Today we’d like to introduce you to Rae Broyles.
Hi Rae, 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?
I grew up outside of Chicago and came from a long line of painters and musicians. My father was a professional illustrator and hobby watercolorist in the 1950’s and at least two generations before him were professional painters as well. He was a musician and his mom taught piano . His dad sang opera as well. Fortunately, art was encouraged in my childhood. I always feel for kids who’s parents just don’t get it. I will say to those parents, Walt Disney? Steven Spielberg? Artists…And NOT starving. LOL. My mom was also a talented painter but was overshadowed by my dad while raising the family. Nod to Frida…. She is originally from Norway and lived there through WWII during the occupation.
Although there was so much art around me, I was eventually steered towards “commercial” art as well. I studied illustration at The American Academy of Art in Chicago and then at Rhode Island School of Design and went on to become a package designer.
Eventually I was promoted to creative director after many years in the business of marketing. After living all around the US for various positions, I settled in Atlanta with my husband and started my professional painting career about 20 years ago.
Since then, I have been fortunate enough to have shown my work nationally and internationally. Since college I have studied and taught at various workshops as well as at The Fine Arts Workshop in Atlanta. I currently continue to paint and run my own studio called Fountainhead Art Space.
Fountainhead’s sole purpose is to encourage, inspire and learn with other artists around Atlanta and the US. I hire painting teachers with various backgrounds but all are quite accomplished. Although, I welcome anyone to take classes here as we offer many workshops where no experience is necessary.
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?
The struggles I have had have been mostly internal although not different from many other artists in my position. I have an undying urge to create and creating at the level I expect of myself takes long periods of uninterrupted time. It can be a very selfish pursuit at times. This combined with raising a family and taking care of elderly parents is not easy. I have finally come to a point where I can focus, at least a bit more, on my painting and artistic pursuits.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
When I paint, I truly feel that the paintings are already out in the universe. I am just a vehicle to put them down on the canvas. At times, when I paint or more importantly when I write, I often can barely recall the actual writing. It truly flows from another place.
As far as my most successful work I have accomplished, I would say that it is my videographic paintings. Not only because I feel it is a unique process and it has been a number of years since I produced them, I have not forgotten the emotional responses they drew from people at my exhibit. Bringing such emotion to a perfect stranger is an incredible feeling.
The process involves projecting video onto the canvas and then painting to connect with the movements in the video…
Each piece includes performance/dance, poetry, music, video and painting. It is a way to more fully develop my experience with the piece and incorporate all my creative inspirations.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Through starting and working at Fountainhead Art Space, I have found great joy in encouraging artists to pursue their creative dreams. So many artists just need a bit of confidence and a bit of education to jump start them onto a true creative journey. And in addition, I personally continue to learn from the teachers and students and that is of the utmost importance to me. It truly is the journey that matters. We must all trust the process no matter what we are doing in life.
Contact Info:
- Email: raebroyles@me.com
- Website: www.raebroyles.com
- Instagram: raebroyles and fountainheadartspace
- Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user13617464
- Other: www.fountainheadartspace.com
Image Credits
Liz Stubbs – Photographer
