MAGNOLIA

How old were you when you realized you were an “artist”?

I did not even start painting until my Dad died. I needed a release and chose to learn to paint. I am so glad that I did. I was 28.

Who or what inspired you as you to make art in the beginning?

I wanted to paint very realistic like Dalhart Windberg, a Texas Artist from Goliad, Texas

What is your background in art?

I have taken workshops and am mostly self-taught.

What role do you feel an artist has in society?

I feel we should give back to people by sharing our art.

Do you have a vision or a reason for the art you create?

I create art that inspires me. I paint many different subjects.

What part of you do you see in your artwork?

I don’t know how I would answer this as my being is in everything I create.

How do you know when your art is complete or finished?

I feel it is finished when I go over the painting and am satisfied with my painting.

Today, who has had the greatest influence on your work?

I do like many artists and value their opinion. I like Laurie Pace, Rusty Jones, and many other plein art artists.

Name three artists you would like to be compared to.

Oh that is very hard. I would love to be compared to Richard Schmid and my friend Ann Hoffpauir.

What is your artistic medium of choice? Why?

I am hooked on oils and I like the way you can work with it. I have tried acrylics and watercolors but always come back to my oils.

Whose work do you relate to most? Who inspire you?

I relate to artists who paint realistic and some impressionistic.

What food, drink or song inspires you or gets your creative juices flowing?

I listen to Elvis, Rod Stewart, and country music.

Has your art evolved or changed in the past ten years? If so, how? What are your strengths and weakness?

My works have improved and I am very happy about that. I would love to get better and better. My strengths are, I am not afraid to try bold colors and new subjects, I experiment with colors and limited palettes. I have found that I love to teach classes.

Do you have a favorite piece of art?

My favorite piece of art is a painting I did of my brother and me when we were about 4 and 5. We had outfits I painted us in and I remember so many happy times with my brother.

Do you find the artistic Life lonely? How do you counteract the solitude?

No, I find artistic life soothing. I love the solitude when I am painting, I like people but I am not bored with my own company. When not in my studio, I am with my husband of 51 years and our friends and family.

If you could picture yourself 5 or 10 years from now, where would you be and what would you be doing?

I would probably still be creating and plein air painting, I have been painting for over 37 years and I have never been bored with it. I strive to be better than I am right now. I will never stop learning.

What is the best piece of advice you could give to an artist just getting started?

Never ever give up. You cannot learn everything in just a few lessons or workshops.

An Interview with Barbara Haviland - Artists of Texas