We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Montressa Hammond a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Montressa, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
The moment I decided to make painting my career, I dealt with imposter syndrome, and it took all of 2023 to overcome it. Pushing past my doubts, fears of inadequacy, lack of skill and talent, last year was hard but my first step toward overcoming imposter syndrome was to take a leap of faith in myself. Put yourself out there! My first showcase involved a lot of happy tears, I was so overwhelmed by the level of support from my circle as well as complete strangers. Words of wisdom, affirmations and encouragement really helped a lot to ease some of the paranoia of not possibly being good enough to be in the field with only years’ worth of painting experience. After doing multiple shows last year, I still struggled with the question “Am I good enough?” partly because I did not take the time to internalize the positive feedback given. If they said it, they meant it! Often, we forget the accomplishments we have made, and the cornerstones of progress we have mastered in our fields as well. It is important to recognize your accomplishments, positive feedback and use helpful criticism to improve moving forward. We are all searching for success and at some point, during my journey I began to look for validation from experts in my field to confirm what I already suspected but did not have the confidence to acknowledge. I received it at the Bethesda Row Art Festival, as a recipient winner for my art. Now, I look back at 2023 and say what a year I had. Hold on to the positives experiences you have, recognize where improvements can be made and shut down the negative internal dialogue. There is no doubt in my mind I am meant to occupy space in the Fine Art Painting field.
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?
My business is called Stroke of Art, aptly named after having a stroke in 2020 and suddenly discovering I could paint with no prior art background. I am a fine art painter, working with both acrylic and oil paints. Both my story and the nature of my paintings are rooted in emotions. I lost my ability to understand emotions and painting has become the one outlet I have to help me understand my feelings as well as those around me. My paintings are extremely expressive and bold often having a timeless quality that resonates with a wide range of audiences. Having the ability to communicate across generations reflects the universal themes and emotions in my art and allows it to transcend specific time periods.
This year I am launching my first promotional initiative called “12 Months of Montressa” where I give my audience an in-depth insight about one selected painting each month. This also includes a monthly campaign on my website Strokeofart.org, offering a sale on all the applicable merchandise associated with the painting. I am truly excited about this and hopeful for the success of this project.
My first show of the year will be the Pancakes and Booze Art Show on February 22nd in Washington, D.C. Tickets are still available for purchase, check my website for details.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My desire to learn new skills to improve my artistry is unmatched. I constantly push the limit on my creativity, adding new skill set to my artist experience. One of the most impactful qualities I have is my ability to be adaptable. I quickly apply advice and implement new learnings which has significantly accelerated my growth and development as an artist over the last year. Ensuring I have a strong willingness to embrace change for the sake of improvement. The third quality I would say that has impacted my journey as an entrepreneur has been my diligence and perseverance with respect to my goals. I have not and will not give up on the career I want and the impact I feel my art can make.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
Being overwhelmed happens often for me. I suffer from severe anxiety, and I implement coping mechanisms to manage overwhelming situations and anxiety. The first thing I do is talk to my best friends. I have a small but very strong group of individuals who are always willing to listen, provide perspective and talk me through any issues that may have arisen. We discuss if the topic is even worth the emotional energy, I am putting into it, and instead of dwelling on what has happened. I focus on what can be done to rectify the issue. Most often than not there is a solution to whatever is overwhelming me. Also, I find if I am overwhelmed with the number of tasks I must complete, I make a list and prioritize what needs to be done first and what can be done later. These constructive approaches help to alleviate my stress and allow me to focus on one thing at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website:strokeofart.org
- Instagram: strokeofart.montressa
- Facebook: Montressa Strokeofart Hammond
Image Credits
Chloe Bovia – Bovia & Co. Photography
