Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Angélique Glennon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Angélique , thanks for taking the time to share your lessons with our community today. So, let’s jump right in – one of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. Where does your self-discipline come from?
My self-discipline developed unexpectedly, starting with exercise. Once I built discipline in that area, it gradually extended into other aspects of my life such as my art business. Growing up, I didn’t see myself as physically strong. I was often told I was fragile due to my aristocratic heritage on my father’s side, and I struggled with physical education. However, I was always aware of the importance of staying active and open to change.
In my early twenties, a friend encouraged me to start running, and it opened my eyes to a new sense of physical capability. Later, when I developed wrist pain, my doctor suggested weightlifting to strengthen my muscles. This simple recommendation led me to a profound discovery—weightlifting not only improved my health but also gave me mental clarity and focus. It became a core practice in my life, one that calmed my anxieties and sharpened my goals.
It’s a little bit like, as a young adult, I saw ‘not exercising’ as a threat to my health, but in a good way. That ‘invented threat’ made me want to exercise, and it had a stimulating effect. As I gained discipline through fitness, I noticed it was fueling my creativity. Ideas began to flow, and I became inspired to explore new ventures. This momentum carried over into my art and ultimately led me to start my jewelry business. The focus and discipline I learned from weightlifting translated into designing innovative pieces, learning the craft, and bringing a vision to life. It’s no coincidence that after gaining that self-discipline, I had the confidence to pursue my art business in France, as well as building my language business in America and continuing my art business here too. It’s as if I hopped on a train of discipline and never got off, and that inspiration and commitment have lasted my entire life. A key part of staying disciplined is having no addictions, which allows me to stay focused and keep moving forward in all areas of my life.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a visual artist who specializes in creating whimsical, conceptual, innovative jewelry designs on paintings. My art features three-dimensional, detachable jewelry pieces showcased on a matching oil or acrylic painting. These handmade pieces, such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, can be worn and are encased in a museum-quality plexiglass box. The owner can open the box and wear the jewelry or simply enjoy this unique artwork for its artistic value and the conversations that will unfold. Right now, I have 15 one-of-a-kind jewelry designs to choose from, and I am working on more.
My latest series is called Anjes (Pronounced: AhNg), rearranging the letters that make up the word “jeans”. The Jeans Series is a 24” x 24” wood panel oil painting that depicts part of the façade of the exterior stone wall of a house. It is adorned with light orange painted vine leaves coming around a whimsical wood and glass box representing a window below a small awning. Inside this window are seven pieces of jewelry. The ring, pin, and barrette can also be hung on display on the left side of the painting — much like hanging them from the wall of the house. It’s quite an entertaining three-dimensional piece!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
For me, the three areas that had the greatest impact were being courageous, being open, and finding my own purpose in service to humanity.
Be courageous. Trust life that comes at you with all its abundance: Let yourself have dreams. In French, we have this expression: “Il faut le rêve pour oser un pas de plus.” (One needs to dream to dare take one more step). You can be in fear but still take action on your dreams. As long as you have courage, you can do it. A difficult question for me has always been, “How can I do something new and make it work?”. I realized that we don’t always need to know exactly how to accomplish a certain task. We only need to see 30 feet ahead in any project — just like in life. Simply do whatever you really want to, and the rest will unfold as you progress. Even today, as I design each of my Newelry artwork pieces, I reach the point where I am not sure exactly how to make it come to life. One wrong step and it ruins it all. But I always persevere, and I am delighted with the outcome when it’s done. Courage and action are the keys!
Be open. While I cannot take every opportunity, it has been important for me to initially make a selection of what to pursue conformed to my tastes, values, and beliefs drawing from my upraising and education When I decided that I wanted to study painting, for example, I discovered that it was not working the way I had thought! My first painting just wasn’t very good! I could not do it in the way I had imagined. I had to respect the way painting is designed to work and not reinvent the wheel. I had to be open to how things are done before I developed my own style.
Everyone has a talent. Allowing yourself to discover it is your right. Just learn how to not get in your own way! Find your own “art.” Whether it is painting, a sport, a science, or a business that is important to you, it all comes down to mastering a certain “art” in the broad sense of the term. It works if you are personally involved in what you love in your life and it is something that really matters to you. Try many disciplines to find your own. Fuel your inspiration, listen to your intuition, and do what you are inspired to do. Let the passion for your “art” be your companion. You may need to change your disciplines along the way because things happen in your life that can modify your goals. But don’t forget that life should be a fun adventure where you feel powerful and free to create your best life.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
Being well-rounded is very important, and it is a school of thought that is widely accepted in Europe. I am in agreement with that. However, I think you should first consider your strengths and how much you “love” doing a certain activity or endeavor. Certain areas of life, such as exercise or nutrition, are vitally important in one’s life and may need attention. Otherwise, I don’t think that there is a need to dive deeply into areas of so-called weakness if you have no affinity for whatever it is. I am gratified that I have been able to develop my passion for art and bring beauty and joy to the world with my pieces, and I urge others to find what is important to them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.angeliqueglennon.com, www.speakitlikeanative.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angeliqueglennonfineart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angeliqueglennonfineart
Image Credits
ALEXANDRA DEFURIO
ALEJANDRO DOUEK
LYNSEY FORO
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