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

Terese, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I think being a full time artist is perfect for my personality. I’m VERY sensitive to my surroundings and the crazier the world seems to get, the happier I am to be in my bubble of peace working from home. Sometimes I do miss the relationships and collaborations that typically form from working in an office. I’m also an extremely social being. But I thrive most on alone time. As long I make time to see my friends (which I do!) I’m in a good place.

You do have to be self motivated though. It would be easy to slack off! But I love the freedom to set my own schedule. I push myself hard at times and take breaks to restore my creativity when I feel it’s needed. The thought of a set schedule makes my stomach turn.

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 a contemporary abstract expressionism painter and acrylic is my medium of choice. I first started painting as a profession over 25 years ago when I was living with my now husband, Ian, in Edinburgh Scotland, his native country. But I only really had one foot in it until my dad passed away in 2015. That changed my entire look on the world and made me reprioritize what was important to me.

It still took some years after that to really find my footing, build a clientele and experiment with my style. I’ll always constantly experiment with new techniques but I love that people can recognize my style without knowing it’s me. Someone once saw a piece of mine through the window of a design studio in another city and reached out to me to say they could tell it was mine! I love that!

What sets me apart is probably my ability to combine stillness and movement using colors of softness and strength at the same time. Many people have said they feel like they are floating when looking at my paintings. That’s probably why Apothecary Atl, a local CBD store, asked to put my art on some of their labels! It’s actually a pretty perfect partnership.

I’m most proud of the demand for my work that I’ve built. There’s almost always at least a 9 month wait for my commissions. And when I release a piece that doesn’t have a home yet, half the time there is someone already waiting to have first dibs. Usually a new piece is sold within 2 weeks of releasing it, sometimes within 24 hrs!

Even though it has always really bothered me that it takes a long time for me to finish a new piece, I’ve learned to look at it in a different way. I equate it to a fine wine. I can’t just can’t rush it! I probably spend more time staring and studying a piece to decide what it needs than actual painting.

Another thing I’m extremely proud of is coming up with my giclée hybrids. One day I was looking at a canvas giclée of mine and thought it would be better if I changed something on it. Next thing I knew, I had turned it into an entirely new painting! Thus…the hybrid was born.

My originals are an investment and this opened the door to make my art more accessible to more people. It also lets me add in new releases to be available sooner. The bones of a piece are already in place so I can build around it. I want my art in homes of people who really love it, not just ones with bigger wallets.

I fully appreciate those who only want a piece that is 100% original from start to finish. But I also see tremendous value in my hybrids. Each one truly is unique and I use a company that I pay more for a higher quality giclée. It really was a game changer adding this for my clients.

It was my dad’s death that nudged me to commit to being a full time artist but it’s my mom’s love of my art that keeps me going. She is hands down my biggest fan! I send her pics every week of things I’m working on and I can hear the pure joy in her voice when she calls me to discuss them. She’s 82 and I know that I will feel connected to her when I’m painting for the rest of my life.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I was watching CBS Sunday Morning (I love that show!) about a deceased artist’s work that was being restored long after they were gone. A lightbulb went off that had me imagining my art all over the world a hundred years from now! My husband and I only have one child and she joked once that she wasn’t having kids. I remember thinking, “Oh shit, will that be the end of my legacy?!”

Thinking of all my paintings out in the world long after I’m gone kind of like kids somehow comforted me! So now I don’t care as much whatever she decides. If she doesn’t, I’ll adopt a million animals and find some kids that need a granny figure in their life and smother them.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Not forcing things is a constant thing I’m trying to unlearn. Maybe I’m more naturally prone to moving forward but I’ve learned that pausing, stepping back and trusting in the natural timing of things is absolutely vital!

I did a pop up event years ago that I ran myself completely ragged prepping for and came home really defeated after only a couple small sales. I promised myself that day I would never push myself that hard again for anything art related. It’s why I refuse to give a date for finished pieces today. And when prepping for an event, I remind myself of that event and only bring pieces that don’t kick my ass to create!

I now wholeheartedly trust in the timing of things in my world. That did NOT come easily but my husband and I have lived through enough twists and turns in life to feel that one in our bones now. If a piece doesn’t sell right away, I set it aside, rework it when I feel up to it and 100% of the time it immediately sells.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.teresemyoung.com
• Instagram: @teresempaintings
• Facebook: @teresempaintings
• Linkedin: Terese Meshanko Young

Image Credits
Billie Hilliard