Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dyan Padgett. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dyan, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I am the youngest of five children raised by a single mom. My mom commuted two hours each day to her secretarial job. We were poor. Parental guidance was rare. If I wanted something, I had to figure out how to do it or I had to earn the money to purchase it. At age 6, I got up, got myself ready for school and walked to school (my mom having left for work long before I even woke). I got my first job delivering newspapers at age 7. I was waiting tables at age 13. I had to rely on myself at a very early age. I often did without. While difficult, my childhood offered the freedom to explore, to learn, to try and to fail. And I failed A LOT. But overtime, those skills developed into a self-sufficiency, confidence and resiliency that was pretty impenetrable.
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?
I’ve always loved art. I was a curious kid that wanted to explore the world and put it all on paper. One of the best gifts I ever received was a crayon caddy – filled with colorful crayons. I remember it vividly. I would sit and draw for hours. My cats were often my subjects or the flowers and other things I found outdoors. Nature was often my babysitter.
But we all grow up and leave behind our childish notions. Except, I didn’t.
I studied Fine Art at DePauw University and later spent six years at The Atelier, learning the craft of portrait painting. After art school, I set-up a studio / gallery in the Northrupking Building in the Arts District of Minneapolis.
Initially, I struggled to find my voice as an artist. I trained as a portrait painter but found, after leaving school, that I really did not enjoy painting portraits. Frustrated on a cold, dark Minnesota day, I purchased some flowers and set them up in my studio “for a quick study”. Instantly, I was transported back to those sunny days, roaming neighborhood flower gardens and the woods of my youth. I felt at peace and connected to a place and time. And I never painted another portrait again.
I love painting flowers. The beauty, the fragility, the impermanence – how the light hits every little petal just a bit differently. I approach each floral painting as a “portrait” – attempting to capture the essence of the flower. I find myself traversing the relationship of the natural world and humanity, creating tangible connections to spaces and places. Flowers provide a powerful emotional connection to people and events. People often come into my studio, see a painting and begin to tell me a story. I hear stories about grandmothers and the peonies they raised on the family farm, wedding days and the flowers they carried, and other cultural rituals signified by flowers.
My art practice consists primarily of floral artwork and the occasional still life. I am a classical realist, combining the draftsmanship skills of my academic training with a finely nuanced notion of color. Heavily influenced by years spent in the Netherlands studying Dutch masters, natural light is central theme through out my work. My work is collected privately in the US and Europe. Paintings can be viewed in person in my gallery, online at www.dyanpadgett.com or on Facebook and Instagram at Dyan J. Padgett Fine Art.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
-The pursuit of art is a life-long journey and we are all at different places along that road. Realizing where you are and where to go next is both imperative and liberating.
-talent vs. skill. I’m often told I’m “talented”. However, I believe what people are really commenting on is highly honed skills that took years to develop. Talent is inherent whereas skills are learned – you’ll need both. Artists tend to be naturally curious, observant and visually articulate which is what I believe to be my true talent.
-Don’t let anyone steal your joy or derail your vision. Over the years, my work has been dismissed and verbally bashed by the uninitiated and the knowledgeable alike. And yet I persisted – successfully. Knowing who you are and standing firm on the worth of your work is incredibly important. Be wary of those that offer unsolicited advice.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Currently, my work sells well locally in Minneapolis. However, I would like to expand my reach into other key art markets. Specifically, I’m looking for exposure in areas such as the East and West Coasts, Chicago, and Santa Fe or galleries that specialize in representational art.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dyanpadgett.com
- Instagram: Dyan J. Padgett Fine Art
- Facebook: Dyan J. Padgett Fine Art
- Linkedin: Dyan J. Padgett Fine Art
- Youtube: Dyan J. Padgett Fine Art
