Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Claire Tillotson.
Hi Mary Claire, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was an arty kid and always thought I would be a professional artist – I was one of those arty kids throughout school and attended Governor’s School for the Arts, and went on to major in fine arts at Winthrop University. But – I felt quite lost at graduation. One thing missing from art school is training and education on being a professional artist – which is essentially a very unique type of small business. After a few months holding down multiple entry level and waiting tables – I made a turn-about and decided to go to law school. I was the only law student with an art background in my class, not surprisingly.
After getting out of all my schooling and launching into being an attorney, art was exactly zero part of my life for about twelve years, as I had a busy career and then began raising a family. After I had my first child, I began to dabble in art workshops on weekends here and there. Those were few and far between, enough to light a small spark, but not to know what to do with it, so the spark would repeatedly fizzle – and I might go a year or two before trying something else out. During that time, there were really no online classes. Being a full time professional and a mom made it really tough to even find something to suit my schedule. For many years,
One impetus for my return to art was the death of my mother – who was a selfless person, as a mother. I didn’t see her fully as a person with her own unrealized dreams, until after her death. That event didn’t light a fire in me, but rather was the beginning of a slow realization that I was living a life based on fulfilling others’ wants and needs, without regard to my own. In fact – I had a hard time even knowing what my own wants and needs were. It took another little while for me to realize the key to reclaiming myself was to begin to revisit the things that had captured my attention in childhood – which was primarily art!
My return to an art practice was made possible by two things: 1. The proliferation of online art classes during Covid – a blessing for working outside the home parents like me, and 2. The realization that an art practice could be created with just a few minutes a day. When I implemented that practice – this is when my art practice took off! Being a mom, and a working mom, makes for being an ultimate time manager. I manage my time to include art – though it’s now become a business, it’s still something I do for me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been an interesting road, full of learning experiences, and definitely not smooth, but I wouldn’t trade it. One that is a biggie I’ve had to learn a few times is resisting the urge to over-commit. I really believe it’s been important to say “yes” to a lot of things when starting out – it is part of the process of discerning what is right and wrong for me. Yet, time and time again I’ve found myself up against a deadline – usually varnishing paintings or packing them up at the last minute, or trying to update my website on a promised schedule for a release of work. I’ve definitely improved in this area because when you’re starting out, it’s so easy to underestimate all of the “little” things that add up, and the practice has both helped me speed up some processes, as well as learn to build in time buffers.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I paint to evoke emotion and mood, using primarily an abstract language. I create collections of work centered around mood, with color the primary vehicle for creating that mood, and layers of thin and thick paint combining to create an immersive sense of depth. My work is known for being rooted to a distinct sense of place as well, and I call on my personal relationship with nature as the foundation. Most of my inspiration is derived from the natural beauty I try to place myself in everyday, most often the wooded paths and lake near where I live. Being from the upstate – this inspiration often translates to a lush palette featuring green, though I do use a wide variety of color.
The thread that runs through all of my work, since it varies in mood and color, is a sense of peace, tranquility, and a message of hope.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Join in person local groups and keep looking for your people – you will find them eventually. If you are shy, even starting with an online group in your niche can feel easier.
What has worked for me in making connections is looking for 1. kindred spirits in local groups for my niche, and even Instagram! I’ve become quite close friends with several artists that started off as Instagram follows, 2. Looking for kindred spirits who aren’t directly in the same niche (art for me), but instead do something that I appreciate – it’s a great way to develop relationships while not asking for something in return. Yet, sometimes time organic collaborations grow from these relationships which is serendipitous when it happens!
Most of all, just keep showing up even when it feels uncomfortable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mctstudio.art
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/mctillotsonstudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mctillotsonstudio
