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

Hi Andrea, would you say you are following and pursuing your passion?
In life it’s vital to focus on what matters most to you, what you truly care about. You should cultivate a well-rooted sense of purpose and a passion for what you do that drives you to persevere, even in the face of adversity. I have strived to do this throughout my life. I am pursuing my passion, what I truly care about – making art, helping artists market their art and supporting Color Me Empowered, a nonprofit that inspires children and engages our community, through art.

Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally? Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way? What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I came to art as a way to heal after suffering a family tragedy. In 2014 we lost our home and pets to a fire. I turned to art to deal with the pain of our loss. As I began to emerge from what had happened to us, I realized that I did not ever want to stop creating art.

I have enjoyed a career in marketing communications for over 25 years. I am very proud that professionally I have found a way to successfully combine my passion and love for art and marketing.

My focus is on being the best I can be at:
• Creating art that encourages conversations and brings positive, creative energy into the world. I enjoy working in abstract and fluid art, mixed media and collage.
• Using my marketing expertise to help fellow artists and creatives to promote and market their work.
• Supporting Color Me Empowered, as Board President & Marketing VP, in providing programming that empowers children and communities through the implementation of visual art education and civic art.

This year I was very excited and honored to have been selected to be an Art-o-mat® (www.artomat.org) contributing artist! Art-o-mat® machines are retired cigarette vending machines that have been converted to vend art. There are over 100 active machines in various locations throughout the country!
I am grateful to have been included in two art publications: The 5% Show: Dallas Women Artists publication by The Artist’s Circle and the first annual Glitterati Editions Artfolio2020 publication!

I am very proud to now have experience curating exhibitions!
• In November 2019 I curated my first exhibition at the Texas Visual Arts Association, entitled “Reflections of Gratitude.”
• Working with Salons by JC Dallas – Casa Linda Plaza owner, Carol Westlund we created an ongoing gallery at the Salons to showcase the many artists in the East Dallas and White Rock Lake area. I serve as Marketing Director and Curator for the gallery.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week-long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc. In your view what are some of the most fun, interesting, exciting people, places or things to check out?
As a native Dallasite I’m somewhat biased as to how amazing Dallas is! I’ve lived in various neighborhoods all over the city, but I would want my bestie to discover the one I’m living in now, Lowest Greenville Avenue. We would start our morning at Boulangerie for the best Pain au Chocolat you’ll find in Dallas! Of course, we’d take in some retail therapy at Bullzerk, Kathy Fielder and The Merchant!

Since we’ve been walking all up and down Lowest Greenville Ave., we’d have no guilt ordering a pizza at Greenville Avenue Pizza Company! An afternoon latte would be on the agenda at La La Land Kind Café, a charming old home transformed into an organic coffee & tea shop with snacks & a dog-friendly patio. And the staff? You guessed it, all super kind!

Dinner would definitely be at the Alamo Club where Austin Rodgers and his team serve up delicious food and libations all while making you feel at home the second you step through the door. After dinner we’d cross the street and have a fancy cocktail at Leela’s Wine Bar, either the Aperol Spritz or the Frozé!

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?
Yes! Visualize me grabbing my megaphone as I definitely have some “Shoutouts” I want to make!
• First and foremost, to my husband Christophe and daughter Emilie for their constant and never wavering love and positive support!
• My longtime friend and fellow artist, Walter Hofheinz, who in 2014 encouraged me to rent my first ever studio space. We shared a space with three other artists at the Continental Gin Building.
• Virginie Naigeon-Malek and Amin Malek, owners of Avanti Restaurant in Uptown Dallas, who in 2018, launched an Arts Al Fresco exhibition series featuring emerging local artists. I was thrilled and honored when they asked me to be the first artist at the event! This was my first ever exhibition of my art! I will always be grateful to them for believing in me!
• My studio mate, dear friend and fellow artist, Kathy Baker Mackey who is a constant source of motivation and positive feedback!
Kathy and I share a wonderful studio space at The Mix Coworking & Creative Space, located in the Lower Level of White Rock United Methodist Church in the Little Forest Hills neighborhood of Dallas.
A big shoutout of thanks to Rhonda Sweet, the managing director of The Mix and her team who are extremely supportive of the local artist community in Dallas!
Thank you to White Rock Lake Weekly for your support of local artists and publishing articles I wrote about The Mix and the artist exhibition I curate at the Salons by JC Dallas – Casa Linda Plaza!

Website: https://www.andrealamarsaude.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrealamarsaude/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrealamarsaude/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndreaDallas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndreaLamarsaudeArt/
Other: Color Me Empowered – www.cmedfw.org The Mix Coworking & Creative Space – www.themixcoworking.com

Image Credits
Andrea Lamarsaude Stacy Gipe Thiele

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