We recently had the chance to connect with Christie Joy and have shared our conversation below.
Christie, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Who are you learning from right now?
I am so blessed to have some incredibly talented artists friends who have poured into me. They have mentored me on not only how to create but how to navigate beyond my safe art world in my town.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
East Texas art lovers know me as the “Happy” artist who paints with a lot of texture! I love paint, color and I paint Boldly! Christie Joy Art is a brand that has now expanded from the Piney Woods of East Texas to galleries all over the US and we are reaching across the Pond. I have worked so hard to develop my unique work that I call, “Art for the Senses.” It begs for the collector to touch, view, and discuss. My current collectors know my work as soon as they walk into a gallery, office, boutique, etc….. This is what artists work so hard to create. A style that resonates with audience and is immediately identified back to the painter. I feel that I have now achieved this status. It has taken hard work, many attempts at different genres, color palettes and mediums to find what is truly mine! Mine Alone! Not a copy!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I have learned so much this year about boundaries. I want to help everyone! I want to say Yes! My family, my health, my sanity, need me to say No, more. I am getting better at this! This year I have donated 10- 40×30- gallery wrapped artworks to charities for donations. I love to give but honestly it took a lot out of me. I did this along with my commissions, curating a major art exhibition with 17 artists including myself, being involved in 4 fund raisers in a committee role, assisting in gallery operations, being a founding member of the gallery, art league board member, mother of the groom, wife and daughter who lost her dad. Big Year- Right! I am setting boundaries now that will still help my community that I love but keep me healthy!
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
My uncle was an accomplished artist He studied art and in my eyes was the best! As a young girl watching him sketch us at the dinner table, I would think, I would love to have his talent. Why are some people born to have such talents and others not? He encouraged us but I knew this was not in my future. I saw how he fought against the system and could not handle the harsh critiques of his masterful pieces. He painted like the masters in oil and very technical. He eventually painted for himself, personal commissions and the church. I wanted to try it but felt the need to paint the Old Masters and not only paint them but be perfect otherwise you perish. Who would even want to try? I was blessed to meet my dear friend Dana Cargile who told me let go of that fear. Fear of perfection, fear of failure, just- fear. Just paint. Put it on canvas. I found I did not even like to paint like the masters, heck I did not even like oils. I found out I love acrylic, I love flowers and I love painting outside the lines. Fear Be Gone!
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
I have always believed and my sons will tell you- Do the right thing because its the right thing to do! Period. If you pay your bills, make your bed, say hello to the lady on the street, life somehow moves easier for you. You can have a bad day but if you pass through life with solid foundational principles and take care of your business then life will take care of you.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
I wake up everyday ready to paint. Actually it is hard most nights to fall asleep because I am thinking about what I will paint in the morning. My life has had many chapters, heck really many books. This one has turned out to be my favorite. I still carry the love of my past passion and business of caring for animals as my Kyra, doberman, is my mascot in the studio. I have worked so hard to get to where I am now that I am selling art, have a wonderfully talented agent and donate art to worthy causes. Art is my spiritual gift. People tell me it makes them happy. What could be better than that! To create something that makes another human being feel good. That is an accomplishment. Art is supposed to make you feel. That is The Feeling I am glad that get from my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christiegunterjoy.net
- Instagram: christie_joy_art
- Facebook: Christie Joy
