Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany ‘Tigerlily’ Mason.
Hi Brittany ‘Tigerlily’, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started painting when I was 16 and immediately knew this was the purpose Ihad in life and have persued it relentlessly every day since. I have no formal training (no college degree) and have truly veen self taught.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have faced more rejection than I care to think too much on or it really gets me down. There’s really not any other contemporary art I’ve seen like mine and it can make it very hard to find anywhere for it to fit in. It is nice to think the art community would be the one place you could expect more openminded views and people who wanted to embrace new things. However its unfortunate to find out that galleries are ultimately businesses driven by the desire to turn a profit and it is a big risk to consider taking on a new artist with art so different from everything. I recently heard back from a gallery I submitted to in New York. To summarize their response, I was told “while your (my) art is truly unique and beautiful we do not at this time think we csn take you on as an artist we represent because your art is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before and we are unsure how our collectors will feel about it”. I was honestly just happy to hear back from them. Even in the rejection I was happy to hear how my originality was so apparrent, and that has continued to help encourage me to keep going.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My main craft and what i am driven to be successful doing in my life is as a mixed media painter. I specialize in fluorescent oil paintings, i make all of my paints myself from fluorescent powder pigments. I have many mixed media avenues I explore in my work- mainly using ckay to sculpt 3-D embelishments but i have also taken a welding class to incorporate metal into them as well. I have a small “side-hustle” making and selling custom painted clothing and I also make most of my own outfits for events.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Not really, not to sounds full of myself- because i definitely am not. I think more due to being bullied and ridiculed most of my life until being out of school and the constant rejection ive faced in persuit of my art career as an adult. I truly don’t care what other people’s opinions or advice are because any advice ive ever saught out has tried to put me into a more conforming, agreeable attitude or has just told me id never make it or basically would have not made me want to keep going. The ONLY true inspiration I’d say I have had is the music and inspirational story of independent rapper Tech N9ne. Ive been to ever single show hes played in DFW since I was 18. His music continues to inspire me and learning about his truly amazing success story it mirrors my own (minus the success part- im not there yet). Ive taken many life lessons from his experiences hes expressed in his music and how can i EVER give up on myself when he had it so much harder than me he literally came from NOTHING and NOBODY believed in him and look at him now. The only people who definitely wont make it are the ones who give up and I’m so glad his story has made me always believe in myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Artbytigerlily.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittanytigerlily?igsh=N3o1OHZob2NweHFl
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CtLU2q1JV/
Image Credits
Myself
