We recently connected with Lori Welch Brown and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lori, thanks for joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the years is to stop comparing myself to others. It was a hard lesson for me to learn–one that took many years. Growing up in a blue-collar family, I chose secretarial school over college. Per my dear, sweet dad, “If you can type, you’ll always have a job.” While he wasn’t wrong (at least then), when I entered the work force, I found myself surrounded by recent college grads. Conversations around the water cooler and at happy hour seemed to always start with, “So, where’d you go to school?,” which left me feeling ‘less than’ and ashamed.
I couldn’t ever seem to shake that feeling. No matter how many night classes I took, how hard I worked, how much I earned, and/or what my business card said, I still felt inadequate because I was constantly comparing myself to others.
At 35, I started my own personal concierge and professional organizing company which utilized all the skills I’d acquired over the years. I could type (thanks, Dad!), manage projects, and I was great at organizing–closets, files, events–you name it. And, most importantly, people trusted me.
One of my first clients was a high-powered DC attorney who was outwardly successful, but had very little free time (as was the case with most of my clients). She lived in a beautiful row house and drove a fancy European sports car. Her clothes were designer and her art collection was amazing. Queue the comparing.
One day I was cleaning and organizing her basement storage space and found a flip flop keychain. Those keychains were popular back when I was in high school in the ’80s–we all had them. My first thought was, “OMG–we are the same age. There I was sorting through her childhood memorabilia, and there she was out litigating criminal cases. Those old feelings of being ‘less than’ began to creep in, but then a lightbulb went off. While this woman’s life looked perfect on the outside, I knew it was different on the inside. I realized that while I didn’t have what she had–a formal education, a luxury automobile, or artwork that wasn’t a poster–I was okay.
All the education, money, and success in the world doesn’t guarantee happiness and/or inner peace so there’s no point in comparing.
As artists and creatives, it’s tempting to compare your work (and yourself) with others’. Perhaps they’ve won an award or gotten juried into a show and you didn’t. Perhaps they have 10,000 followers and you have 5. Maybe they signed with an agent, and you’re writing your first paragraph. Whatever the case, you can’t compare. First–it won’t lead you anywhere healthy. Second–you and/or your skills are yours alone. Your timeline is yours alone. You can’t beat yourself up for not starting sooner or not getting an MFA or taking a 20 year hiatus or going to vocational school vs. college.
All you can do is start where you are and be grateful for every moment you’re allowed to use your unique talents.
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?
Like many, I set aside my creative interests and passions to pursue a career. After all, you can’t make a living being an artist, right? At least that was the mantra spoken in my household.
Free time was gobbled up by laundry, errands, cleaning, and whatever exercise I could throw in for good measure. I signed up for a drawing class here and there, but always ended up dropping it because work got in the way. In 2016, I found myself with time on my hands and happened to be passing by a shop that had a sign in the window that read, “Drawing Lessons.” I went right in and signed up.
As soon as I picked up a pencil to sketch, I felt like a kid again. All my problems fell away as my concentration turned to the object I was determined to render onto the pad. Before I knew it, I was experimenting with different mediums–first colored pencils, then pastels. I loved the intensity of the colors and the tactile feel of putting marks on the paper. I did portraits of our pets, our granddaughter, etc. During COVID, I took an online intuitive painting class with Flora Bowley–who is amazing. Once in-person classes resumed, I signed up for an abstract painting class, and I was hooked.
Starting out, I had a few artists whose style I was drawn to so when possible, I took classes with them. I absorbed their knowledge, ate up their tips, and then slowly over time, I developed my own style which is inspired by expressive mark making, a colorful palette, and often a memory or stream of conscious writing. One of the wonderful things about classes is that there are people at all different levels who generously share their wisdom, hints, and tips. It is inspiring.
As an artist, I’m constantly learning, exploring, and discovering. I love playing with different techniques, mediums, tools, supplies, and supports. Currently, I’m loving Ampersand Gessobords as a support as they can handle a lot of layers, sanding, etc. And, I love charcoal! It’s intense and great for mark making.
My work continues to evolve. I’m finding that all my past experiences are melding together. Recently, I cleaned out my aunt’s house after her passing. I was immersed in my family’s history and memorabilia for a couple of months, and it has influenced some of my recent pieces. I love to collage old checks or an invoice–anything with a bit of handwriting–to give the work a bit of life and energy.
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.
Abstract art isn’t for everyone, just as realistic paintings of birds aren’t for everyone. Thank goodness. Different strokes for different folks. But, I hate when I overhear someone commenting on a painting by saying something such as, “My three year old could do that,” or “I just don’t get it.”
If your three year old can paint like Joan Mitchell, congratulations. You’ve got a prodigy on your hands. In my humble opinion, to be able to paint abstractly is to be able to paint emotions and vulnerability and memories–and yes, maybe some landscapes. It is not a simple undertaking, but an individual’s unique perception. And, it’s okay not to ‘get it.’ I will never get ‘man buns,’ but somebody out there does.
I think people get hung up on trying to ‘get’ art or understand it when really it’s about enjoying it, feeling it, and just being present with it.
Also, I think people make incorrect assumptions about pricing because they don’t understand what went into creating a work of art. They don’t understand how expensive professional-grade paints and supplies are, let alone the time involved–and not just the time from when the artist picked up the brush to work on that particular painting, but the hours and hours of learning, practice, failing, experimenting, etc. To be honest, I used to make those same judgements–“Ten thousand dollars? Are you kidding me?,” but now I get it.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I think one of the most rewarding things of doing anything you love is the people you meet along the way and the relationships you build. In my experience, some of the coolest, most generous people are artists. You never know whom you’re going to be standing next to in a class–an attorney in need of a creative outlet, a grandmother in search of a hobby, an experienced gallery artist looking to shake things up, or someone new in town trying to meet people. They’re smart, fun, funny, and eager to share their extra paint or a tip they picked up at their last class. The same with teachers–they are passionate about what they do and want to help you find your unique style.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://loriwelchbrownart.com
- Instagram: @loriwelchbrownart
Image Credits
Lori Welch Brown