Today we’d like to introduce you to Kandice Pierce.
Hi Kandice, 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 backstory with our readers?
I’m a full-time artist, travel enthusiast, owner of Pierce & Paint, and, as someone once said perfectly, a recovering Interior Designer. I spent nearly 15 years as an interior designer, working primarily on large-scale hospitality planning projects. While I miss the daily interaction with peers and solving the giant puzzles of a project, I’m currently following my dreams and am focused on my artistic journey. I attended art school at the Savannah College of Art and Design, but surprisingly only ever took one lone painting class.
From a young age, and when I say young, I mean preschool, I’ve always gravitated towards art. My two favorite activities back then were coloring or building blocks, so it’s no wonder that my path led me to interior design and then circled back to art. One of the primary reasons I went into Interior Design was that it seemed like a stable creative career choice. In my head, it was never an option to be a full-time artist because who does that? That limiting belief holds so many creatives back, but I’m breaking through it, and I hope to encourage others to follow their passions too.
I’m proud to say that I now have original artwork hanging in a female-owned local gallery, a print shop that offers art for all budgets, am teaching private lessons and workshops, and so much more. I’m attracted to the freedom that the artist’s way of living allows so that I can design my dream lifestyle. I’m still unlearning many habits and limiting beliefs from my corporate days. I’m now embracing the warmth I’ve found in a community of artists who share so freely, want to spread kindness, and tell the story of the world that might not be covered in the text of a history book.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Like many others, I’ve had bumps along the way, but I am grateful for where this path has led me. During the pandemic, I was placed on furlough for nine months (yes, I waited because I am loyal to a fault!) and was eventually let go. During that leave, I had time to pause and take stock of what truly brought me happiness and return to art. I realized then that people need art and that I bring joy to others by sharing my art. I shared that I would start taking portrait commissions, and people reserved the first ten spots within hours. The next thing that I knew, I had more than 30 commissions in my first year.
I have learned to value my work but can at times, and I can still feel very vulnerable when putting that work out publicly and trusting that others will too. Your brain wants to protect you and to do the safe thing. Putting myself out there and potentially failing, having no response, or being dismissed are all things that I experienced. Those moments can be challenging, but it’s been worth the effort and risk. My artwork is not for everyone, but it is for the audience that chooses me.
I’m still working through some limiting beliefs that society sets for artists, such as the “starving artist” or “you can’t make a living off of art alone” thoughts that are so freely shared. Additionally, the looks you get from those (even people close to me) that you can read in their eyes, wondering if I’m doing the right thing. Lastly, I’m learning to permit myself to design the life I want, and I’m making new habits separate from the corporate mindset and stress it brought me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My sense of inspiration comes from the connections I develop when adventuring with those I hold close. For example, hiking with my four-year-old niece through a desert preserve in Phoenix inspired the paintings in my Southwest Collection. I painted those memories to feel near her, and those paintings are a fond reminder. When I’ve shared my work at art festivals, people often turn to whomever they are with and immediately start talking about a special memory they share. They smile as they remember, and it warms my heart to see it! My goal is to inspire and encourage connections between people. I hope they find it with nature and with each other.
My go-to mediums are oil and acrylic paints, and I often switch between the two depending on where I am. When I’m in the studio, I use oil paints because they have a slower drying time, allowing me to create multiple layers and achieve the effect of dramatic lighting that many of my landscape paintings need. When I travel or paint Plein air (when I paint outside), I use acrylics because of their easy cleanup and short drying time.
I’m most proud of my large-scale paintings and am comfortable on canvases size 30”x40” or larger. One tip I have for other creatives is to use a larger brush than you think you need. When painting large, the first brushes I used are either 4” or 6” wide. While I love painting large, I recently challenged myself to complete 30 mini paintings in five weeks. After I finished, I had such a sense of accomplishment since it was one of the first significant goals that I’ve completed since becoming a full-time artist.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I am happy to share there are some exciting, new things unfolding throughout this year, such as educational offerings, new prints, licensing, and of course, original work. If you’d like to stay in touch, I’d encourage you to sign up for my email list. I send a newsletter with tips about painting on your own, news of upcoming events, and you’ll get first access to new collections! If you’d like to see my work in person, then please check out the events at The Cathedral in east Austin or find me at local art festivals.
Contact Info:
- Email: pierceandpaint@gmail.com
- Website: www.pierceandpaint.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pierceandpaint/
Image Credits
Chrissy Blake, Kandice Pierce
