Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gary Lovelace. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Gary thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
It has been two years since I was approached by a mental hospital to paint murals in their facility. This was not something I had thought of before but once I met with them and saw how drab and uninspiring the facility and rooms were, I fully understood. These kinds of facilities can’t have any item that can be removed from the wall or floor for safety reasons therefore they are stuck with plain painted rooms, many of which have no windows or blocked out windows. This inspired me to offer to paint nature scenes and give the impression that they were looking out a window. I am a realistic artist and I knew I could use tricks I have learned over the years to create depth and a sense of three dimensional realism. Since that day I have painted many murals in several facilities and each time it has been rewarding, not just to the patients and staff but to me. My heart fills with joy when I see the smiles on the patients faces, knowing that they have something pleasant to look at. They love watching me work and express their appreciation. I know the murals help distract them from some of the pain they are dealing with and give them some peace on their path to recovery and that feels amazing to know.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Art has been a major part of my life as far as I can remember. My mother is an artist and I would watch her paint as a child in amazement. It wasn’t long before I picked up the brush and I haven’t stopped. I have dedicated my life to learning everything I can about producing beautiful paintings. My grandfather lived in Germany and also painted amazing oil paintings of the German countryside and the people of his little village. I learned to appreciate nature and the beauty of the world. In my travels I have absorbed all the feels and sights the world has to offer. The amber sunsets flooding New Mexico canyons with warmth, snow tipped alps in Austria, golden prairie stretching for miles. I strive to reproduce the depth and feel of how I perceive the splendors of the world and am driven to share that feeling. I produce original works of art, murals, and portraits and though all different from each other I infuse a sense of realism and emotion that can best be experienced in person. In every piece no matter how simple the subject I try to tell a story. A story that is unique to everyone that takes the time to see it. My passion is producing works that entrance the viewer and transport them for even the briefest moment to another place.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I wish for people to have the means and willingness to purchase true local art and craftsmanship. We live in a world of mass consumption and easy access to cheap products. It is so tempting even for me to look for the easiest and most affordable option. What we quickly realize is that these options are hollow and temporary. True hand produced art of any kind, be it a painting, pottery, or a hand made chair brings far greater satisfaction and longevity. It is something to be proud of. We must support our artists and craftspeople. Without this support artists and craftspeople end up having to work for box stores selling the very items that put them out of business. We do not want to be a land of box stores and medioker plastic products. We want to be a land of art, expression, and beauty where people have the opportunity to share their unique gifts and can live comfortably doing so.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I am simply sharing my gift. I believe that we are all given a gift to share but often we are led to think that we must ignore our gifts and choose a more SAFE occupation. I wish for all people to be able to share their gift and feel the reward of doing so. Think about how much happier we would all be if everyone was allowed to be who they were meant to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: garylovelace.com
- Instagram: #garylovelaceart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garylovelaceart