Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lori Kirkbride. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Lori, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I was always creative and very in to art from a very young age. I remember drawing a picture of my brother & myself eating popcorn from a bowl when I was in kindergarten. I remember that adults took notice & complimented my skill as a five year old. Drawing, coloring, painting followed me all through school & was often worked on in art classes as well as for fun at home. My mother taught me to crochet when I was about 8yrs old & is still something I enjoy doing & can relate it to my art now. By the time i was in high school I was in the art room for a large portion of my day. I don’t think there is an exact recollection or pivotal moment of choice to pursue art professionally but rather it was so engrained in who I was that I never really questioned my path. Beyond high school I went on to attend college earning both undergrad and master’s degrees in fine arts from Ohio University & Pratt Institute and has continued to be part of my life since.
Lori, 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 have a background in both printmaking & painting. Today I largely consider myself a painter, however; in a much more nontraditional way. I create paintings using paint itself as the medium rather than painting with it. I have evolved using paint films in my paintings since undergraduate college work. Today I pour, dry, cut & manipulate paint & paint films that then attach to panels to create my work. The work is tedious, meticulous, process oriented while still employing elements of chance. For me in my work clean, professional, well crafted appearance that shows your skill is very important. My work is often inspired by elements of crafts, baking, cooking, candy and most importantly color which often includes bold choices.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
I think society could best support artists by realizing artists are a vital part of creating a vibrant and interesting community & are often a driving force in supporting the economy of a particular geographic areas & yet are undervalued & often struggle. I think artists would be served well if their communities supported the artists in their area. This can look like many things, offering a band a place to play music and bring enthusiasm to a bar/restaurant, a coffee shop, real estate developer offering artist space that isn’t currently rented to show artwork. The most important thing I can think of is to actually support a living artist by purchasing work from them. Go to gallery shows, open studios, etc and buy art you enjoy, put it in your space and brighten your day every time you pass it. Buy what you can afford, there is art in price ranges for everyone.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the completion of a large work or body of work & having the ability to exhibit it. An exhibition allows many to see your effort & labor that is often squirreled away in your studio until opportunity presents itself. I think the ultimate reward as an artist is to active sales occurring. This not only provides the financial support needed to create art but also provides validation to your work and time spent creating it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Lorikirkbrideart.com
- Instagram: @lorikirkbrideart
