Charlotte Simpson-Baucom

A: How long have you been a member of the guild and on the guild board?

C: I joined in 2011 and volunteered for the board a few months later.

A: What do you do/ have done in your role?

C: I have been Historian, and done Publicity, Refreshments(Hospitality?), Facebook, and have chaired the McDowell Arts Center Show for maybe 5 or 6 years. I also helped redesign the GCA logo, signage, and printed materials.

A: Why did you join the guild?

C: I joined the Guild to have somewhere to show my work and meet other artists.

A: When and how did you realize that you are an artist?

C: I have always known I was an artist, since elementary school or before.

A: What is your medium?

C: I paint mostly with acrylics, and color pencils, and also combine them.

A: What is your art about?

C: My art is about bright colors and landscapes and plants. And I paint a lot from photos taken during traveling.

A: What is your method of producing artwork?

C: I paint on canvas with acrylic paints, and when combing acrylic paint and color pencil, I use Rives BFK cotton rag paper.

A: Do you have a studio space?

C: I have a large studio in my home above the garage.

A: How much time do you spend creating art?

C: Since retiring from full-time work as a decorative painter and Mural artist, I am in my studio maybe 1 or 2 days a week. I still do work, in the studio only, for some of my interior design contacts and previous decorative painting clients, but I no longer travel to do offsite murals and faux finishes.

A: What are some of the things you do to promote your art?

C: I show my art with the Guild and another local (MAG)art group. In years past I sold art at craft and art shows around the Carolinas. I also have a website and sell through word of mouth from previous clients.

A: What advice would you like to share about the creative process, selling art in Charlotte or anything else?

C: My advice for selling art is to network with friends and family, think about what you love to do but also what will sell to most people, and most of all....show your art whenever you can! If people love it they will buy it!