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

Hi Gloria, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

My Painting journey came about when I was laid off from my job to keep busy. I went out and purchased a couple canvases and some paint and started painting in my garage. I would spend many hours trying to create different types of paintings with different types of techniques and I fell in love with what they call paint pouring. I would then post my paintings on social media and then my social media would blow up with messages asking me how much is that Painting ? How much is this Painting ? I couldn’t really believe all the inquiries that I was receiving. At that time I lived in Orange County, California when a girl from Dallas Fort Worth, Texas reached out over the phone and wanted to talk about a consignment piece, I wasn’t sure what she was wanting. It wasn’t like I did portraits or landscapes. My paintings were a paint pouring technique where you actually manipulate the paint by moving the canvas and or using a straw or other things to manipulate the paint and creating a unique masterpiece where no painting is like another, that being said, she Michelle from Dallas Fort Worth, Texas had a vision of what she wanted at that point. I thought there’s no way I’m doing this however I listen to her and explained my technique and she was like wow that sounds super cool. Still wanting me to create her a painting . I had never painted on a canvas bigger than 11“ x 16“ and she was talking about a 4‘ x 5‘ painting. I was terrified. She also gave me free reign to create the painting. She just chose the colors. I wasn’t sure at the time or what I would do to this so-called Painting as her idea was a “Swamp Soirée “!. I gave her a quote not really sure if she would go for it and she said it was perfect! I gave myself about four months or so to create the “Swamp Soirée and after it was finished, it was a unique piece of art. I took it upon myself and gave her a call and I wanted to deliver it myself . That being said I took a road trip to Dallas Fort Worth, Texas, a 21 hour drive with this huge painting in the back of my car! Once I arrived in Texas I got to meet this person who didn’t know me but knew my artistic value and took a chance! We are now life long friends . In the beginning in my early conversations with Michelle I wasn’t sure I was up to the task but she knew I was and she always believed in me, even when I wasn’t sure. After a lot of thinking I’m like “why not”! I was up for the challenge. Also that someone who didn’t even know me would trust me enough by seeing my paintings on social media to take on such a huge responsibility! At that point money wasn’t an issue but a challenge to believe in myself. The healing part of art is life-changing for me.

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?

Back to my earliest childhood memories I have always had a very active imagination which I feel has helped me immensely in my creative process. I have always enjoyed creating for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been able to pretty much look at something and re-create it with a twist. After being laid off, I began to look to art as an outlet., I started experimenting with paint pouring as well as I found a new avenue to a new venture. I truly believe that creativity is something you are, not just what you do. Each time that paint touches the canvas it’s a story opportunity for me to share my journey. It’s a chance to challenge my creativity, to create a painting that would inspire, even provoke a feeling or emotion. Paint pouring brings me hope and I wish to share that with the world. Art has always been there for me. My path hasn’t always been clear. But when I create art the path is crystal clear. There are no rules to creativity, No Painting I’ve done has felt like a failure! I believe you need to continue to explore and experiment in your life’s journey, It’s taking a risk on a painting by using colors that don’t make sense, maybe making mistakes and breaking rules. When I take paint to canvas, I’m inspired by whatever raw emotion that I am in. It will tell me the color, it will show me the motion. Art can be very healing for me and much like therapy at times. When paint pouring every single one is unique and can’t be duplicated. My hope is that it creates a conversation or provokes a feeling. I created a painting for a client in Dallas Fort Worth Texas and she had shared with me her vision and from there I created her dream on canvas. whenever she shows her guests my art she gets so excited because she gets to share the art journey I was able to create for her. Each painting I create also creates a conversation and I hope to inspire one’s own life’s journey!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me it’s seeing this creative journey come to life! Having the ability to create art freely is life changing for me! I can look at a painting and see where my thoughts were just based on the colors I chose at that time. Using art as an actual tool to communicate your feelings thoughts and ideas is truly a healing process for me. Creating art when experimenting with different techniques and no real limitations is freeing! Having creative freedom allows me to not have to follow any rules if you will . I’ve seen how my art pieces impact others wether it brings them happiness or helps them reflect on a memory they have had or even sparks a conversation just based Ion the colors I used or the way I manipulated the paint!! Being an artist is pushing those boundaries and bringing satisfaction when people are able to connect with an art piece that I created!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

For me it would be for personal growth as well as creative expression . I would like to become the best version of myself by allowing myself to color outside the lines and to keep evolving in my artistic journey. To be able to share my unique vision with others

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Wildflower_soulart