We recently connected with Tiffany Reid and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tiffany thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

Sometimes I wished I had started my professional creative journey sooner because it makes me so happy and I felt lost when I was younger. However, if I had been a young artist, I never would have learned about myself along the way. In my opinion, it takes years of seeking what is unfound, thrusting yourself into the world of possibility, experiencing heightened emotions, appreciating peaceful evocation, and overall gaining life experience to truly make art that matters to oneself. The viewer will ultimately connect to your art because they feel your emotion. You have to know how to express yourself in a vulnerable way. When I was young, I was too immature to understand that so I think my art would have been artificial and unfeeling.

In addition, I gained so much experience in the corporate world which really contributed to my success. There are so many talented artists hiding their paintings in the basement because they don’t have the sales background or courage to get their art out into the real world. I feel very fortunate that I have such a thick skin from sales to be able to handle the level of rejection that goes on. I know that my art appeals to a very special group of people and not everyone will enjoy it. It is a matter of numbers, conversations, marketing, and follow up that really makes the difference. You have to be tenacious, a hustler, and passionate about your own work. You have to be your own advocate! I don’t think I would have been like this if I had started selling my work in my 20’s.

Tiffany , 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?

I am a Canadian contemporary abstract artist. Being from the Pacific Northwest and experiencing the dramatic weather in the area such as cold winters and sensational storms, my work is heavily inspired by the currents of the ocean that serve to guide the weather, as well as the gravity of nature that one feels so strongly. As such, my paintings contain a compelling evocation of the delicate balance of chaos and order, as can be found in weather and earth systems. I also emphasize the natural connection between the heart of man and the forces of nature.

My art career really began with my husband and daughter who encouraged me to pursue painting. It is really their story I would like to share with you which led me on this journey….

My husband and I fell in love under incredible circumstances. He had lost his wife to a tragic battle of breast cancer at the young age of 33 leaving behind a beautiful little girl. Lyla was only 2 years old when we first met and naturally my heart broke into a million pieces. They both captured my heart from the beginning but it was not an easy journey. It was a decided choice to pursue happiness… It would have been easy to fall into that pit of despair but Corey was resilient and determined. We fell in love after friends convinced us that we were meant to be. After many cocktails and a really terrible Elvis impersonator show, we were smitten. That was the easy part. There were still many mixed feelings of grief and guilt. One of the biggest hurdles I had to overcome was being an insta-mom to a 4 year old. Parents, you know what I am talking about. Tantrums, sleepless nights, nightmares, picky eating…..it all hit me like a ton of bricks. And nurturing did not come to me organically….. What did I sign up for? I went from the indulgent single life (eating doritos out of my belly button and sleeping in whenever I wanted) into full steam motherhood! But Lyla had the ability to melt your heart with her sweet “I love you”s and morning snuggles. Despite everything they had been through, their love was bigger than their grief and through love and patience, we became a family.

Lyla and I grew especially close through art. She taught me that art has no limits. She was wildly creative and free spirited. While I was teaching her to grow up, she was teaching me to be a child again. That is when my art really flourished. Through the sharing of wild ideas, storytelling, snuggles, laughter and painting, we created our own special relationship. She helped me free my artistic side and show me my true self. My art is often inspired by connecting to the inner child and enjoying the simpler things in life that bring us day to day happiness and fulfillment. Who said art had to be dark and moody?

Corey gave me the courage and confidence to dream big. He thought I was truly talented and believed in me so much. He encouraged me to take BIG steps in my art career, pushing me to take courses, enter contests and apply to galleries. In 2019, I was honoured to be represented by the Agora Gallery in New York City.

Corey and I got married in 2017 and I adopted Lyla immediately. It was not how I thought I would become a mother but I wouldn’t change anything. I am so ridiculously proud to be a momma to Lyla. I am so in love with these two amazing human beings. It has been a wild adventure and I can’t wait to see what comes next. Welcome to my family and my life.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had terrible imposter syndrome. I truly admire so many artists out there and feel sometimes that I am not good enough. We are our own worst critiques. I had to stop comparing myself to others. I was always taught to be humble, not to be a show off, wait your turn, and to not take anything that wasn’t offered to you. I really had to unlearn all of this because I was the only thing that was holding myself back. If I don’t believe in myself, then who will?? You need to toot your own horn, blow your own trumpet, boast about your successes, relish in your triumphs because no one will ever know that your talents exist if you keep them a secret. Dreams don’t just fall into your lap….you have to chase them. No one will do that for you. My lesson to anyone who has a gift to share with the world, TOOT! (I mean your horn that is).

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

As an abstract artist, many people ask me “What is it?”. I always laugh because it’s not a tangible thing or object that you may expect. My art normally derives from feelings or experiences. So no, it is not an apple or rain or a landscape….my art is feeling splattered on to a canvas with beautiful colour and composition. It is usually the story behind the art that makes it all come to life. For instance my last show, Unbreakable was about courage told through the power of abstract art .Through metals and textures, my hope is to inspire you to have the strength of metal. Magnetic, malleable, electric and brilliant you will find the stories presented through me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tiffanyreidart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffanyreidart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiffanyreidart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-reid-5839121bb/?originalSubdomain=ca

Image Credits
Eva Grace Photography; Felicia Chang Photography