Today we’d like to introduce you to Renae McGuire.
Hi Renae, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Originally from Virginia, I reside in North Carolina with my husband, Tim and my sweet grey Percheron cross horse, Louie. I attended Averett College for commercial and fine art, but my first career was as a full-time musician/vocalist, traveling as a singer/songwriter/musician for 12 years. Tim and I moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1992 where we performed as a duo and did some recording. The wife of a producer friend ushered me into the growing Nashville visual art scene, and I worked with the Nashville Arts Foundation in the main gallery and the local artists gallery. I decided to enter the fine art curriculum at Watkins Art Institute there and I rediscovered my love for painting. I joined VAAN (Visual Arts Alliance of Nashville) and Untitled (a creative, uncensored art group), and volunteered as a docent for the First Center for the Visual Arts. A friend and I opened “Gallery of the Tennessee Artist” in downtown Nashville when the Nashville Arts Foundation Gallery closed it’s doors, and I worked as a mural artist for my own company, “Interior Illusions”. I had a number of group, solo, and gallery shows in the Nashville area, including the Madison Art Center, the Parthenon, 328 Performance Hall, 12th and Porter, Dreamworks Records office on Music Row. Tim and I moved to North Carolina in 2004 and built our home here in Waxhaw in 2005. I am a member of the Guild of Charlotte Artists and Waxhaw Arts Council. A fellow artist and I co-organize the annual Waxhaw Art Crawl and other local art events. I enjoy teaching painting classes and creating in my local studio in Waxhaw. While living here in North Carolina I have loved having my horse, Louie to spoil and have adventures with (previously fox hunting with Mecklenburg Hounds, now mostly trail riding). Lately my painting passion is creating abstracts with horses, crows, poppies, and other subjects. I paint with oils, acrylics, inks, and sometimes mixed media.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I had a huge passion for music from age 7. I actually wanted to be a drummer, haha, but my parents lured me over to guitar and piano to save their nerves. I took classical piano lessons until age 12. I decided that I wanted to be a professional musician after going to my first colosseum concert when I was 13. My parents had different ideas for me and had me attend Averett College for commercial art after high school. I dropped out before getting a degree and joined a full time band. That led to a career in music, meeting my husband who was also a musician, and moving to Nashville. Traveling on the road as a musician led to so many adventures, meeting a large variety of people, and experiencing the hard work of making it in a not so normal occupation (LOTS of stories there!). I wouldn’t change anything though. My husband and I learned together how to create a viable business with no tangible product except ourselves, and even had a bit of radio airplay of an original song. Life is a lot easier now being in one place and enjoying stable pursuits (no pun intended – horse), and creating individually.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a visual artist, and paint in oils, acrylic, inks, and sometimes other media. I have gone through several phases with my process and style. I did a series of value study paintings (black to white) years ago to resemble old photographs, and experimented with landscapes. still lifes, practicing “all the things”. I have now found my passion creating abstract works, sometimes incorporating some more realistic subjects into my paintings. I love painting horses, poppies, crows, and other animals or objects into my abstracts. I love the way that color, or lack of, can lend to the feeling and message of a painting. If I have something that I need to express, I say it metaphorically through my paintings. Everyone has their own life experience though, and they are welcome to interpret them how they will. I am happy to have one of my paintings in an upcoming show at the Mint Museum in uptown Charlotte (from June 17th through August), and have paintings in the Presson Gallery in Monroe, NC and Stewart’s Village Gallery in Waxhaw.
What were you like growing up?
I was an only child and spent as much of my time as possible in nature. I loved riding horses, walking in the woods, observing trees, sky, rocks, plants, etc. for their color and detail. I had wonderful parents. My dad was adventurous and encouraged me to try some bold things, like learning to waterski at age 5, slalom ski at 7 then kick that ski off to barefoot ski at 8 (which was NOT the greatest idea!), and jump off cliffs at the lake where I grew up. His philosophy was “You can do anything that you really want”, and “if your house burns down, pitch a tent”. My mom was artistic and creative and had a beautiful singing voice. She always encouraged my art. Not having brothers or sisters (which I always wanted) necessitated having to use my imagination – not a bad thing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://renaemcguire.faso.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renaemcguireart
