We were lucky to catch up with Gigi Douglas recently and have shared our conversation below.
Gigi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Recently I worked with High School students in the town of Saguache, CO to plan, design, and create a mural event in the main community park. I love working with youth (especially since High School was a time in my life that art really began to run my world) and this opportunity was such an amazing experience. Over several months, I was able to meet some truly amazing artistic students in the town who helped big time in the planning and execution of everything from what the mural theme would be, what kinda of food would be at the event, and even what other activities we would have. I definitely want to do more projects like this!
Gigi, 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?
While I always was creative growing up, I really got into art as a form of therapy around High School and college. I had a couple years of depression that I didn’t really feel comfortable talking about with anyone about so instead I drew in my notebook as medicine. There would be nights that I couldn’t fall asleep so I would keep my sketchbook on my bedside table and simply turn on the light and grab a marker when the insomnia would kick in. It always amazed me what came out on the paper because it so perfectly captured how I was feeling so that I could really feel better. Drawing eventually turned into painting and after a trip to South America where I began trading wall art for nights in a hostel, murals quickly became my favorite art offering.
Nowadays, I do murals, large scale paintings, offer my artwork on printed mediums like greeting cards and have most recently begun getting into woodworking and creative building with the help of my partner. I enjoy taking an initial inspiration point for a client and putting my own spin on it making the end product a true collaboration!
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Support art! Buy art! Appreciate art! And, make art too. And that can mean anything from singing a song to dancing to even expressing yourself thru how you dress. The more we ALL involve art in our lives, the more beautiful our world will be.
: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Remembering that there are many ways to look at things and appreciate the positive and negative in everything.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gigidouglas.com
- Instagram: @gigi_douglas
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gigi.douglas.5/