Today we’d like to introduce you to Tennyson Corley.
Hi Tennyson, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I was introduced to art at an early age. My mother was an illustrator and portrait artist. I remember watching her work at her drafting table and being inspired to create. I would study her collection of art books and train myself to draw along with guidance from her. When it came time to choose a college and focus on a career, I chose art.
I attended Columbia College with a major in Studio Art, however, my path wasn’t that of most students. During my sophomore year, I took a medical leave after a battle with meningitis. My parents also went through a messy divorce and throw returning to college into the mix, left me at a mental standstill. I decided to take the time I needed to recover and reflect on my goals.
I continued to make art and book shows. In 2010, I met my husband, who also had studied art. He pushed me to experiment and we would work side by side in our small studio. In 2013, we welcomed our son Jasper, and I quit my day job as a make-up artist to be a stay-at-home mom.
I took my art more seriously in this new phase as a mother. I wanted to provide the same creative influence my mother had provided to my childhood. I also wanted to prove, if just to myself, that I could be a mom and still accomplish my own artistic goals.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As I mentioned above, the normal path of college to career was cut short due to illness. I spent a month in the hospital my second semester of sophomore year. The road has not been smooth. There have been ups and downs. I have questioned if I chose the right path, but I persist. I, like anyone, struggles mentally when I don’t land a show, residency, or event. I have a collection of rejection letters that I keep for fuel for my fire. One day, I plan to turn them into an art piece.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I classify myself as a multimedia artist. I work in acrylics, watercolor, and most recently ceramics (two years).
My work in watercolor is predominantly commissioned portraits of pets and people that I create for clients as lifelong keepsakes.
Recently I have been working on a series of “ceramic illustrations”. They are a split between Beatrice Potter and Orwellian Animal Farm characters at times. The creatures I dream up are often wearing clothes and sometimes mutated. Each sculpture has a unique story to develop the character.
My work with acrylic/mixed media paintings are rooted in flora and fauna with a strong emphasis on color. Weighing heavy on places and creatures from my travels around the southeast. I am most known for my depictions of birds. I have been exploring multiple series over the years with a strong emphasis on our avian friends. This led to my most recent project with South Carolina Audubon through the Human Disturbance Project at Folly Beach’s Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve where I created multiple murals to bring awareness to nesting shorebirds. By far, this is the project I am most proud of, and a dream to have my work tied to a conservation effort that I fully support.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I grew up on a large farm. My family ran a large horse boarding stable. I was surrounded by animals and nature, so of course, this is where my love for it all came from. I have always been a bit reclusive, especially as a child. I preferred to spend time exploring the woods on horseback with my pack of dogs that found refuge on the farm. I learned at a young age to have respect for all creatures and the environment.
Contact Info:
- Website: Tennysoncorleyart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tennyson_corley_art
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/TennsonCorleyArt/
