Ria's Journey

 

Can you tell us about yourself?

I was born in The Netherlands, raised in New York, and I presently live in Massachusetts where I spend much of the time in my studio.

I'm a self taught artist although I have had many teachers in a non-traditional sense. As a teenager who lived close to New York City I spent a lot of time studying the collections in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was my first trip when I got my driver's license!
Formal training has included attendance at the Worcester Art Museum in Massachusetts.

When did your artistic journey begin?  

I started my painting journey when I was a child. Once I realized that ballet and playing the violin were not my strengths, I discovered that I was good at drawing. The first time I put effort into drawing was when I was 12 years old. I was copying a sample drawing from the Famous Artists School ad in a magazine. If you're old enough you probably remember them - Draw this and you can also be a famous artist. So I did, and with the encouragement of my parents, I mailed it and within a few weeks I received a letter stating that I had talent, and a bill for art lessons. My parents signed me up and I was on my way to becoming a famous artist.
Well, not quite. I did send back a few completed lessons but I hated being told what to draw and paint. So I quit. It did however give me the confidence to continue with art.

I applied to Pratt Institute at the end of high school but they rejected my application. It was the only college I wanted to attend so I looked for a job. Fortunately my portfolio was extensive enough to land my first job in graphic arts at 18 and a few commissions.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as an artist?

When I was a teen a friend of the family introduced me to Alfred Van Loen, a New York sculptor and painter. He encouraged me to continue following my passion and draw daily.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

I have had many interruptions in my painting career.

When I was twenty-four, my husband and I started a family. During that time I painted occasionally and entered a few shows but they were few and far between. I greatly admire painters who raise a family and also continue with their art. I didn't think it was possible at the time mostly because I lacked the discipline.

When the four kids were more autonomous a friend of mine was writing a children's book and asked me to draw the illustrations. We decided that pastel would be a great medium for it. Prior to this, I had worked only in pen and ink for a number of years. I fell in love with the vivid color and the direct contact of pastels, which I had never used before. It was the impetus to work harder at building an art career.

Nonetheless, I had been experiencing "artist's block" for a number of years. I lost my direction in my work but knew that I wanted to keep painting. I would struggle to find something meaningful to paint. That's when I joined the daily painters movement online in 2006. I allowed myself to paint for the pure joy of it and painted many things that were right in my house. That lead to a collection of still lifes.
I've been painting and selling my work ever since.

What inspires you?

These days I don't wait for inspiration. I just get to work.
To quote Chuck Close-
“Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work. If you wait around for the clouds to part and a bolt of lightning to strike you in the brain, you are not going to make an awful lot of work. All the best ideas come out of the process; they come out of the work itself.”

How do you balance your personal life and your art practice?

I'm still working on it!

What are you struggling with right now?

As our blog's subtitle implies, I struggle with the new and ever changing social media rules and algorithms. I realize that social media is a strong marketing tool that can benefit artists greatly. For me it's about finding a balance between actual painting and promotion on the web.

What are some of your long and short term goals for yourself or your art?

My short term goals are to get my work in more art shows and connect with galleries.
Long term goal is to build a portfolio of works that are consistent in style and subject matter.

What are you working on at the moment?

Many things. This blog, my other internet presences . . but painting is stilll number one. The fork painting is a work in progress and as soon as I finish this interview I'll get back to it!

What is the biggest challenge of being an artist?

There are two challenges that come to mind immediately. One is working on getting more exposure by putting myself out there.
The second is maintaining a consistent painting schedule. 

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