An Inspired Chat with Traci Combs

We recently had the chance to connect with Traci Combs and have shared our conversation below.

Traci, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Who are you learning from right now?
Oh well I feel like I am constantly learning from so many people in my life including my children, but this morning I think I am going to go with a 92 year-old master craftsman mentor of mine named Ira. About a year and a half ago, he introduced me to the art of stained glass. Having perfected the skill over the last 65 years, he wanted to pass along his love for it and his years of experience with it. I have been very blessed to get to learn alongside his patient and skilled heart and hand. It has allowed me to expand my creative skills as a professional artist, and my offerings to my clients and customers, and bring an unexpected joy to my life sharing a studio with another artist. It also has been wonderful to forge a friendship with someone who has years of wisdom to impart and I am soaking it up!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello…my name is Traci Combs and I am a professional artist. I specialize in paintings of all sizes from minis to extremely large commissioned pieces, photography, and sculpture. I work in oils, acrylic, and clay. I describe my style or tone as soothing + sophisticated, nurturing + nourishing. I love creating art that invites one to inhale and exhale deeply, calmly ponder life, and touches the body, mind, heart and soul.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I learned a lot of good things as a child and I am truly grateful for each of those virtues and qualities that were nurtured early on. But I would have to say that one unhelpful thing I learned and believed was that I did not have a voice and that it did not have value. That misnomer was reinforced by a few personally influential people in my adult years as well. It has been a journey to build a foundation of a new understanding and appreciation for what having a voice means and how to implement it. I have come to a place in my second half of life where I now believe in myself and know who I am and that my voice matters to people that matter in my life and to many that I may not have the privilege of personally meeting. It has been humbling and an honor to hear others share with me how they appreciate not only the sound of my voice but the words coming out of my mouth and my art. I sit with many people and hold space for them and their story. I have enjoyed walking into what I am called to do with my voice in helping lift others up and speak hope, healing and joy during this precious time and through my art. My art is my voice. And as I look back in my life to my childhood, my art was always my voice when I did not have one. I can say now that I am truly thankful for the journey.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I have had some pretty significant defining wounds in my life. However, the one I am going to touch on here is the loss of my 15 year old son, Jacob. Seven years ago, my son passed in a tragic accident that happened before my eyes as he was selflessly serving others. An incredibly beautiful soul and a true warrior, he approached life with fierce determination and an open heart. I grieve deeply and miss him terribly. But I also rejoice for the day when I will see him again. Until then, I continue to pursue healing this side of heaven in a variety of ways. Through different therapeutic modalities that I have had the privilege of walking through, I continue to face each day with new hope and healing. One of the most significant ways I heal is through my art. I create art for the purpose and healing of others, myself, and in honor of Jacob who encouraged me to put it out there again for the world. With his passing, I began painting more personally, and eventually professionally.With every paint stroke, I heal. With every stained glass piece I score, I heal. With every indention in clay I press, I heal. With every photo I snap, I heal. And with every piece I create for someone else to enjoy, it is an honor and blessing to my soul and brings yet a deeper layer of healing. I can hear Jacob’s voice every day that I create saying “Mom, you were made for this”.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Faith, family, healing hearts, and appreciation for the beauty around us. Faith flows through every fabric of my life and art, both process and purpose. My heart desires to share with others the peace and healing that I have received through Faith and also my appreciation for the beauty in Creation. My desire is for what I create to be nourishing and nurturing to the soul. A way for me to try to connect with others hearts and slow life down to breathe and heal.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
When I am in my studio, nature or traveling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tracicombsart.com
• Instagram: @tracicombsfineart
• Facebook: TheStudioAtTheBridge
• Other: Etsy: TraciCombsFineArt (being published this week)