We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Spencer Welch a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Spencer, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Imposter Syndrome is a common issue among creatives and artists. I think we need time to understand ourselves and our creative process to overcome this, but it’s not really something that completely goes away. As an artist grows and expands their career, there will always be moments where imposter syndrome sneaks in. Just stay true to yourself and your process, remember why you create, and you will be able to gain confidence in your work.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Spencer Welch and I am the artist and owner of Spencer Welch Studios. I specialize in portraiture and figurative work, often creating commissions for clients as well as creating personal artworks for gallery’s, shows, and exhibitions. I am foremost a mother and a wife, and my work is constantly inspired by our day to day life as a family. I love photographing my children and showcasing those ordinary moments on canvas, forever encapsulating those memories as paintings. I am drawn to candidness and interesting compositions. Sleep is especially interesting to me, which is currently what I’m focusing on in my new body of work. I’ve been painting and drawing since childhood, but didn’t take any art classes until after my first child was born in my 20’s. I only took two beginning painting classes at a community college, otherwise I am self-taught. Those classes, however, really pushed me to grown my skills and I am so grateful to them!
Currently, I am taking a social media break to focus and build a new body of work. I’m excited to see how 2024 evolves and look forward to future shows and opportunities. If you want to follow my work, please join my email list. That is where I share current shows and exhibitions, studio letters, and updates on new paintings.
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?
I’m not sure I can narrow it down to three! But if I must…I think it’s really important to build in technical skills, to study other artists work (historical artists and modern, contemporary artists as well) and to be patient as you grow and evolve as an artist. These things take time, you must learn your own seasons and creative process in order to understand how your work.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
Last year I invested in a mentorship with a woman named Lauren Sauder. This mentorship was a huge leap in trusting someone to guide my work and my practice. Lauren taught me about myself as an artist and woman, helping me to understand my own process and creative work, which has been a huge gift. Because of this, I’ve learned to have confidence in myself and my own work, which in turn has opened up new opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.spencerwelchstudios.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/spencerwelchstudios
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/spencerwelchstudios
