with professional photographers. It was here that I first learned about cameras, lighting and composition. From the beginning, I was intrigued by the manner in which each shot was composed and lit, and I was fascinated by the ability of the photographer to capture each image at the precise moment, bringing to life something in each shot that only he could perceive through his lens. As a result, I began to nurture my own creative perspective.

From there, I grew a small business, creating custom collages and participating in local art shows. But, my true love was photography and at one point, I made the decision to fully immerse myself in the craft and learn as much as possible, developing my eye along the way. Next there were gallery opportunities and photography awards which led to more exposure and recognition.

Professionally, I refer to myself as a mixed media photographer. I rarely use a photo straight from my camera as a finished work. Typically, my process involves the layering and blending of several photographs or fragments of those photos with editing software. I often print my work and continue the creative process, adding my hand to the piece by applying brushstrokes of paint or collage elements. I have several different genres, but lately my concentration is on the female form with its various intricacies as a focus in my work.

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

After taking a course on NFTs, I am currently working on creating several, and despite their recent volatility, I believe they have a place in the art world. Ownership of a work of art that can be verified forever on the blockchain, presents a new approach to collecting, as well as investing. NFTs offer more possibilities than traditional art, with the ability to be traded on online marketplaces and directly between individual collectors.

I think that many recognized artists will see NFTs as an additional channel for the distribution and monetization of their work. The tech space is forever evolving, and blockchain is another opportunity to explore. Although there is a lot of concern about the environmental impact of mining NFTs, we are moving towards more eco-friendly marketplaces everyday.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Every day that I spend viewing the world as a creative reminds me that art is everywhere. In fact, that is my mantra. Finding meaning and beauty that risks going unnoticed in everything from the mundane shadow and light of an urban landscape to the enduring aesthetic of the human form, creates an excitement and thoughtfulness to each photograph I capture.

Through these visual impressions, I am inspired each day. The understanding of line and form, balance and light has trained my eye to see things differently. This gives me a fresh perspective on discovering new photographic subjects and how to best represent them through my art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gailmancuso.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gailmancuso/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gail.mancuso.90/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gailmancusophotography/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/gailmancusoart