We had the good fortune of connecting with Mindy Faubion and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mindy, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Art is an intrinsic part of who I am. I enjoy color and mixing color, creating something from that color, expressing my feelings and thoughts and memories through visual art and expressing what I see in the world around me through visual art for others to enjoy. I wouldn’t choose to do something for a career if it wasn’t something I could be inspired by.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Some of my earliest memories are about painting and coloring. Of course there are memories of family and vacations and friends but a lot of memories are about painting or other artistic adventures. When someone would ask “what do want to be when you grow up?” I would always say “I’m an artist!” I think I’ve always known what an integral part of me is about how I express myself through the visual arts. I think at my core is a love of learning new art skills and that is an absolute adventure for me!
I have an early memory of my mom rolling out a canvas material (yards of it on big roll) on the floor of our little dining room and giving me paint to “just go to town on that” after going through all the paper in the house and all my coloring books. I don’t think I’ve ever put down my paint brushes after that.
I eventually moved to watercolor and it became my favorite medium for a very long time., 40 yrs!
One of my achievements is being published in “Splash 18, the best of watercolor”. I’ve won a few awards along the way! Awards are fun but not necessary for me. It’s the process that I love and what inspires me to keep going. Sometimes it’s hard to keep going. I have to dig deep for the energy and concentration. When I was working on my degree at the University of North Texas at 50 yrs old ( I loved the energy the “kids” brought to class) we would have to paint a LOT (144,000 sq inches). I taught me that I could achieve SO much more than I thought I could. So now I’m grateful that I don’t have to paint that much. Just picking up a paint brush and experimenting with a little color can lead to a wonderful little work of art. Just being in a creative place or with creative people can be just the inspiration I need to keep going!
I found silk painting to be a little sister to watercolor painting and have enjoyed that as well and currently teach it.
In the last 8 yrs I’ve been exploring clay as a 3-D adventure. I enjoy exploring all dimensions of visual art and ceramics and pottery have become a 3-D canvas for me!
I currently teach silk painting, silk marbling, and pottery and all that goes with it in my studio at Beulah Acres Center in Corinth TX. 7801 S I-35

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take my friends to the Dallas arboretum, the Fort Worth arboretum, the Dallas Museum of art, and the Fort Worth kimball art museum. Also the Texas Cowboy Hall of fame. I would save time for sketching at the arboretums and painting in the studio from those sketches and photos. I enjoy cooking for my friends but when I’m in the mood for a good pizza Mellow Mushroom is near and a fun craft beer is always on tap.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate my personal achievement in the art skills I’ve acquired to several sources. First I believe in God and know the artistic gifts and talents I have are an integral part or the essence of who I am and what I was created for. I also had parents and teachers that encouraged me along the way to keep going in the direction of studying visual art. A great high school teacher then in college (BFA watercolor, UNT) Millie Giles, an incredible mentor and friend, And last but not least are all the other artists that have shared their knowledge and skills on the internet and through workshops. I love doing research on certain skills that have led to specific workshops in silk painting and pottery.

Website: Mindyfaubion.com

Instagram: Mindy Faubion and Beulah Silk Arts

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