We were lucky to catch up with Lena McCarthy recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lena, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

When I was 24, I started painting in the streets of Santiago, Chile. I had been living there for over a year, teaching English and then making art in a studio in someone’s house. There’s a vibrant graffiti and street art scene there- I felt an impulse to participate and make paintings on a that giant scale in public. I asked permission for a few spots (I wasn’t trying to get arrested right away!) but got sort of inconclusive answers and shrugs. After realizing no one really cared- one day I just showed up with paints and made my first piece on a relatively busy street. I used house paint and brushes, and spent one full day on it. It was an image of seedlings growing out of finger tips.

Taking that risk changed my life. I was hooked right away on the process of painting large, outdoors and in the public. It took some time to grow my work and practice, but now I live and work full time as an artist and muralist. Sometimes if I feel a bit lost in my work, I look back to the early risks I took to remind myself both how far I’ve come and the grit that started me on this journey.

Lena, 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?

I’m an independent artist – I paint murals as public and street art, as well as for businesses, towns and cities. I also have an extensive and consistent studio practice, and sell and exhibit these works. Every artist has a unique approach and reason for making work. The style I’ve developed over the past 10 years is what makes my work particular to me. The most important aspect of making art is to be true to myself and my creative vision.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

For me making art is really a call and response conversation with my interior world. My work is deeply personal and rooted in my evolution as a human being and woman above all else. Later, some of this work appeals to businesses and clients, but the primary goal and purpose is to be true to this inner compass and calling. If I lose grasp of that, all is lost.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

Honestly, I worked as a waitress for years before I was able to be a full time artist. I lived in shared apartments with way too many roommates and rode a bicycle to my first jobs. Eventually, my brother gave me his old junker car, and I’m still grateful to him for that. Building capital was a very gradual process for me. I was also very lucky to not have school loans (I went to college on scholarship). But even still, I painted in my bedroom for several years before I could take on the monthly cost of a studio. Every person and their financial situation is different and some of us have more help that others. I would encourage all artists to always make your work regardless of circumstances. There sometimes won’t be the perfect studio situation or money for an iPad. But you have what you need in you. Looking back, I think the starting out few years for me was the hardest part. After some time, momentum starts to propel you forward in a way, as your work grows and you gain experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lenamccarthyart.com
• Instagram: @_lena_mac_