Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gene Wright. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Gene, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
During my first year at the University of Georgia in 1982, I was bogged down in the courses that were chosen for me to fulfill required courses for a degree in Business. I was bored and confused and didn’t really understand the objectives of these courses. This lead me to rethink my major, rethink my future, and to be curious about other options. One day, I found myself meandering towards the School of Art and before I knew it, I was inside the building and wandering the halls. Everything felt familiar and comforting and I was peaking in and out of classrooms. Finally, I peaked into a nude figure drawing class, and no one even looked up from their drawings. I was hooked. I had participated in various types of art classes in elementary school and high school but never considered art as a career. This day changed my life; and my major!
As my new art major progressed, I was pushed, by my professors, towards the unique major of Scientific Illustration. The University of Georgia was one of the few schools in the country that would offer this major of which I knew nothing about. However, I was intrigued by the requirements which was a student who had a deep curiosity of the natural world, a profound sense of patience and a desire to be precise in accuracy and detail in their drawings. This was me. The curriculum combines Art Illustration classes and Biology classes and would eventually lead to my successful application to graduate school to study Medical Illustration at the Medical College of Georgia where I found, not only my life purpose but also, my wife Allison and forever partner and motivator.
As we began our careers as Medical Illustrators in 1990, we eventually found our home in Athens Georgia where we raised our twin sons, Scholl and Lucas. Our careers found Allison as a medical Illustrator for the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and later as a County School Board member and eventually a current 4 term Athens Clarke County Commissioner and me as an Assistant Professor back at the University of a Georgia School of Art heading my old program of Science Illustration and ultimately being promoted to Associate and Full Professor and eventually leading the School of Art as the Director.
Teaching and leadership turned out to be my true calling as I flourished in the role for the next 30 years until retirement in 2022. During that time, I was able to return the favor of directing and enabling students into their careers as prominent medical and science illustration professionals. I’ve watched my students careers as they’ve navigated the profession and raised their own families. To be a part of their success has filled my heart and made me whole. And as career Medical Illustrators, Allison and I have published several Veterinary Illustrated Atlases, posters and patient educational materials. I’ve been a prominent leader in the Association of Medical Illustrators and the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators. And finally, as a Professor teaching in a UGA Studies Abroad Program, our family has traveled to Italy on multiple occasions to teach art and continue to mentor students. All of this is because I had the courage to peak into a figure drawing class and make a change that would lead to successfully finding my lifelong purpose.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
In 2022, I retired from the University of Georgia after 30 years of teaching Science and Medical Illustration. I was 58 years old and ready to begin a new phase of my life. My children were grown and beginning their careers and my wife Allison was on solid ground in her career as a County Commissioner and continuing to work as a medical Illustrator. I wanted something new.
So I decided to become an artist and adventurer! I had spent the last 40 years of my life illustrating science and medicine to the minute detail of accuracy and now I wanted a release from that obsessive compilation to be exact. Over the years, I had dabbled in sculpture and woodworking but never had the time to thoroughly investigate that creative interest. Working in wood has given me new life and has allowed me to continue in my desire to be an artist and now I can make objects without the requirement of accuracy and perfection. Working with wood also keeps me outside while working and playing in the environment that suits me the most. Nature has always been my calling, as a science illustrator and teacher, and enthusiast, I have been attached to the natural world in one way or another my entire life.
If I look back to when I was a child, I can credit my father as the person who introduced me to the natural world and whom taught me adventure and gave me courage to follow my dreams and be patient and confident with my decision making.
Now my days are filled with creating wood objects to be coveted and/or sold at arts festivals, renovating a late 1800’s railroad caboose and planning my next outdoor adventure. I adore natural resources and gain access to all of the wood by harvesting what Mother Nature has to offer in downed trees from family, friends and neighbors. I take pride in utilizing any type of wood that I can get my hands on and then finding unique aspects of that wood to make original rustic furniture and objects of visual interest. I’ve recently learned the new technique of wood bending and have since used that knowledge to make what I feel is my most. Successful piece of furniture to date.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
It’s very difficult to narrow down qualities to only three. When faced with this task, I immediately wrote down 6 qualities that have impacted my career and life choices. Those 6 qualities are Patience, Courage, Confidence, Observation, Awareness and Compassion.
Of all 6, I believe that patience is at the top of the list. Without patience, I would have never evolved into the creative and artistic human I am today. With patience comes failure and being willing to allow failure into the process. Without patience I would not have been able to manage the hugely diverse student population nor have the persistence of illustrating science and medicine to the minute of absolute detail. And now this patience continues in how I thoughtfully design new art pieces.
In my opinion, many people lack the necessary patience to enable success. A quick fix or a dramatic change is preferred over the pain of allowing life to play out. We all have built in tools of education, life experiences, instinct and awareness but many lack the confidence to use these tools to make informed decisions and having the patience to let those decisions play out in real time. Quality takes time.
Observation is second on my list of qualities. This obscure life hack is not just bound by sight but also instinct and awareness. Our sight allows us to view things as they are but our instinctive observation enables us to act and make decisions when the time is right. Waiting for the right timing takes an enormous amount of patience. To be aware of yourself and where you are in your life at any particular time is observational awareness. For me, observation has been a profound quality that has enabled more accurate and pleasing illustrations and furniture design, preferable timing of controversial statements in leadership, and advances in promotion.
In my opinion, many people aren’t aware of their internal observational skills. We all have those skill and some need to be trained to use those skills and use them at the right time. Knowing you have them is the first step. Be aware; look up and look down, not just straight ahead or backwards. Change perspectives, Take a walk, disconnect. This is how you improve your observation.
And lastly, the third quality would be courage. Success is daunting. To not have it, but to want it, and not know how to get, is terrifying. Patience and observation play a huge role in having the courage to work towards success. It takes courage to allow patience to have an opportunity to work. It takes courage to take the time to be aware and to observe your surrounding. To know that you are working towards a goal and that failure is a part of that journey. Having the courage to accept failure and turning that failure into knowledge is paramount.
I think courage is a difficult trait to possess. How do you know you’re doing the right thing or making the right decision? You don’t. Have the courage to trust your instincts, allow time to pass and use your awareness to assess when it’s time to adjust. This takes courage.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I can look back to many people in my life who have provided me with love, education and mentorship. Both my mother and father gave me unconditional love and encouragement while my father provided me with courage, confidence and curiosity and instilled my love of the outdoors. I developed my observational skills through training and I believe that I developed patience over a lifetime.
But there is yet one person that has truly been my hero and kept me focused and grounded in my life and career. My wife Allison has always been there for me and in support of whatever I was doing or trying to accomplish.
Allison gave me the confidence to speak up, to take risks, to finish and to lead. There is no chance, I would have reached the height of my success without Allison encouraging me, fighting me, leading me and loving me. No way.
Allow the people in your life to help. Allow them to inform and to educate and to critique and to criticize. And to love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.genewrightfineart.com
- Instagram: @genewrightfineart And @genewrightgene
- Facebook: @Gene.wright.927
Image Credits
Gene Wright
Allison Wright
Jason Thrasher
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
