Meet Doug Foltz

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

Doug, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I think we all know how important confidence is – in any pursuit. But in the creative fields – where many times you’re putting your intimate thoughts or feelings out there on public display – it become essential.

Certainly there must have been a conscious decision somewhere about what I could do to work on that – to loose my fear – but I really think its been an evolutionary thing for me… and it’s still going on. Getting past fear doesn’t mean you’re not concerned about how you or your work is going to be received… it just means that your driven by something you feel is more important.

My goal has always been to use my creative work to connect more deeply with other people – to share myself and my ideas in a way that encourages other to do the same thing. So… building the confidence to do that meant I had to first work to connect with myself… to develop my own belief that what I was doing had value – to me. I think that if you can get there… feeling like you’re being true to yourself, your expression, it’s easier to open up to the expressions of others.

Maybe that’s the key… being bold means working hard to connect with yourself in order to build the confidence to connect with others. Not working to change who you are, but working to become more of who you are.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’ve painted, drawn, and basically played in the visual world since childhood. And the natural world – particularly the coastal world – has always fed me… made me feel both uncomfortable and content, excited and still, big and small… all at the same time. I love that spread! Lots of room to explore not just the place, but myself in that place. So that’s what I do as a visual artist… and that’s why I paint and shoot what I do.

My studio is full of small bits of the natural world that sort of act as talismans… that take me to the places where I discover more about myself and how that “me” fits with everything else. I hope my work serves that purpose for others.

I create from a space I call SaltCrust Studios in Northwest Florida, and do a lot of work with galleries around the South and East, but I also do a lot of direct commission work. I love those opportunities… where I get to work as hard to directly know someone else as I do myself. I think I grow more – and do some of my best work – in those opportunities.

As much as I like exploring, one thing I’m certain of is the power of the arts to help us connect with each other in ways we otherwise wouldn’t, and so… I spend a lot my time, energy, and money supporting non-profits that further that exchange. I know that all I’ve ever given away in my life has come back to me in ways that make me infinitely better, so… I serve on a number of non-profit Boards and Advisories and share as much as I can – personally, and professionally.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Wow… just three? OK, one has to be just what we’ve been talking about – self connection and confidence. Explore everything, but start with yourself. Get comfortable with your own authority and energy first. Then look for opportunities to share.

I guess number two would be curiosity. Care as much about “why” as “what” and invest the energy to explore. I get as – probably more – turned on by process as I do the results. Oh, sure I care about the finished painting, the right shot, the happy client, but… if I discover something new and have to reboot along the way… I love that.

Lastly, I’d say learn to embrace your mistakes. Don’t fear them, in fact, it’s great to intentionally set out to make them. Be safe, but look for opportunities to do something you’ve never done before… learn from it.. and carry the good stuff forward.

The technical stuff… the skills, the knowledge, all the “facts” have to be a given – in any work – so work hard on that, but… in the end, if you can bring self-connection, curiosity and an energetic embracing of your mistakes to the mix… good stuffs gonna happen.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

None of us ever does anything alone, really… so yes, I’m always looking for people to explore with, to collaborate and create, with. Probably 25 years ago my studio was pretty isolated. That solitude has it’s advantages but I found pretty quickly that I needed the stimulation and excitement of being with other people to keep going.

The time alone to think and process is essential, but when I’m working with people that are willing to explore too, and to challenge me, and listen to me, and teach me… we all usually grow and we’re all usually happier. That’s the selfish part part of why I spend so much time and energy with the non-profit arts advocacies I do. Beyond a deep belief in their missions I get to connect with tons of magnificent, creative and energetic people.

I’ve worked as an architect, a designer, a teacher, painter, a photographer… and likely something else I haven’t quite discovered yet. And I have all those that have shared themselves with me – and who have allowed me to share – to thank for that rich journey. If anyone out there is interested in a little of that exploration and sharing… don’t be shy.

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