We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nila Jane Autry a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Nila Jane, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?
Probably the most crucial self-care I indulge in is a simple exercise video by Denise Austin called “Pilates for Everybody.” It’s 45 minutes long. And how did I get that committed you ask? It wasn’t easy.
First, as a kid in high school I made fun of people out running. Why would I do that? Cuz my friends did. And then there were my sisters. I’m the oldest of 10 children, with 5 sisters and 4 brothers. For some reason my sister, the third child, loved to exercise and she would sit out on the front lawn watching for boys to drive by while doing exercises. Soon us other sisters started joining her. It was a lot more fun than just sitting on the porch watching for the boys.
Running became very fashionable while I was in High school, so I tried it a couple of times. Then I took off for College. Karen invited me to go running with her one night. I figured it would be fun so I went. I returned home huffing and puffing like an old lady! Even though my roommate didn’t continue running I went rain or shine, snow or sleet, and all by myself most of the time. I thought I was already getting enough exercise because I worked hard from dawn to dusk everyday, and dropped into bed completely exhausted. Exercising began to make a difference. I was more cheerful, more attractive, and more ambitious when starting my day with a run. I flirted more, and made new friends. So run run run I did!
In 1981 I was hired to teach art at Ft.Thomas Arizona. It was August, and I was hired a week before school started, over the phone. I found a home in a spare bedroom in the Holyoaks little single wide trailer. And then I went for a run one early morning. In Arizona. In August. I showered, and was still hot. I drank ice water. I was still hot. I just couldn’t cool down. That’s what stopped me. “I guess I don’t run anymore!” I said it out loud to myself, and that was the end.
I have an incredible love story…but that’s for another time. I married a cute boy I met in Arizona, we had 6 children. I got soft and fluffy. Those same sisters rescued me from myself. We had an annual ‘Sisters Party’ to celebrate all our birthdays at one time. We made many many memories over the years, but the most life changing was in my Pottery Classroom while we played in the clay. Shanna, sister #5 mentioned she didn’t want to come to our sisters party. “You are all married but me, and all you ever do is talk about your husbands. I feel left out.” So we made a secret pact, the rest of us, and begged her to come. We spent the entire day and evening talking about whatever Shanna wanted to talk about. Health! What’s good for you, what to eat, which herbs to use for what, and which exercises we should do and on and on it went. I listened attentively, as long as I could. Then, needing something to distract me, I began drawing a picture of a vase of roses my husband had given me for my birthday, I ended up painting the drawing and it was later gifted to my daughter.
Then it got more personal and I became the center of interest. “Why don’t you run anymore Jane?”
“You do what? You get up at 5:00 am so you can do laundry and dishes before you go to work to teach school at 7:00 am?”
“Well, you could save the dishes and laundry for after school and exercise in the morning?” The suggestions just kept on coming. And my excuses were gently removed as fluff. It finally sunk in.
I started with a very gentle Yoga workout that took me 20 minutes. And I still did the dishes and rotated the laundry in the morning before work, I just got up 5 minutes earlier…and then 10 minutes earlier, and then it was 4:30 every morning. Forever! Well, not quite. I graduated to more vigorous exercises, and started feeling better and better. And looking healthier. I’m 66 now, and the exercise routine is essential! I don’t teach school anymore as I am now retired, so I don’t have to get up so early, but my day always starts with a workout. I keep it really simple. I workout in my basement. I don’t get dressed up and go somewhere. That just adds so much time, and time is of the essence. I don’t get all creative and try new things anymore. I’ve found what works and love how it makes me feel.
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?
Unashamedly ambitious…hmmm. I try to do it all. There are three things I love love love to do. Garden. Oil Paint. Viola. When I’m gardening, I can’t wait to get inside and practice my viola, and then when I’m practicing I can’t wait to get down to my Art Studio to my oil painting. Sooo, as you can tell my first love is Oil Painting. The only thing that stops me is nodding off from exhaustion. And I do have family and friends to fit in between the cracks.
I also help run a nonprofit Arts Guild, which is essential to my well being. Artists desperately need other artists. Even though as artists we often work alone, the business of Art requires a lot of socializing and networking.
