We recently connected with Renée Crouser and have shared our conversation below.

Renée, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

My father recognized a natural talent early in my life. He encouraged my interest in drawing by throwing every medium he could at me. Dad never asked me to choose one, so I used and loved them all. Graphite is my base, almost always my starting point, but I’ve “drawn” with every medium I use as far back as I can remember. I’m a self taught artist, if there were a way to change my experience, I feel I would have benefited from an education in art. and would have started my creative career sooner. I won’t call it regret, I’ll call it a missed desire.

Renée, 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?

All my life I’ve created art, for pleasure, for gifts, for others, but never as a career. In 2008 I retired from my 9 to 5 job in medical administration to care full time for my father in-law, who’d been diagnosed with cancer. It allowed me time for art daily so painting became my sanity in an emotional time. In that time, I’d built up quite an inventory. By early 2014 I was introduced by chance to Andy Davis, a successful local artist that had recently relocated his studio to a building that included studio space for multiple artists. Andy Davis died that year but with his invitation to join him he left me with a studio, an art family, and a career. I call it divine  intervention and I’m so very grateful. I consider myself a portrait artist. That’s what it usually comes to. A portrait of a person, a flower, an animal. I enjoy the intimacy of getting to know the details of someone’s (or something’s) face. I believe I’m most proud of the variations in my work. I used to try very hard to develop one particular style because I thought that was expected of a true artist. As I matured in my work, I realized that variation was my brand. I think in charcoal or in watercolor, acrylic, graphite like others would think in Spanish, English, or Greek. They’re all languages but not the same.

I admire artists who have a specific message to share and are successful but I create my art to solely evoke an emotion. I get a lot of joy standing in the background of an exhibit, listening to different impressions my work has on the viewer. The more diverse, the more successful it makes me feel.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

It has taken most of my professional career to call myself an artist. Because i am self taught, I’ve felt less than. Without professional training, I’ve told myself that I shouldn’t consider myself a professional However, as my work matured, I realize that no one’s work should be put in comparison to others in that way. Art comes from the heart and soul in many forms. You put your time in with dedication. Because my journey is a self taught artist, I find myself in great company like Frida Kahlo, Thornton Dial, John Kane and so many others. Not in their greatness but in the fearlessness. I am an artist.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of this profession is impossible to describe. It’s a calling fulfilled, a place to go, it’s therapy. Being creative is a way to express oneself through hard work. It’s discipline, luck, and a gift to those who want to receive it. I tend to react to the canvas more than plan each step. The thrill of answering the question “what if I…” in my work is worth the risk even if the end result is not always successful. It’s not a failure, it’s an idea that didn’t work out but taught me something.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: drcrouserart
• Facebook: Renee Acker Crouser
• Other: I regret that my website is down to be updated (there is information on reneecrouserart when Googled).

Image Credits
Anna Nething Nhi Ho