Meet Wendy Michelle Davis | Painter in Acrylics

We had the good fortune of connecting with Wendy Michelle Davis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Wendy Michelle, how do you think about risk?
I’m learning more and more that risk taking is an important and necessary part of life, and especially in my art business. It starts at the core of what I do. I am an artist. When I paint I need to open myself up to failure, because taking risks is about putting myself in situations that can be daunting, scary sometimes and have unforeseen outcomes.
Lately I’ve been painting things with different techniques, I’ve been attempting new subject matter in efforts to get out of my comfortable place. I believe this is when breakthrough happens. This is when I see things in my work that are new, fresh and exciting.
But, It can be a process of creating “bad” art first, or art I definitely don’t want to keep, in attempts to make art that I absolutely love and want to share with the world.
As a natural introvert, I am not a big fan of putting myself out there. My favorite place is tucked away in my quiet studio. Yet, I’ve known, even since my shy childhood, that I will miss out on many things, if I do not get out there. All things carry a risk-variable, even getting in our car to go somewhere holds risk.

When I apply for an art show, or an art event there is a risk of not being accepted into the show, or getting into a show and it getting rained out, of art getting damaged in transport to or from the event, or of not making any sales at the event. I could go on.

Still, if I don’t take that risk, then I’ll never know what good may have come from it. So, I’d rather take the risk. And if everything goes wrong, then I try to have the mindset, that all things happen for a reason, and what I can I learn from this experience?

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is an expression of how I see things. Since a young age I have been captivated by nature, it’s beauty and ease at being grand and magnificent. I love the way being outside refreshes my soul and inspires me to create. I have also enjoyed traveling and I made it a point to live abroad so that I would have opportunities to see more of the world. Much of my new work is based on places I have traveled to. Cities, buildings, streets and monuments in Old Europe. I find it all enchanting-places and things that have hundreds of years of history and many stories to tell.

I am excited about this new work. It is stretching me as an artist since most of my previous work is based on nature and now I’m painting much more architecture. But I love it and I love finding my way of interpreting what I see.

Being a full time artist is not for the faint of heart. The job is emotional, challenging in many ways, and takes 100% of my efforts to be successful. And even then, it is not always successful.
I have been an artist my whole life, but its only been my full time occupation since June 2021.

Art is so subjective and I know, as many artists are, I can be my own worst critic. I work hard to make art that I love and I paint what brings me joy, yet I have this voice in my head telling me it’s not good enough, that the art world won’t take it seriously, that it’s pretty art and not “real art.” It can be hard to silence this voice. But I must, because this voice steals my joy and makes me unhappy.
This will always be one of my biggest challenges, that I need to continually lay down and stomp out.. and then do it again as it tries to resurrect.
There are thousands of voices we can listen too in addition to the ones in our head that try to tell us we aren’t good enough, your art isn’t good enough, you need to do this or that differently…. And it can be overwhelming or even detrimental. I am still working on ways to shut all that out and focus on what I know is true and good, like canvas, paint, nature, creating and allowing the peace of God flow through me.

Today, as I look at where I am, I do see how much I have learned from experience, failure and success, and I also see how far I need to go to become a better artist, better business woman and better at living.

My goals for 2024 are to try new things, “Think outside the box,” as they say and take more risks. This past season was busy with the business side and art endeavors, and I let my time for art slip away for a while. I want to get back to painting more. I want to find new ways to get my work out there, but also not stress about it if things don’t go as I hoped.

Whoever you are dear reader, I hope my story and my art inspires you. I hope to meet you someday and hear your story. If you choose to follow me on Intagram or Facebook or visit my website and subscribe to my email list, I thank you for your interest in me and what I do. It means more than you know.

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.
If one of my good friends came to Waco and I had all the time show her or him around we would vist Cameron Park for a trail hike, Homestead Heritage to see all the wonderful art and craft studios and have lunch at the cafe, The Armstrong-Browning Library because it’s full of art, poetry and the architectural features are breathtaking, and then dinner and wine at Segovia, a locally owned tapas wine bar.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So much of my success as an artist is due to my community and those who support my art-people who believe art is valuable and the artist is worth investing in. I am deeply grateful for you.

I am also thankful for our Waco nonprofit, Creative Waco, and how integral this organization has been in uplifting the local arts as a whole, and how they have supported me and my endeavors over the past years. It has been hugely helpful and they will always be a big part of my success story.

Website: wendymichelledavis.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendy_michelle_davis/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-michelle-davis-54a44548

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/artistwendymichelledavis/

Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=leQ2RCx2p-A