We recently connected with Grace Doyle and have shared our conversation below.

Grace, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Probably in high school, at The Baltimore School for the Arts, an arts magnet school in Maryland. I was exposed to different media, like photography, ceramics, sculpture, painting and drawing. We took art history and visiting artists gave artist talks and workshops. Being introduced to artists and the amazing teachers at that school showed me that pursuing art was possible. The school day was longer than most high schools, about 8 am – 4 pm. Half the day was spent in academic classes and the other half in art classes. That school really made art part of our daily routine and gave me a good model for how to maintain that after graduating. It was at that school that I decided I wanted to eventually get my MFA and teach at the college level while pursuing my own art practice.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am a representational oil painter, mainly of people, but also of plants and animals. My dad first taught me to draw and paint. He saw I had an aptitude for art and my parents encouraged me to pursue it throughout my childhood and early adulthood.

The figure was always interesting to me. People were making portraits and figure paintings, sculptures, etc. for thousands of years. I like to think I am part of that lineage. When I paint, I feel like I am adding to a conversation of what its like to exist at a certain point in time. My paintings are intimate and full of light, pattern, and color. The figures are my friends and family, but I do not consider them portraits. They are characters in the narratives of the paintings. Themes I have been exploring recently are introspection, intimacy, scale, and contradictions involving them. For example, how a painting can be both busy and quiet or large and intimate. Another subject I am interested in is my garden. In warmer months, I paint flowers and vegetable plants outside from observation. The flowers are are mostly perennials, all feeding bees and butterflies. Watching the garden as it grows, and the blooms come and go allows me to have a deeper connection to nature in both my perception and presence.

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

I would say making these paintings, these objects, that exist in the world. The process of making paintings is really rewarding. In the studio I am completely fulfilled. I am looking, thinking, and testing decisions. I don’t always know how I will mix my paint that day or what marks I will make. It is intuitive, not formulaic. Somethings I am surprised and pleased at what I see when I step back. Sometimes I am disappointed and need to problem solve. I love the challenge making a painting presents and the new ideas that process uncovers to apply to the next one.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

After undergraduate school, I didn’t know what to do with my creative career. The options seemed to be get an MFA or get “discovered”. Not wanting to go right into graduate school, I got a job in healthcare administration to pay the bills. I was young, just out of college, so figuring out how to live on my own and with a partner was new to me. Painting was always important, and I never stopped painting, but it fell to the back burner. I painted here and there and participated in a local artist co-op and gallery. My marriage and career took precedence. I even got an MBA to advance in healthcare administration. When I started applying to jobs after graduating, I realized I had no desire to do anything I was applying for. My first marriage also ended at this time. I was in a perfect situation to pivot and just listen to me and my interests. I started graduate school for my MFA in Spring 2020, and here I am now, following my passion. Managing work, life, and my studio practice is a balancing act for now. My goal is to have about half my income come from painting sales and commissions and the other half from part-time work or teaching. Right now I am working on making that happen by applying to galleries, exhibitions, and other calls to increase my exposure for sales and opportunities.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.gracedoyle.art
• Instagram: @gracedoyle.art

Image Credits
Grace Doyle