We recently connected with Rashida Bolden and have shared our conversation below.
Rashida, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I had a childhood filled with various artistic outlets but as I grew up I never looked at them as an avenue to pursue professionally. That is until I received a message from an old college friend asking if I would do makeup on a short film they were directing. It was my first time stepping into that role but once completed I knew, that is where I belonged. From there my career as a makeup artist blossomed. Throughout this time I would paint small pieces but never really shared them with anyone. However, one photo session I had resulted in a shot of the models face that was absolutely captivating and I thought “I NEED to paint her!”…so I did. It was that painting and sharing the image with friends that really gave me the courage to expand. I went from occasionally creating paintings for friends and family to commissioned work, shows and installations. its been a gradual yet totally fulfilling adventure and I’m so grateful to my support system within the art world.
Rashida, 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?
As a lover of beauty, I create an eclectic menagerie of fluid art. Whether commissioned or purely creative, my painting style finds its genesis through the free flow of paints. From there, they manifest themselves into a piece of art embodying surrealism, fantasy, and nostalgia.
Although makeup artistry in film & television has been my profession for years, I’ve been able to take my knowledge of mastering the rules and refine them in order to “break the rules” and create my own lane. My inspiration is often drawn from my childhood and growing up with a keen admiration for perfumes and the layering of scents. Like perfume, fluid art draws you in with an alluring eye-catching design (top notes), an enchanting fluidity that creates composition (heart notes), and an endearing foundation that aids in the cohesion of the work (base notes).
My specific form of painting does not rely solely on mediums such as acrylic paints, glazes, and resin. I’ve expanded my paintings to include if not fully be created with oils & solvent-based paints. These mediums are not regularly used (if at all) in the fluid world, but I’ve found a way to incorporate them into my art to make it unique and stand apart from the norm.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is having an immediate outlet to express dreams, thoughts and emotion. Fluid art has especially been therapeutic for me. I’ve been fortunate enough to regularly create art in my everyday job as a makeup department head in film and television. However, I often find myself limited because I do have a script or character direction that creates boundaries around how far my artistry can flow. Alternatively, with fluid art I can unleash and create whatever is on my mind. There are times when I’ll start a painting with a clear vision but realize halfway in the plot has been lost and the painting is taking a different form. Some artist might be troubled by this but I embrace it. I allow what I’m feeling or thinking of in the moment to take over and it never fails to amaze me how liberating the experience can be. Overall I look at being an artist as a collaboration between the creative and their mediums.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Initially I really leaned into painting as a productive pastime, but it turned into this empowering journey to show my friends, family and the world around me a different form of beauty. Each piece of art has a story, feelings and place in time that makes it unique and I’ve grown to love sharing that part of myself with the world. My greatest goal in this creative journey has been to allow my audience to tap into those spaces of nostalgia, fantasy and vulnerability along with me. Because although the art starts with my narrative, the collector will have one of their own. I’ve noticed that every painting evokes different emotions and thoughts for the individual viewing it. And I truly adore the joy and happiness that has been expressed from people viewing my art. I think the biggest compliment I received was from a couple that came to a show I had last year. The wife came to find me because her husband was actually frozen in front of a painting. At first I was confused, but I they went on to explain that he was colorblind yet absolutely captivated with the vibrancy of my art. Moments like those are what drive me to continue sharing my artistic journey!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bio.site/RashidaBolden
- Instagram: @_bythegreen_ , @colormyfacepro
