We were lucky to catch up with Tiffany Reid recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tiffany, 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?
I really feel that we are not born with creativity. It is a muscle that you have exercise all the time. Once you practice exercises in creativity, it becomes a lot easier. What do I mean by exercise my creativity? Well there are several things I do. Firstly, I live and die by my sketch book. I keep pencil crayons, photos, magazine clippings and all my ideas go into my sketchbook. I get every thought out there even the bad ones….especially the bad ones. By putting all your ideas out there then you can eliminate the weakest ones and focus on the really good ones. And sometimes, the really out there terrible ideas become the incredible painting. But you have to go beyond yourself. If you always do the same thing, you will get the same result. Secondly, I follow a lot of artists out there. They give me so much inspiration to try different techniques or go to art classes that will open my mind to new ways of doing things. And thirdly, I get out into nature. Often it is a simple walk in the woods that allows me to clear my mind and see a new perspective. Nature has a great way of combining its own colours and textures to make a beautiful scene. I am lucky to be living in Canada where we experience some pretty incredible weather and landscapes. It is easy to be inspired here.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a Canadian contemporary abstract artist. Being from the Pacific Northwest and experiencing the dramatic weather in the area such as cold winters and sensational storms, my work is heavily inspired by the currents of the ocean that serve to guide the weather, as well as the gravity of nature that one feels so strongly. As such, my paintings contain a compelling evocation of the delicate balance of chaos and order, as can be found in weather and earth systems. I also emphasize the natural connection between the heart of man and the forces of nature.
Using a unique and non-traditional techniques involving various media such as isopropyl, textured pastes, resin, and recycled materials, I am able to create luscious paintings filled with bright organic bubbles of colors as well as sensuous textured surfaces that recall both the rugged power and fragile beauty of the natural world simultaneously. I seek to create an emotional and sensorial journey for the viewer, allowing them to be transported to an unimaginable place where they can lose themselves.
I am a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, which is dedicated to raising artistic standards by stimulating participants to greater heights of knowledge and achievement by offering what is believed to be the first completely artists’ sponsored gallery in Canada. Currently the Federation is the only national-level visual arts organization that manages their own full-time art gallery. I have been featured in ArtFix Daily, SD Voyager Magazine, the Agora Gallery (New York), and of course the Federation of Canadian Artists. Currently I am the artist in residence at the Hilton Hotel in Metrotown and Richmond.
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?
The three skills that helped me in my art business (besides the skill of painting) have come from my corporate life. I came from a sales background so my years of hitting the pavement have really helped me sell and get my work out there. I also have a very thick skin, so I am not afraid to have a door slammed in my face. Secondly, I have the gift of the gab I guess! I am able to connect with a lot of people and so they really see who I am as a person. This allows my customers to really understand my art and feel the emotions I am trying to portray. And lastly, I love trying new things so I really come up with some very creative ideas. Sometimes the craziest idea turns into a masterpiece!
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
The best thing you can do for yourself to develop your skills and build your confidence is to surround yourself with others who are successful at what they do. For me it was experienced artists. They showed me what it would take and gave me the courage to push through. You can spend years trying to figure it out for yourself but why? Go straight to the source and it will get you to where you want to be a lot faster. I am so grateful to have some pretty incredible mentors in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tiffanyreidart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffanyreidart/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/Artist/tiffanyreidart/
- Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-reid-5839121bb
