Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nila Jane Autry. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Nila Jane, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
Heartfelt commitments change your soul. Although I was 20 years into my Art Teaching career, I hadn’t yet experienced much success showing or selling any of my artwork. I created art with my students all through the years and no one was more excited to open the kiln than I was because I always had a project getting fired. I found that creating art and having something to put in the kiln kept me excited to get to work every morning, and opening the kiln was like Christmas…sometimes disappointing, but always filled with anticipation. My yearbook quote as a teacher: “I come to work and play all day.” was verily, true. I loved what I was doing with my students. Yes, there were occasional hard days, but mostly, teaching art was just fun. A lot of work, but really fun.
Committing to learning the art of Marketing, and making art with the intent to sell it came hard for me. First of all, I didn’t realize it was all up to me to market my artwork. I somehow thought someone would discover me and it would all just happen. Naive I know! Now. So here’s what happened. My home, the tiny town of Grantsville Utah is famous for their yearly sociable where they celebrate the founding of our community. It’s been an ongoing party for longer than any town that the Prophet Brigham Young inspired. He is famous for sending out young couples to start new settlements. And then He suggested a grand celebration every year to review their history and remember their founders. As far as I know, no other settlement has continued with the celebration. I was asked to display my artwork as a new member of the community. Of course I said yes and displayed a few paintings. As part of my display I typed up a Mission Statement, although I wouldn’t have called it such a name way back then. I simply said that I love to create Oil paintings, and am making a lifetime commitment to do whatever it takes to learn everything I could about painting and get better and better… Well, that little Mission Statement took root. Even though I love to create any type of art, I intuitively knew I needed to focus on Oil painting.
Art is one of those genres that requires the creator to put it out there in the public before it’s any good. So, friends, don’t discourage budding artists, simply because, even you can see it’s not really all that good. Putting your work out there before you’re really ready is like gathering feedback from your community, friends and even your enemies. As we fail we learn. There is not actual progress without failure. And so, I created and toiled and learned how to market my work without selling hardly anything for several years. But I couldn’t stop creating. and eventually, as I spent a lot of money on workshops, and many many miles of brushstrokes later…
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I was a Junior in High school before I took my first art class. All my art credits up to that point were in the music department. I was apprehensive as I walked into the class, and hoped my best friend, who was so good at art, would not sit by me. I was that girl who loved to look at artwork and was enthralled and amazed as I looked at artwork created by her, and other peers, but I didn’t even doodle. And if I did I quickly hid it from anyone’s view. Yes, like almost all third graders, I compared my work with the best in the class and was embarrassed. I shouldn’t have been, but that is the age of comparison, and figuring out where you fit in society. That being said, as a high school girl, I made a personal commitment to ignore my mean girlfriend, and learn all I could. I still get goosebumps when I remember Mr. Max Durrant and all the tools he gave me. Up to that point I knew I wanted to be a school teacher. My dad was a music teacher. But I didn’t wanna teach music…no way! Especially beginning. Ouch! Art! Yes! I loved it…kids were quiet as they concentrated on their art, and the results were always interesting. Looking at a piece of artwork is like looking into the artists soul…even simple stuff. So my journey to become an Artist and an Art Teacher began. I never looked back. I had found my calling in life. That’s what it’s all about…finding out who you really are and having the courage to pursue your dreams in spite of naysayers. Yes, there were plenty of those!!!
Having a dream is an ongoing process…once you’ve realized a portion of your dream you begin working on the next step. Dreams are the fuel, goals are the daily tasks and the actions that will get you there. The dream cannot be forced on you. It is like a revelation from God. No one can take it from you unless you allow them to and if it is really your calling, you’ll come back to it again and again. Life is hard, there are a lot of road blocks.
I’m still a teacher…although I’ve retired from the public school system and am now doing what I love full-time. Every Wednesday evening my home becomes a classroom, and it fills up with beautiful courageous people who haven’t given up on their dream to create beautiful artwork. The local Arts Guild also provides a lot of support to my venture. Together we spend Tuesday evenings either painting on location (Plein Air), or studying figure drawing. Art is like that, you can always improve and become better so we keep at it. Each day I work really hard on all the marketing and other non-artistic tasks so I can spend the rest of my day, usually into the night painting. A painting isn’t finished until it’s found a home. That was a new and emotional experience for me, to realize that was part of the process. Earlier in my career, it felt like I was selling my kid…but something has changed. I want to enrich, enliven and brighten up the walls of your home. I paint for you.
Oil paint is my favorite medium. As a school teacher I’ve used and mastered a lot of mediums, but that first high school class was about oil painting and now I’ve come full circle. I’m working on a Pollinator series, adding little bugs to my flower paintings. I’m having so much fun! I also have a number of religious and spiritual paintings on my bucket list.
What sets me apart from others? Well, art is so diverse and personal. Everyone has the potential to be an artist and every single art work will have it’s own voice. What sets me apart is the gentle deliberate strokes that can make a flower petal look so delicate and real. I don’t stop until it’s real. I honor each nuance as I paint. It’s evident that I love what I do and I love those for whom I create. Courage and vulnerability sets me apart. My own style sets me apart. If you don’t like my work there are a ton of people who do. Go find your artist!
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Courageous and shy at the same time? Yes, that’s who I am. The two terms seem contradictory, an oxymoron. I long for that zone, that quiet focus that comes with painting. Marketing my work was and is a conscious decision. Workshops specific to marketing helped me understand that I need to share my dreams, my creations, and my gifts with others and allow what I create to bless their lives. Seriously, I’m not in it for the money, but I do understand the value in my work. When people buy art they buy the artist. There’s so much more in an artwork than just the surface image. There is a huge sacrifice of time, effort and tears. There are numerous failed attempts, and lots of workshops, gallery strolls, artist critiques, late nights, early mornings and spiritual intuitions within each creation…my reputation is based on my stories, and my connections. I long to make lasting friendships with my collectors and other artist friends. It’s all about people after all. I couldn’t do this without the help of so many other artists, supporters and art lovers. Social media is a powerful tool, but most of my current success comes from Art Festivals and Art Shows. That is where I meet people face to face and develop lasting relationships.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Most emerging artists don’t know how good, (or not good) their work is until they get out of their studio and go visit other artist venues. The art world is all about getting out of your comfort zone and studying other artists at work, their processes, they’re creations, and yes, stealing ideas all along the way. That is what fuels creativity. Insecurity, and a need to stay positive and motivated kept me from being courageous. I was terrified of the discouragement that followed a nasty critique or a rejected artwork. I was so self conscious about my work I couldn’t even ask someone for a critique. I assumed that someday someone would discover my amazing plethora of paintings and decide I was amazing. Ha ha. Then, as art school teachers, we decided to load up the school van and take our students to see other artists work at the local Gallery Stroll. Viewing the work in galleries I had a beautiful ah-ha moment. Still, tears well up in my eyes as I think about that revelation…”I’m just as good as these people who are brave enough to put they’re artwork out there!” Then and there I vowed to learn how to be resilient and brave, humble, teachable, vulnerable and approachable. I can do this!
Contact Info:
- Website: nilajaneautry.com
- Instagram: @nila_jane_autry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EternalOilsbyJane
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nilajaneautry
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
All photos taken by me.