We were lucky to catch up with Lily Harrington recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lily , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
Practice, patience, and good old trial and error have taught me to paint. When I was first starting out, I wasn’t very comfortable experimenting. I would stick to a singular style or medium that I felt comfortable with, which created a lot of monotony and boredom in my work. I eventually realized I had to at least try something new, and started experimenting with oil as a new medium. 12 years later, I’m still learning how to work with it, but with each new painting, I’m walking away with something new—new technique, new tool, new understanding—and I can see the impact and evolution in my work.
Lily , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Lily and I am a practicing abstract artist focusing on larger-scale abstract oil pieces.
My mother has owned an art gallery for the last 20 years, and represents an incredible portfolio of talented, inspiring contemporary artists. Early childhood memories of walking the halls of her gallery certainly shaped my interest in art from a young age. I didn’t start practicing, however, until I was in my mid-teens. At the time, I was babysitting for a neighbor who happened to be an interior designer. She and I were chatting about her latest project (at this time, my Mom’s business had expanded to include home furnishings and decor) and she mentioned that they needed art as a centerpiece in the foyer…she asked if I would be interested in doing something. I had never painted before, but figured now would be as good a time as any to start! The commission turned out great and I realized how much I had loved creating something that will actually go beyond the four walls of my own home…and so it began!
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
To me, the originality and uniqueness of each painting is mind-blowing—it’s like a finger-print! The colors, strokes, exact and precise composition, layering—EVERYTHING about a painting, really, is a stamp in time. The way the colors just happen to blend on my palette, or the exact amount of medium I use, or the direction I happened to paint with this one brush is something that quite literally can’t be recreated. When you’re looking at or buying original art, know there is none other in the world exactly like it!!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
It sounds cliche, but being able to create something unique and one-of-a-kind that really speaks to someone—enough for them to buy it—is incredibly rewarding. Art is no small investment, and knowing that there are people out there who are willing to invest in me and my work is something I’ll be forever grateful for and motivated by!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lilyharringtonart.com
- Instagram: @lilyharringtonart
