We were lucky to catch up with Michelle (ML) Huff recently and have shared our conversation below.
Michelle (ML), appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Creativity to me is exploration and experimentation. My work has been an experiment for almost 20 years and to this day has so many more avenues I have yet to take. Saying that alone makes me want to stop working on this interview and try something I have been thinking about for a while but just now figured out how to make it work. So, it’s easy to understand that the creativity extends way beyond the brush being on the canvas. Therefore, for me, creativity is never dead.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Hello, my name is Michelle, I sign my work as ML Huff. I was born in Iowa, moved to Oregon in 1987, then to TX in 1992 where I have resided in the Houston area ever since. I have my daughter and her family nearby which I love and makes it easy for me to see my grandson whom I care for 2 days a week. He is my pride and joy. My partner Tracy and I live in our home in the suburbs where my home studio is.
My journey? I remember the days sitting on our family room sectional with my mother after my brothers were off to school and how pleased it would make her when we would color together and her teaching me how to stay within the lines, coloring in one direction. I felt so special feeling I was good at something and the joy it gave us both. So of course, it was pursued and then known it was a path I wanted to continue on. As I did all through school and high school, taking all the art classes I could. It’s a cute childhood fantasy that most adults are good at squashing when it comes to making it in the real world as I did trying to pursue a business degree instead of the “useless” art degree as I began to believe. Needless to say, that didn’t stick, and I was fortunate to hop on the “runaway train” with my parents when they moved from Oregon to Tx where I was intent on making this passion a hobby. I worked, met my daughters’ father and married for 7 yrs. In those years, I used my few skills to provide extra income painting murals, working with designers, creating faux finishes and whatever was needed artistically. I loved the challenge and learned so much. After my divorce, I continued using those skills as additional income to my 9-5. As helpful the work was financially, creatively I began to get bored and started having the desire to create original works on canvas.
Creating canvas works put me on a different side of the artworld with different goals and rules so once again I am a student and still a student. Showing my original work with Blossom Street Gallery for the 1st time, selling it that 1st night made it all make sense, the stars align so to speak, so from then on out it was something I knew I would remain a part of some way somehow.
One of those ways was co owning and running a gallery for a year in Kingwood called Watson Huff Galleries. Another was organizing pop up shows in The Woodlands, Houston, Galveston and Austin. But always requiring it to be a side gig, not a full-time gig.
It wasn’t until the “Pandemic Push” in 2020 that I became a full-time artist, with the full-time artist mindset. Slowing down and being guilt free to do art gave me the needed patience and freedom to practice, play, and experiment with my style. When it came time for the world to reopen back up, I had accumulated quit a large body of work that both my partner and I agreed needed to be displayed and sold if liked. Therefore, she took on the responsibilities while I began displaying my work in some pop-up shows, in a day spa, a bed and breakfast, and a few galleries where it seemed like the response was positive. We then had the opportunity to occupy a studio gallery in the Winter Street Studios at Sawyer Yards Art Complex in April of 2022. It was a dream come true until Dec. 20 2022 when an explosion was set in one of the studios in our building and caused up to 100 artists their lively hoods and business space. My work was salvaged and cleaned of soot but we have been out of our studios, unable to show and sell our work for the last 8 months while they get our section ready for occupancy. In fact, we were just notified by management of our ability to return this coming September. With all of the insecurities and emotions this incident brought on, I am still hopeful for a successful return to the artworld where I continue to be that willing student.
As far as my work, I feel it is a very unique style I have developed through my background in faux finishes yet I am not naive enough to think that I am the only artist using or to have used this technique and style. I am just happy to offer something different in my area and not taught in school.
I paint abstract portraits and figurative images on wood canvases that I build. I apply layers of paint, textures and pastels to achieve soft yet inviting expressions to open the viewers’ curiosity of the emotions intended. With the venetian plaster effect, I am able to achieve many different abstract layers to play on. As some works can be bright and colorful, others are more monotone. Some that bring out the pareidolia effect where you see faces and characters within the image that might seem busy yet give you reason to sit and stare at for days and still find something new. While other works that takes one glance to instill a strong intended emotion. I love the versatility my style provides and intend on discovering each and every way possible to evolve with it. I hope you stay tuned for that continued journey and I look forward to seeing everyone again in the NEW Winter Street Studios – Studio B110 September 2023!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Honestly the journey is educating me as I go. I don’t feel like there is a map for artists to follow, as much as we all like to look for one. And there are so many different routes artists can take with different rules so I would say the most impactful piece of knowledge would be to Relax, develop your skill. If you remain true to yourselves and your work, you will be led in the direction you are meant to go. When you get there, spend the time needed learning the rules of the game until you are led in another direction. As long as you are moving, you are succeeding.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
I can honestly say that my partner, Tracy has given me the confidence and support to pursue my passion for creating without expectation these last several years. Trusting the love and putting aside the expectation is what I needed to focus as an artist. I have learned to not expect much from the artworld and accept the positive when it comes but its rare to have someone support and accept those low expectations and trust solely on just your passion.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sawyeryards.com/tenant/ml-huff-designs
- Instagram: @mlhuffdesigns
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleLHuffArtist
- Other: Process Videos and content: https://www.tiktok.com/@mlhuffdesigns For prints and merchandise go to; https://mlhuffdesigns.redbubble.com
Image Credits
Myself and my partner, Tracy L. Overbay
