Today we’d like to introduce you to Corinne Mitchell.
Corinne, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I grew up with supportive parents, although I was a child of divorce at the age of six. I saw my mother being quite independent, which was able to influence my self-esteem in a positive manner. My closest friends also know that for me, the artist Bob Ross was incredibly influential to my confidence. My mother was an art major at UGA during the 60s and a successful Gifted and Talented teacher for 45 years, and my father was a well-established Landscape Architect in Roswell for 30 years. Although I have no formal art training, I was immersed in the love of art and have an innate sense of shapes, lines, and positive and negative space through genetics. One interesting tidbit is that I really did not receive glasses until I was 10 years old. I am extremely near-sighted and if I have my contacts or glasses off, everything is blurry and I cannot make out any clear forms. All I can see are blurry, colorful shapes.
I received my BSEd from UGA in Communication, Sciences, and Disorders. As a Speech-Language Pathologist for 12 years, I was able to meet the communication needs of pediatrics and geriatrics. I have been married now for almost 15 years and have 2 wonderful children ages 11 and 9. During that time we lived in Woodstock, Ga, Saint Simons Island, and then moved to Marietta where we reside now.
During our time on Saint Simons Island, I say I ‘found my soul’. I was unable to find a job as a Speech-Language Pathologist, and was blown away when I walked into a local restaurant in Brunswick one day, to discover works by an amazing artist, Mandy Thompson. I found her on Facebook, messaged her and asked if she could mentor me as an emerging artist. She helped me discover that I am HSP (which means a Highly-Sensitive Person). Some of the traits include becoming overwhelmed with disorganization, being deeply moved by the arts, recognizing other people’s discomfort, avoiding violent media, and becoming bored easily. Knowing this about myself has been eye-opening and allows me to be fully immersed into displaying emotions visually, where words fail me.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
As a novice, I was beginning to surround myself in learning art techniques such as acrylic mediums and encaustic in 2016, I feel I am continuing to change and grow as an emerging artist. I honestly did not know why my desires were so strongly pulling me toward art, but looking back now, I feel that God was beginning to help me see how I was to fulfill the purpose for my existence on this earth. Through art, I aim to portray hope, light versus dark, and a spiritual strength.
Recently my father has succumbed to a crippling severe form of dementia. At this time he has periods of confusion so intense, that he barely remembers me and resides at a Memory care home. This causes great pain and anguish to me to see his mind so feeble. I turn to art as a therapy and now my abstract art continues to evolve.
What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
I am a big believer in the power of social media! I have met and currently communicate with many artists on Instagram. Community over competition is definitely an ideal that I uphold.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I am excited to have several works on display at the Buckhead Art & Company Gallery, Westside Market at Toco Hills, and in the showroom at Rustic Trades in Roswell. I also participate in pop-up shops at the Pottery Barn at the Avenue in East Cobb. My next pop-up shop will be during Veteran’s Day weekend this year. Instagram and Facebook are a great way to connect with me for current pieces for sale or commissions.
Contact Info:
- Email: artbycorinnemitchell@gmail.com
- Instagram: @artbycorinnemitchell
- Facebook: Art by Corinne Mitchell
Image Credit:
Studio photographs by Angelina Gonzales at Asterisk Photography
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