Paula Boyd Farrington

We had the opportunity to meet the talented artist Paula Boyd Farrington. Read below the full story:

Why do you prefer to express your feelings via art? 

I love the freedom that's found in artistic expression—the colors, the lines, the textures—and being able to mix layers and moments together, each adding their own energy and emotion, until it comes together into a wholly satisfying composition. Art allows complex feelings of awe or grief or reflection-that-defies-words to move through, to be shared, to be contemplated and embraced as part of our divinely human journey.

What are you working on at the moment?     

I'm working right now on a new series of intuitive acrylic paintings, as well as a grouping of altered books that will be featured on a collaborative project. 

What is your dream project?  

I am living the dream right here, right now, with space to explore and practice in my Grand Bahama studio. I am continually inspired by subtle textures—the various patterns of bark on the trunks of different kinds of palm trees, the changing marks the tides leave in the sand, or the micro mandalas found in the center of flowers—capturing an organic essence or the contrasting bold palettes of natural tropical splendor gives me joy.  Music and dance are also great inspirations, alongside geometric shapes that spiral through everything in life … from snails to cyber-spheres!

Should art be funded?           

I'm in favor of any opportunities to champion imagination and fund more creative expression in the world.  There are so many ways to foster creativity—through business, art, design, homemaking, diplomacy, engineering—you name it. Art is an uplifting and healing force in communities. It brings people together, sparks conversations, crosses cultural divides, and puts people back into a more human rhythm, balancing out the techno-zoom pace that comes hand-in-hand with this amazing cyber-campfire we now gather around every day to share our stories. Innovative funding platforms such as Patreon and Kickstarter are encouraging new more direct ways of interacting with artists, filmmakers, musicians, performers, and writers to lend support to their work in the world.

Professionally, what’s your goal?      

It makes my happy to see my work being shared and resonating with people; adding my voice to the calls for more rowdy bliss on the planet (hat tip for that phrase to author Rob Brezsny). I find both personal and professional joy in being an advocate for creativity in all its forms—the heart-centered goals are continually evolving—and it's energizing to see art making the world a brighter and less cranky place in general (Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaching founder and author, Jill Badonsky, showed me that!).  I have been blessed with inspiration that comes with an eclectic enthusiasm for the wonderful work of a wide variety of artists I continue to admire over the years:  Matisse, Flora Bowley, Susan Moir Mackay, Chantal Bethel, Paul Klee, Claudette Dean, Antonius Roberts, Rex Ray, Helga Strauss Stevens, Christine Matthäi, Donna Downey, Finnabair, my husband, Greg Farrington, and my daughter, Caitlin, just to name a few!

What’s your favorite piece of work that you have created?  

It's hard to choose one favorite—each is satisfying in its own way. One that stands out for me is one of my first pieces called "Woman in Flowers", which emerged out of random colors and mark-making to reveal a face amidst the contemporary blossoms. This piece really helped strengthen my intuition and taught me a lot about trusting the energy and being brave on the canvas in making choices. The process encouraged me to keep going—and still does!

Short Cv         

Paula Boyd Farrington celebrates the creative life as an artist, graphic designer, and Kaizen Muse Creativity Coach®. Her art embraces an intuitive process, allowing layers of color, texture, and mixed media to come together and merge into images revealing intricate blends and vibrant contrasts in both abstract and figurative pieces.

With colors as bold and vivid as an exuberant tropical garden, Farrington draws inspiration from the natural palettes in her adopted homeland of The Bahamas, as well as the many places around the world she has lived and worked.

Artist Statement         

I love creating art that makes you want to reach out and touch it ... layers that hold a spirit of discovery—the energy of diving again and again into the known and the unknown—trusting a compelling image will emerge in the process, or following my heart to capture a familiar form with new perspective.

Art opens me up to wonder, gratitude, connection, and the gifts of right now. I find fresh possibilities with each brush stroke or mark on the canvas. It’s a process that continues to surprise and excite. I am delighted, blessed, and enormously thankful for the encouragement of so many dear friends and family—Muses All—who inspire me with ongoing love, smiles, and jazzbo support.

www.theartistpaula.com

www.paulaboydfarrington.com

www.elanworld.tumblr.com