Meet Grace Noel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Noel.

Hi Grace, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
My journey as a creative has been a lifelong path. As a child — I had a talent and thirst for growing my artistic skills in visual art. I worked on honing my skills at home and school. In high school, my art teacher encouraged me to enter art competitions in which I won first place every year and was recognized on the national level.

I doubted a full-time career as an artist and thought I could do it in tandem with my secondary interest: medicine and healing arts. Nonetheless, I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in 2011 and began showing my art in galleries immediately across the US. In 2013, I joined the membership of the Denver Art Society Artist Coop and Nonprofit where I still display my artwork and have my public art studio available for a visit Mon-Sun, 10 am – 7 pm.

From 2013 – 2020 I owned two businesses, a landscaping and a handy lady business in tandem with my art business. One business fed the other until the COVID-19 lockdowns and I could no longer visit my client’s homes for my landscaping and handy lady business. So my art business became my main focus and has been ever since.

My artwork resonates with this winding journey in the rainbow pallet that weaves each piece together. The rainbow pallet represents the four elements: fire, earth, wind, and water. We are all made of sunshine. Sunshine makes the plants grow, the water flow, and the wind blows. So now, and every day, is an opportunity to go on a magical journey through the rainbow.

I began my professional art career making political art. Political activism concerning human rights, environmental stewardship, equality, inclusiveness, and the like were themes in my life since early childhood. I began my professional art career at the end of the Great Recession in 2012 — frankly, art buyers were not interested in purchasing political art and I had to reinvent my style and message.

I did soul searching: I explored self-sufficient communities and alternative lifestyles and explored my indigenous roots connected to the native tribes: Ute and Hopi-Tewa. I also committed to a yoga and meditation daily practice in 2014 after receiving my 200-hour yoga teacher certification. Ultimately, I found a way to bring together all of these experiences into my artwork through my knowledge and background in astrology.

I started my career as a professional artist in 2013 in Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe Dr at the Denver Art Society– an entire volunteer run, art cooperative, and nonprofit. I have had my studio at the Denver Art Society since 2014 where I have helped grow the nonprofit alongside my own business: Grace Noel Art, LLC.

In addition to being a professional artist, I have been a Board Member for Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe as the event committee chair, executive director of the Denver Art Society, and gallery manager of Spectra Art Space. I have performed every role in arts administration and I use this knowledge to help artists and arts organizations develop their businesses.

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?
My journey as an artist has been a lifelong lesson in facing my fears, making mistakes, taking losses, and continuing to move forward. Never Give Up – a phrase and concept rooted in my martial arts practice. Let’s revisit my earlier years. When I was moving into my studio in July 2014, fellow studio artist Dara Harvey said, “I think people don’t make it as artists, because they give up.

This process takes time – years.” I heard those words during a seemingly great time but personally, I was at my lowest and many hard years followed. During this transformative time, I developed into the artist I am today and I have so much gratitude for all the support along the way. Keeping in mind, that the art gallery: The Denver Art Society where my studio had freshly formed, was also a new gallery and barely staying afloat as well. There was no waitlist for the Underground studios in those days.

So it was up to a core team of us to get the gallery through. We keep the gallery afloat with our studios and ample volunteer time. Years passed and the Denver Art Society has been nurtured to a more stable position as well. “It just takes time, never give up.” I can relate my struggles to owning multiple businesses, maintaining three art spaces through the COVID-19 pandemic, power struggles within communities of artists, having my first child and becoming a new mom, and being one with the Colorado land because my familial lines run so deep.

For many years I gave up comforts and honed my life down to a small load so I could devote everything to being a full-time artist. To this day, my art career has grown alongside me every step of the way and continues to do so. It’s truly amazing and no other life path has taken me this far.

My own obstacles inhibited my growth. I learned to recognize my own obstacles by taking classes that expanded my business skills, art skills, hobbies, recreation, and language. I took my Guru’s guidance to recognize what opportunities I attracted and work with those. Somehow, whenever I doubt my path, it ends up being an exercise in realizing I am already on the right path. That now and every day is an opportunity to go on a magical journey through the rainbow.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My artwork is a reminder that we are all made of sunshine. Sunshine makes the plants grow, the water flow, and the wind blows. So now and every day is an opportunity to go, on a magical journey through the rainbow. I am a mixed media artist working in all media and newly introducing public art metal sculpture for 2022.

The unifying traits of my artwork are the four elements that create the rainbow Pallett that I use. My specialty leans towards my knowledge of astrology. I am the proudest of all my creations but the Chinese Zodiac 4 Elements series has something so special about it that it stands out amongst all of my artwork.

I teach classes every week that are for people of all ages and skill levels. My weekly Toddler and Me class has been a fun and creative way to spend time with the real littles. In this class, the students have a choice to hang their artwork in Gallery Gigantica – a 600-square-inch gallery dedicated to little artwork with a big message. Student artwork is for sale in Gallery Gigantica with the goal of providing free Toddler and Me classes.

The Toddler and Me class is in addition to my classes in fluid pour painting, resin pouring, woodblock carving, encaustic painting, and so much more! Classes are posted on my Eventbrite page, organizer Grace Noel Art. I also offer astrology readings for both western solar astrology and Chinese astrology.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Oh, I have so many recommendations! To begin, every day I use Duolingo to practice Spanish, Insight Timer for my morning and evening meditations, and Piyolog to record my toddler’s daily metrics that his doctor wants to know at his wellness checks.

As for books, both my Aunt Janet Noel and Uncle Tom Noel are professors of history. Janet has written many books about women’s history in Canada and Tom is also known as Dr. Colorado and has authored many books on Colorado History. A book that helped me take a deep look into astrology is called “The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes” by Theodora Lau.

Pricing:

• Astrology Readings: $110 per hour
• Art Classes: $30 – $80
• Artwork: varies

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gracenoel.art
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracenoel.art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GraceNoelArt
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/gracenoelart
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWP3ZQ3wEWZtL4jmi-0G7jQ
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@gracenoelart 

Image Credits
Cee Martinez and Cosmic Rae