Today we’d like to introduce you to Christie Joy.
Hi Christie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I have always loved nature! Animals and flowers were the beauty I surrounded myself with. As a child, I wanted to be a veterinarian. As I grew up and attended college I developed my creative side. I studied merchandising and marketing at Texas Tech University. Paths lead me down different roads, and I really wanted to stay at home and raise my two sons. I came up with Pet Sitting. I used my marketing skills and created Treasured Pet pet sitting service. It was a wonderful way to indulge my love of animals and be able to provide for my family. The boys grew up, and I decided my act two was going to feed my other love-Art! I fashioned the boys bonus room into an art studio. There was no turning back. I started creating, and neighbors started asking me to teach their children. From there, it was girls’ paint parties and selling at local markets. I am self-taught and thank goodness I love to research as it helped me to develop my Impasto Style. I worked out a formula over 5 years that has produced many lovely creations. My art is now mostly commissioned pieces and a few shows and markets a year. I keep very busy doing that. I love the life that art has given me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Perfectionism held me back from becoming an artist for many years. My mentor and dearest friend, Dana Cargile, helped me to let go of that and just paint. If it were not for her advice, I may never have indulged in trying. I am not classically trained, and I always thought that you needed to be, or you were an Imposter. Many artists struggle with this. I learned that there are so many artists as styles and many ways to come by your education. I gained confidence as I saw people responding positively to my work. When a collector tells me that my work hangs in their office to remind them to be happy that is worth everything to me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
People call my art- Happy! I am so blessed that is what viewers think of when they see my work. Art is supposed to start a conversation and make you feel something. How great is it that someone feels happy. I have always been someone who loves antiques, old movies, flowers, art, travel, animals, romance! I am an old soul. I want to surrounded by beautiful ethereal things, and that is how I paint. I am known for florals, still life, and abstracts. I use heavy paint with thick brush strokes. It is art that you can experience. You can see it and feel it. I tell people it is ok to touch it. Some of my flowers look like they belong on a cake. I do tell them not to eat it! It is fun to talk to them about my techniques that I worked so hard to develop. Not all of my creations are 3D. I do some abstracts that are painted with acrylic. I love being able to change things up for my collectors. I feel it is important to have a distinct style. I also enjoy being able to experiment and come up with innovative pieces that are unexpected. That is a true artist. We are like scientist. We research, plan, develop and execute.
How do you think about luck?
Good luck brought Dana into my life, and she inspired me. I believe that Jesus brings people and opportunities together. So many connections in unexpected places have led to some of my biggest commissions. I had a favorite Mexican food restaurant, and they were moving into a new building and needed art. They asked me to do the whole restaurant. I met a real estate agent who had a client who needed something to put on their wall for decoration, and he ended up putting the piece in his office. I had a Dr who knew I painted and now I have art in a hospital. There are so many ways that “luck” has a way of showing up when you show up. Just having a genuine conversation is better than any advertising plan. People buy you when they purchase art. They want your story.
Contact Info:
- Website: christiegunterjoyart.net
- Instagram: Christie Gunter Joy Art
- Facebook: Christie Gunter Joy Art
