Today we’d like to introduce you to Preston Light.
Hi Preston, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Where my artistic journey begins is hard to pin down, but what I can say is that creativity was my first love. Visual art and music being the pillars of my interests and personal output. Growing up, the radio and supplies to make something like art were never far away and nothing has changed all these years later. Visual art was put on hold after my late teens, but as an adult, I played in a local band called Little Universe for some pretty fun years. Upon leaving that band what feels like a lifetime ago I returned to painting with a fervor that I’ve never put into anything before. Coming from generations of painters this came as no surprise to anyone, but myself maybe. Creating abstract images has been a passion of mine since my elementary school art teacher handed me a book of modern art during class. I found the avenue that I would go on to find my voice as an adult then and there.
I started to take my paintings to concerts or events and sell them outside. Eventually becoming a regular vendor at Deep Ellum Art Company. A place that I will forever be grateful for a having me and where I consider the foundation of my successes to come. Being a painter having your work seen in person is paramount and that gave me the opportunity to show new work week after week. I was simultaneously involved in a short-lived artist collective in Fort Worth that would show work and host events. This is where I would meet my very soon-to-be wife Alexandra Farber (choreographer, visual artist, and principal dancer with Texas Ballet Theater). After a while, this gave me the confidence and the notice that allowed my art to grow in size and numbers. Culminating in my first solo show in Fort Worth in the summer of 2021 and my first solo gallery exhibition at the Janette Kennedy Gallery in Dallas this last summer.
I owe any measure of success to my friends, family, fans, and to my fiancé. And as a fun note, I think I can safely say I will also be returning to some kind of musical output by the end of the year. More on that when I’m ready!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Is there such thing as a smooth road in DFW? Or anywhere these days?
No, I wouldn’t say it’s been the easiest of rides so far. However, my struggles have been internal far more often than external. If you ask fifty artists “Do you struggle with mental health?” You’d probably get fifty yeses with elaboration. I am certainly one of them. My life with depression and anxiety has ranged from the frustrating to the debilitating. I’ve been privileged enough to have access to comprehensive mental healthcare on and off over the years and I cannot stress how important that has been to every aspect of my personal, professional, and creative life. A good therapist and painting has also been a big part of the longevity in my sobriety from alcohol for many years now. Turning that daily struggle into a daily (or at least almost daily) practice so I can shadowbox with the less that groovy feelings in mind with is a blessing that I do not take for granted.
I can say my biggest enemy has been myself and the obstacles I imagine in front of me, but doing my best to be conscious of that and following the doctors’ orders seems to be working out. One day at a time.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Primarily, I paint large- and small-scale abstract paintings. Leaning pretty heavy into the idea of nonrepresentational art (or at least in that I’m not hiding airplanes and tigers in there as a sort of modern art edition of Where’s Waldo.) I take small portions of acrylic paint and scrape them across the canvas creating small layers and patterns behind. Then I repeat that dozens and dozens of more times eventually creating the final image. I don’t know what to call them, but it’s style I feel like I can call my own for the moment. I’m sure I’m not the only one though, often times the colors and emotional tones are my way of communicating a certain feeling that a time, place, or memory takes me. Most of the work is titled after a song that serves as a companion piece to the work. The music could be anything from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Miles Davis, Boards of Canada, and the good old Grateful Dead.
As far as the thing I am most proud of it’s hard to choose! On one hand, I want to say my ever-evolving body of work and on the other hand, I want to say my very successful show this summer at the Janette Kennedy Gallery. I take a lot of pride in my work, so it’s hard to be concise on that one. People seem to find comfort in my work and that is my favorite thing to hear back. I think there’s a healing power in art and to know I’ve contributed that to at least one person’s life makes it all worth it.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I am currently taking commissions and getting ready to have some new work out in public again soon! If you’d like to reach out to me, I’d love to get to chat with y’all about doing a piece or if you see one, I’ve posted that you’re interested in, please let me know. I’m sure my contact info will be on this page somewhere! Thank you for taking the time to read about me a little bit and I hope you’ll give me a follow-on Instagram or Facebook to keep up with what I’m doing.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/lighthauscreations
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LighthausCreations
