Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Doelling
Hi Christina, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been artistic my whole life; drawing was my passion as a child. I discovered abstract expressionism in college and was hooked. I immediately loved the freedom of abstract work and how it wasn’t about getting a person or landscape perfectly depicted, but rather, about using your heart and soul to create something beautiful with just the paint itself through layers, shapes, marks and lines. I graduated from Skidmore College with Highest Honors in Studio Art, and a minor in Business, and segued into advertising. I graduated from the Portfolio Center in Atlanta and was an art director for 10 years in agencies in San Francisco and Atlanta. While creating ads, I always continued to paint. In 2001, I made that big leap of faith, and started my journey as a professional artist. In the last two decades, I have honed my skills and found my voice. My paintings are installed in the homes and offices of countless collectors throughout the US, and some overseas. My work has been featured in showhouses, in magazines, and has been selected for use on designer home TV shows. I love what I do, and I think that joy comes through in my work.
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?
Few young artists are going to go from completely unknown to successful overnight without significant connections and incredible luck, so it’s important to keep goals realistic. My goal has always been very simple: to paint what I love, and hope that some people might love what I paint. I took things one small step at a time. With each gallery that saw merit in my work and wanted to represent me over the years, I was buoyed. With each sale, I gained confidence. With each painting that did not sell, I learned. I was chosen as an Emerging Artist early in my career by “Art & Antiques Magazine”, which was exciting, but when people send me photos of my paintings installed in their beautiful homes, and tell me how happy they are seeing my work every day, that is what truly thrills me and makes me feel like I’ve achieved something worthwhile. Keeping an even perspective is important, and know that some years are going to be more lucrative and offer more opportunities than others. The most difficult part of being an artist for me is distribution. I have long-term relationships with the galleries that I am currently represented by, and I value them tremendously. The reality is, selling original art is a niche business with a rather small demographic. I have a mental, emotional and even physical need to paint and could easily create more work every month, but each of those pieces needs to get in front of collectors, and that is an on-going challenge that requires a lot of patience.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m proud to say that my style is very much my own; it’s recognizable and distinctive. My paintings themselves each have a personality that you can sense and feel, and I think that resonates with people. I use acrylic paint and mixed media, often layering in charcoal, pencil, and oil stick for interest. Areas of intense action are usually juxtaposed with areas of calmness, and that compositional balance is important in my work. I never repeat a painting; I constantly challenge myself with each new adventure to do something that I haven’t done before. I approach each blank canvas with passion and curiosity, asking the canvas “What do you want to be?” and then I listen. Thick tangible texture, multiple layers peeking through, thoughtful color combinations, interesting mark making (often created with the mixed media), and a high level of energy that gets transferred from me directly into my work, is what makes my paintings “click”, and recognizably mine.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I am innately creative. I have always loved making beautiful things, and seeing the reaction from other people who admire them and find joy in what I make feeds my soul like nothing else can. I have to have that creative release, and that time alone in my studio is magical; just me, with my music playing and paint flying, solving the puzzle. I love the sheer surprise of what will happen next, and that curiosity and wondering “What else can I create?” drives me.
Pricing:
- Retail prices range from $1500 t0 $5200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christinadoelling.art/
- Instagram: @christinadoelling
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/ChristinaDoellingArt
