Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marie Parmer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Marie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you wish you had started sooner?

I honestly can’t imagine starting this chapter of my career any sooner than I did. I worked in marketing and advertising as a graphic designer and then an art director for over 30 years – almost entirely for others – before taking the leap to go it on my own as an artist. There’s a lot of stability and predictability in working for someone else, and that was perfect for me for many decades. I also really enjoyed my work. I thrived as a “worker bee.” It was my element.

In art school, I was always painting, drawing; creating. But after graduation, I didn’t pick up a paintbrush for about 20 years. I just didn’t feel the pull. Plus, I was working, and later had kids, so life was pretty busy. I was creative in other ways – in my design work, at home cooking, making things, taking photos, etc. – but not painting. Many years later, a friend I reconnected with from art school convinced me to take painting classes again. She was very persuasive (and flattering about my work) and that was all it took! Those classes sparked a love for painting I hadn’t felt before.

Fast forward to an unexpected corporate restructuring that left me without the career job I’d banked on having until my retirement, and I was left with a decision: what to do next. At this point in my life, I was a bit burned out with design, and did NOT want to work for someone else anymore. I suddenly felt a new determination and self-confidence to create my own business. I was ready to take on the responsibility after years of life experience and generally being more sure of myself.

The only thing I would consider changing is taking those painting classes a few years earlier. But having the confidence and drive to start my own business earlier? Nope! I don’t think I was ready.

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’m an abstract artist, working primarily as a painter. I love to play with Gelli Plate printing, collages, with ink drawings incorporating watercolors, and more, but mostly I’m a painter.

My paintings are on wooden panels rather than canvas (which are lighter than they sound!) and can be quite large: my largest pieces to date are 6-foot by 4-foot – they could barely fit in my small studio! Working large is a full-body physical experience, requiring a lot of movement to cover the surface. That kind of movement tends to keep the work fresh, and also fun to do. My main medium is acrylic paint, but I generally create “mixed media” pieces, incorporating collage papers, charcoal, oil pastels, house paint, bits of fabric… you name it! I add layers of paint, collage, and drawing on top of one another, and then often bring out my electric sander at some point to sand down the surface, revealing fun surprises underneath. Ideally, the result is a piece that tells one story from far away, while showing a different story with hidden, quieter elements you can’t see until you’re up close.

Time and again, my work represents a loose interpretation of a landscape, a place, or a memory. Even when paintings start without an intention, that’s where they usually end up.

Another thing I enjoy is working with clients to create custom paintings made specifically for their spaces. It’s very satisfying for them to have input in what they bring into their home, and equally thrilling for me to see their visions realized in my interpretation.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

One thing is for sure about a creative life: you have to be ready to work. It may seem like all I do is splash paint around while dancing in my studio – which I do get to do sometimes! – but there’s a lot more complexity to the work. You have to figure out how to run a business: from what to charge for your work, to making a website, to how and where you’re going to sell, how to connect with your customers, to balancing your books and learning about money, to creating a consistent brand … the list goes on and on. The admin side takes up at least one third, if not half of my time.

In addition to that, you must really learn and hone your craft. You need to learn how to use different materials, how to mix colors, how to create a successful composition. You need to develop a style, and most importantly, a routine for consistently showing up to get the work done. Accepting failure is crucial: You must learn to learn to fail and fail a lot.

One interesting thing about painting abstractly is that you have to start paintings without knowing where they’ll end up. In design work, I operated under the motto, “start with the end in mind.” And that just doesn’t work with paintings. You can start with an idea, an intention, an inspiration, a color palette, and even a rough idea of your composition, but if you hold too tightly to an idea, you’ll likely ruin the piece, or simply get nowhere with it. To quote a favorite artist of mine, Louise Fletcher, “Seeking the result is the very thing that stops you getting the result.” This kind of approach, while necessary, requires a great deal of trust. It requires being able to let go of control, of bits you like. You must learn patience. Learn how to play, to experiment. Oh, and to not get discouraged when your painting is going through its ugly middle phase – which happens in almost every one of them! Also, to know when to stop! Walk away. Give it a rest. Again, it takes a lot of trust and patience!

All that being said, it’s very satisfying when you can solve the problem and create something you love. It makes all the frustrating bits worthwhile!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

There are so many rewarding things about being an artist, it’s hard to narrow it down!

First, I love following my own nudges to create what I feel compelled to make. I love that I get to make all the rules: I get to decide what I make and how, how much to charge, where to sell – all of it. No one else really has a say. (Of course, painting commission pieces requires a bit of a departure from that, but the challenges and the end results are so worth it!)

Plus, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of creating something that someone wants to spend time with – to look at and live with every day. It’s also fun to meet people who connect with my work!

Spending your days in an art studio is a solitary experience, but I enjoy that part of it as much as when I have the opportunity to spend time with other people. Again, I get to choose. I can craft what works for me and what doesn’t. If someday I decide working solo is depleting me of energy or creativity, I could work to find a co-working space. If I decide to shift from art fairs and pursue galleries, that’s an option. Maybe one day I’ll sell my work on platforms other than just my own website. I find it empowering to explore different options and come up with new ways of working and living that best fit me and my life.

Also, making something out of nothing never gets old. I start with a blank surface; nothing. And after some time, an image emerges. This can be a long and arduous process at times, but there are also those magical, “in the flow” moments, when the work feels almost effortless. This happens less often! But in the end, I’ve created something I love. It’s a simple concept, but I never tire of it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://marieparmer.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marie_parmer_art
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marie.m.parmer
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marieparmer/

Image Credits

Claire Daniels