In clear focus: Lacy Martin
Welcome to the first installment of my new blog series "In clear focus".As most of you know, I love doing designer interviews and the response to them has been amazing. However, recently I thought it might be fun to approach the designer interview in a different way. By having the artist talk about themselves and their process through the lens of one of their favorite pieces of artwork. I've titled this new series 'In clear focus' because I truly believe this approach to interviewing creatives will offer us a better understanding of who they are and how they create.
My first interviewee for the series is self-taught artist, Lacy Martin. She is uber talented as you can see from this lovely abstract, and by taking a peek at the blog post I did with her a few weeks ago which is filled to the brim with her digital collages.This is gonna be fun! Enjoy!
Meet Lacy!
My name is Lacy and I'm a 32 years old artist, who grew-up in Summerville, SC. I went to college at the Art Institute of Charleston, graduating with a degree in graphic design. Ten years ago when my high-school sweetheart joined the military, we got married and found ourselves stationed in Connecticut. We have lived here ever since (but only for 5 more years, tops!)
I first started discovering my creative side when I was 5-years-old. My oldest brother is an incredible comic artist and he would draw for hours. When he would let me, I’d sit (quietly, as he requested) and watch him create these intricate, detailed pieces from what seemed like nothing. It truly amazed me. His process, and the overall desire that the creative force demands sparked a movement within me. I have been on a creative quest ever since. I will be forever grateful to my brother for allowing me to sit beside him, in such a vulnerable space, as he unleashed his creative energy.
It’s so limiting to try and explain how I got to where I am. It is complicated. Part of it was the encouragement and support of many amazing people. But it is also because of a drive and determination within me that has pushed me along. I have been met with many obstacles, disappointments and setbacks when it comes to my art career. Most of them self-imposed. But I haven’t given up and I never will.
My creativity, and the work that manifest from that, is such a deep part of me. It is audible in such a quiet, spiritual way. I could never give it up. I would be giving up on myself and I never intend to do that. I got here driven by what I like to think of as an essence of magic, so beautifully orchestrated from a force far beyond my human existence.
Lacy Martin Painting
Painting: Title Wave
Why is this painting your favorite?
This piece is one I recently created titled 'Tidal Wave'. I usually go for really bright, contrasting colors but have witnessed a pattern in my work where I’ll move from bright, contrasting colors to neutral, earth toned colors. It mimics the movement of water and the texture of emotion and vulnerability. I think my other work is more of a bright, bold facet of my inner world while this one is more nurturing and soft. It’s my favorite right now because I sense it’s the first of many that will shift my work into its next evolution and help me really see how being intimate with my truth is what moves my work forward. It’s a really powerful piece for me.
What was your inspiration for the piece?
Always the human condition, nature, my relationship with her and how these two interconnect.
What techniques did you use to create it?
My technique, putting it simply, is curiosity. When I come to my canvas I’m curious about what my process will teach me and how different mediums will interact. I'm curious about the relationship between my medium and substrate and the union all of that creates.
How does the work represent your style and approach to your work?
I have always been curious about life and the elements within it. The deepest question that lies within me, at least that loops around often, is "how can I confidently express myself?"
My work expresses a lot of energy and passion. Beyond the techniques, colors, mediums and even the ideas lie a lot of unexpressed desires and dreams. I think this piece really represents the freedom of my unique expression. When I’m face to face with my canvas, it’s always much deeper than paint and texture…it’s what I call the threshold. The things you cannot put into words and the things that are left unsaid. I actually have a blog post I wrote that touches on this…here
Want to see more of Lacy’s work?