Daily Inspiration: Meet Renée Noël

Today we’d like to introduce you to Renée Noël.

Hi Renée, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My career as a fine artist has come full circle. Originally, I first declared my major in Los Angeles, California Fine Arts with a concentration in Illustration. Learning just how political and difficult it was to make a living as a fine artist, I eventually changed my major to graphic design and moved to Northern California earning a bachelor’s degree in Communication with a concentration in Design. Working as a graphic designer was a stable and lucrative career and taught me so much about general business, time management, deadlines, and marketing.

As my life evolved, I relocated to Colorado with my family, where I enjoyed the outdoors and working remotely from home doing contract work for various companies all while juggling family life. With my children getting older, I found that I still craved a more organic way of creating. So I got to work in my home studio and I started painting and drawing everything that was associated with the natural beauty of the outdoors. I immersed myself in the fine art community, competing in various art shows throughout Boulder County and nearby alpine communities.

With no easy task, I found myself winning monetary awards and recognition for my artwork. This prompted me to think about combining my love for design and the visual arts into a small business (Renée G. Noël Paintings, LLC.). I’m now part of a local gallery, (The Walnut Gallery), and I sell my stationery through two local businesses (Inkberry Books and The Little Shop Niwot) both located in Niwot Colorado. One of my career ventures is to sell my stationery to more local businesses and to exhibit more paintings in fine art galleries located in Colorado and beyond. Shortly, my goal is to set up an online shop where I can sell my stationery and smaller paintings to the general public.

Along the way in my creative ventures, I have had the honor of being interviewed by art students and sharing my creative journey with them. What is very satisfying is the ability to give art students solid advice. I had people that believed in my ability along the way and gave me words of encouragement and opportunities. It’s rewarding to pay it forward the best way that I can. My son is now doing commissions and I’m so happy to be able to offer art and business advice if he ever should need it.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Where do I start? When you tell people you have your own business they automatically think you’re wealthy and incredibly successful…this is not always the case.

When you first start a business many people take out business loans and take on leases to host a physical shop or storefront. I have done none of these tasks and maybe some think that I should have. However, I keep a low overhead, I have no employees and I wear ALL the hats. For most of my years in business, every profit that I have made almost always goes back into the business to pay for art memberships, exhibition fees, supplies, equipment, taxes, etc. It’s been almost ten years since I’ve been in business and I can now finally see a glimpse of light.

YES, it is exhausting, but I am doing things in my time and in a way that is respectful to my main priority which is my family and friends. I know how I’m wired and yes I enjoy creating, networking, and searching for new business opportunities, but I will not jeopardize my personal life for that. There’s no meaning in one’s success if you can’t share your life with your people.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
“I thought it would never happen to me, but it did!” Artists are usually known for a type of style, subject, or using a certain medium(s). I use a style of painting that I like to call “dry brushing.” This is where you apply paint on the canvas and use a very stiff stencil brush to blend multiple colors to create a seamless cloud formation. My reoccurring theme seems to be skyscapes with clouds as my subject matter and my main medium is acrylics. I appreciate that clouds are different every time they are present in the sky. The cloud formations that I’ve witnessed in Colorado are abstract in shape texture and color. They are positively challenging to paint and that’s where I thrive.

“Why acrylic painting?” Just as my life has evolved, so has my medium. When I first started creating my main medium was graphite, alcohol markers, and colored pencils. Creating is a very physical experience and I noticed my hands were becoming extremely tired from repetitive motion. This is when I took on painting with acrylics. Painting is less strenuous on the body, and personally, it is more relaxing. The experience of feeling the brush move across the canvas is soothing. I chose acrylics, because it is water soluble (less chemicals to deal with), easy to work with, offer brilliant colors, and dry fast.

“How do you find your references for your paintings?” I call it cloud hunting. This is where I take my camera, hop on my cruiser bike in the early evening with my husband and hunt for the most inspiring cloud formations. I actually “cloud hunt” wherever I go, it isn’t always in Colorado.I find myself looking up for inspiration.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
“I slow down to be grateful, as I cast my eyes on the beauty that surrounds me.” -RGN

Pricing:

• 24″x48″ paintings $1000+
• 30″x40″ paintings $1000+
• stationery items under $20

Contact Info:

• Website: renee-noel.pixels.com
• Instagram: @reneenoelart
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/rgnpaintings.72