Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige Barton.
Paige, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve been creating for as long as I can remember. I grew up in a family of athletes. So, I tried sports, but quickly realized they weren’t my thing. I was always that kid with a stack of coloring books & a backpack full of crayons in the corner. I’d never thought of it as a career, nothing more than a fun hobby, but that changed when I got to high school. To be honest, my high school experience wasn’t the best. It was a big school that I felt like I was going into alone. I kept my head down, focused on my grades, and prepared to push through the next four years. I had no idea that I would find my passion through the struggle.
I started with the standard art classes and worked my way up to the more advanced ones. By the time Junior Year came around, there was a fork in the road. I could stay in the advanced class or I could take it a step further, and go to AP Portfolio. AP Portfolio was a college-level class. I was scared that my work wasn’t good enough for it, so I never even considered it. My art teacher, Mr. Lasseter, changed my mind by simply proposing that I think about it. I ended up going for it, and it was the best decision I could’ve made.
Looking back, I realize how much of a turning point this was for me. I hadn’t ever struggled much with academics, but the act of just going to school was detrimental to me. I considered taking all of my classes online, but art is what kept me on campus. I felt like I had finally found my thing, and it gave me something to work towards verses just going through the motions. In taking that class, I learned to be more confident in presenting my art and better at accepting criticism. I discovered that creating art is what I love to do, and I wanted it to be my career.
After graduating high school, I was confused. I knew that I wanted to be an artist, but I wasn’t sure how to achieve that. All of my peers were headed to college, and I felt so much pressure to go as well. I was worried what people would think of me if I didn’t go. It was as if not going to college was equivalent to not doing anything at all. I told everyone that I was taking a “gap year”, but knew deep down that I didn’t want to go at all.
I’ve been out of school for three years now, and I’ve been following my passion. Along with the glamorous job of waiting tables to support my art, I’ve continued to create the things that I love; and it’s taken me places that I couldn’t have imagined. I’ve traveled to so many new places where I’ve seen a multitude of new art & gathered endless inspiration. I went to Paris, New York, London, and more; All the places that I’ve dreamed of going since I was a kid. I’ve been heavily inspired by music, and through that have gotten to create art for some incredible people. I’ve been lucky enough to present my art to artists such as G-Eazy and Billie Eilish. I made a painting for Radio Host, Zach Sang, and I’ve been working with other amazing internet personalities in the last year. It’s been absolutely surreal to be able to meet people that I’m such a fan of. Each one of them has contributed to my journey as an artist, and I feel that it’s only just the beginning.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My journey has definitely had its ups & downs. I think that for a long time, I struggled with being confident in my work. I was nervous that people wouldn’t take me seriously even after meeting & presenting my work to some of my idols. I had these insane highs that were followed by deep lows. I must admit that most of the pressure was internal. I constantly critiqued & held myself to seemingly impossible standards. I would convince myself that whatever I had accomplished had to have been an accident or just good luck.
In those times, I had great people surrounding me, reminding me that I’d worked hard for that achievement and that I deserved it. My dad always tells me that “your greatest weaknesses are also your greatest strengths”. So, as much as I tear myself apart trying to achieve perfection, it constantly motivates me to do better and to work harder.
My advice to any young woman just starting her journey is to simply trust yourself. It sounds cliché, but you have to follow your heart. If you’re passionate about something, chase it, because you never know where it could take you. You could be one painting, one person, even one day away from achieving your dream; but if you quit, you’ll never know. We all owe it to ourselves to chase our dreams. Also, if you’re still searching for your passion, that’s okay, too. Keep going until you find it. There have been so many times that I’ve questioned myself, lost hope, and felt like giving up entirely. I truly can’t imagine where I would be if I did. I understand that trusting yourself is easier said than done. I know that it can be scary, but I think that deep down, you’ll always know what’s best for you.
We’d love to hear more about your art.
Though my style, medium, and subject matter have changed plenty of times, I believe that I’ve really found my niche in the last couple of years. I create vibrant, acrylic paintings on canvas in a Pop Art style. Some of my favorite great artists are Andy Warhol & Roy Lichtenstein. Through them, I found my favorite style in which I love to create. I always use very bright colors along with black outlines in order to stay consistent. Subject wise, I love fashion, pop culture, and music.
A lot of my art comes together based on phrases or collections of lyrics that I’ve heard. I also recreate photos or outfits on canvas, but I’m always sure to make them my own. I love being able to take something and show people how I see it through my own lens. My paintings take weeks to create, and so much love goes into every single one. In between paintings, I also make digital art using my iPad. It’s a more recent medium in my life, but I love it. With it, I’ve been able to create prints & stickers that I sell in my Etsy shop. Through the shop, I’ve been sending packages all over the world which has been so cool for me.
I think what sets me apart is that as much as I want to be an independent artist, that’s not my ultimate goal. I more so see it as a stepping stone. Creating art is a huge passion of mine, but my passion for helping people is even greater. My ultimate dream is to open a studio space as well as a gallery for aspiring artists to create and display their work. I would love to take in young and less-fortunate artists and help them to support their dreams. Mentor them, teach them, and most of all, believe in them. Artists are a part of our culture, and that needs to be preserved.
I want to shed light on the stories of young women and amplify their voices. Provide a place in which they are heard and understood. Their stories deserve to be heard. Before I’m able to do this, I need to create a platform and establish myself as an artist first. I need to continue to learn and build experience, therefore, establishing credibility. So, when I say “stepping stone”, I mean that being an artist has always been my dream, but I’m planning on using that dream in order to pursue another. I think that sets me apart because I’ve never been interested in the money or in promoting myself. I’m interested in creating, learning, teaching, and then passing the torch to the youth.
It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
With the help of social media & platforms like YouTube, there are so many forms of inspiration today. One of my favorite things to listen to are interviews. I love to hear other people’s stories, especially the stories of those I look up to. I love hearing people’s thoughts, struggles, triumphs, and anything else that they’re willing to share. It breeds so much inspiration for me. It gives me hope that if they could do something as great as they have, then so could I.
Like I’ve mentioned, I love music, but something that I love even more is getting to know the artists behind it. Specifically, the show that I love the most for that is “The Zach Sang Show”. I’ve grown to love this show above the rest because Zach is an incredible conversationalist. He always asks the questions that are worth asking, not the same ones that everybody else does. He’s great at making his guests comfortable enough to open up. I admire him & his show a lot. So, you can imagine how starstruck I was when he asked me to make him a painting.
I also listen to interviews through podcasts. Some of my favorites are “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepherd”, “Curious with Josh Peck”, and “Small Doses with Amanda Seales”. Recently, I’ve found a couple awesome podcasts interviewing artists like myself such as “ART BISH” with Claire Bishara & “Clean Break with Matt Gondek”. I thoroughly enjoy learning, especially from people & their stories. I love soaking up the information from these outlets and applying it to my own life. It allows me to see new perspectives, and I think we could all use that from time to time.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.paigebartonart.com
- Email: paigebartonart@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/paigebartonart
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/paigebartonart
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/paigebartonart
- Other: www.etsy.com/shop/PaigeBartonArt
Image Credit:
Paige Barton
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