Art Festival season is here. You can connect with me and my Oil Paintings online, but also at Arts Festivals around Utah. Visit my website, sign up for my newsletter, and come meet me!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Skill 1. Bouncebackability – Any business venture carries with it a great deal of risk. In particular, an Artist must put themselves out there before they are ready, and will receive little recognition at first. Many attempts to develop authenticity and the needed adulation will not happen right away. Only through repeated failures will you succeed. I suppose that is true in any business.
Skill 2. Consistency in creating art, marketing your art, being a lifelong learner of the arts is required. We all have ups and downs, and must learn how to return to our goals and dreams. The emotional rollercoaster won’t quit, but you can quit letting it stop you. I coined a phrase as a young adult that I still use today. ‘Study the lows, and celebrate the highs.’ This means that you can trace your thoughts back to that particular thought that started the downward spiral that leads to depletion and discouragement. So, ponder on and study the lows. Journal about them. Write those thoughts out, and then systematically destroy them. It’s quite therapeutic to write in a paper journal, and then paint over those negative thoughts and create a beautiful piece of art. That’ll squash em! Another option is to burn the rant. Beauty can rise from ashes. Burn it symbolically from physical existence in both your mind and your journal. Create your own ‘Mantra’ that will help you power through. Mine is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, or loves me, or whatever superlative comes to mind. Create your own. It will see you through any tough situation.
Skill 3. Faith in yourself, your personal power, and your purpose will shore you up. Faith in your support system is critical. Do not be afraid to ask for help. Find those people who believe in you. As an artist my membership in the ‘Tooele County Arts Guild’ is foundational. Find your fortress, and serve those around you. See your business as a service, and an opportunity to discover new friends and to bless the lives of others. It’s not only about you. Be a light to those around you. Encourage others. Cheer for their victories, even if you haven’t had any.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Collaboration is key. I’m always looking for people who not only love what I do, but also have something I need, such as an office space they need to decorate, or a gift they need for a friend. I’m not a trained interior designer, but if you are, we could SO collaborate! Or whatever you do, dear reader. Can we collaborate? And create some synergistically awesome amazing wonders together? Encouraging you and you encouraging me is how it works. Networking is a boring word, but it might mean the same thing.
Maybe something you say or do can help me solve my life challenges…maybe something I do or say can help you solve your life challenges. Let’s work together! I teach art in my home, I have a YouTube channel that needs some love, and I love to do commissioned work. My favorite thing to do is sell my artwork, as it puts food on our table and helps us make our house payment.
My most important collaborator is my husband of 41 years. He just retired and is now my business partner. Together we will take the world by storm. He’s an amazing golfer, a photographer and loves to help me sell my artwork. I couldn’t do what I do without him, at least not as well as with him.
Informing all of my artwork is the great outdoors. With my friends in the ‘Guild’ I go out painting ‘en plein air’ on a weekly basis. Nearly every painting I create has its roots in painting on location. Back in my studio after an evening of painting outside, I finish up the image I started, or I choose from the photos I took while there. I do love sunshine, and sunsets! And painting with friends!
Building a business is hard work, there’s always more to do than I can do, and always lots of other things that really need done that don’t build my business. It’s a Kayak. Too much painting and not enough marketing and the kayak goes around and around in circles. Too much marketing and not enough painting leaves me scrambling to keep up. Wisdom, planning, and collaboration can help keep my kayak moving ahead smoothly.
Since I paint a lot of flowers, my most common collectors are ladies who are about my age, and have a need to surround themselves with the beauties of nature. If they are local, they also make time to come and learn how to paint with me.
I am often surprised by the variety of collectors that emerge on a daily basis. My online presence is strong. I’m easy to find, and have many price points to take care of the needs of many.
I love to do commissions, unlike some artists, I guess I’m a people pleaser, and that makes commissions fun. My collectors are with me every step of the way, and I am able to communicate effectively with them to make sure their vision is being realized. Hopefully we become fast friends!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nilajaneautry.com
- Instagram: @nila_jane_autry
- Facebook: heeps://facebook.com/nilajaneautry
- Youtube: youtube.com/@nilajaneautry
- Other: nilajaneautry@gmail.com
jane-autry.pixels.com
Image Credits
All photos were taken by me…or my husband.
