We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Naomi Clark-Turner. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Naomi below.
Naomi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
Originally from England, I have lived in the US since 2002. It was only when I moved to the US that I decided to seriously start painting and found a class at a local arts center. The class instructor, Karl Kuerner III, was more of a mentor, who gave us direction, but most importantly, gave us the freedom to choose what we wanted to paint and what medium to use.
As most people know, having a teacher, or instructor, who knows how to inspire and give you confidence, is probably the single most important thing when you are learning a craft. I have never forgotten his words of wisdom, which I often use now, to help my own students in class to relax and get comfortable: “Just by picking up a brush or a pencil you are an artist.”
Understanding that learning to paint and draw is a never-ending journey and that we are all fellow creatives from the get-go, is amazingly liberating.
Naomi, 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?
I have been painting and drawing since I could hold a crayon, My parents were accomplished, amateur artists, working in watercolors and oils, who encouraged me to draw and paint. At age 12, I did my first oil painting of a horse, for a school art exhibition.
Although I loved art, I did not study it at college and instead, went on to achieve graduate and doctoral degrees in biochemistry that took me into a career in the pharmaceutical industry. Art was still important to me but not something I could spend a lot of time on while working full-time and raising a family.
In 2002, a work opportunity allowed me to bring my family to the US where we settled in Chadds Ford, PA (home to Andy Wyeth) and I started learning more about painting with watercolors, a skillset I had initially learned from my father. As I progressed I was invited to show my work at local art events and galas, selling a few pieces.
I eventually took early retirement in 2018 and in 2019 we moved full-time to St Michaels in Maryland. Once there I joined the St Michaels Art League and began to get involved with the group. I really enjoyed the demonstrations we had and also started taking classes from the instructors at the Academy Art Museum in Easton, expanding my skillset into oils and pastels. During Covid, I discovered my love of drawing, especially portraits in graphite and charcoal, using online classes and reference materials.
Six years on and I am an established artist, participating in juried and non-juried art shows and exhibits, as well as being a teacher at the Academy where I learned my skills. What sets me apart is the unique combination of strengths I bring to everything I do: honesty, love, perseverance, curiosity and especially my love of learning. I love variety and constantly feel the need to try new things, new media, new approaches in my artwork and to learn skills and techniques from other great artists.
About 3 years ago I was juried into the Working Artists Forum, based in Easton and shortly after that was asked to take on the role of Vice President which I have been doing for 2 years. Later this year I will be proud to step into the role of President, with oversight of our two prestigious art events: Local Color, in conjunction with the Avalon Foundation’s Plein Air Easton competition and the Working Artists Forum Art Show in partnership with the Waterfowl Festival. I am honored to be taking on this leadership role for what is one of the Eastern Shore’s most prestigious art groups.
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?
Some people might wonder why I chose to study science and to spend my entire working life in the pharmaceutical industry, before becoming an artist.
Some of it was driven by the choices I had to make in the British educational system at age 16, but in all honesty, it speaks to my diverse interests and my mixture of left brain/right brain abilities. I love puzzles, logic, science and data, but I also love music, art, and all types of crafts. It also reflects that I recognized life as an artist doesn’t always pay the bills. Taking up art in retirement has allowed me to wherewithal to learn the skills I needed, to build up an inventory and to become recognized as an artist.
And while I loved doing my old job, I also reached a point where I needed to step away and at that time I remembered how time spent drawing and painting gives me energy, peace and a sense of purpose.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
I grew up in a small village in the British countryside and had limited exposure to art books, art courses and art exhibitions. I loved art at school, but there was little in the way of opportunity to grow or practice my artistic skills outside of school hours. I am so lucky that my mother and father loved to paint and also bought books on painting techniques and works by old masters. I still have many of those books today and enjoy looking at them and learning from them.
And now, there are so many resources available to me now that were just not around when I was younger. Artists are spoilt for choice now with access to all the free YouTube videos and online courses that exist today. My newest technical accomplishment is working out how to film myself painting and posting it to social media.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.naomiclarkturner.com
- Instagram: nclarkturner
- Other: Daily Paintworks – hosted website: https://www.naomiclarkturnerart.com