Angela Lou-Gilchrist

Angela’s Soul Art Day Interview

What shaped you as an artist?

My earliest influences were Sue Dawe, a unicorn artist from the 1980s, travelogue photos, and Egyptian hieroglyphics. I was also captivated by Francois Boucher, Jean-Honore Fragonard, the Impressionists (namely Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir), and Post-Impressionists like Maurice Brazil Prendergast. Recently the works of John Singer Sargent has caught my attention. I’m ever inspired by nature, spirituality, music, and literature.

What do you do when you feel creatively blocked?

Normally if I experience artists’ block, I’ll put on some uplifting music, introduce light movement like yoga, stretch, or dance, visit a museum, watch an inspiring movie, get cozy while delving into a great book. I don’t push because I know that the ideas might just need a little time to marinate.

What matters most to you when it comes to your art?

I’ve had to overcome many challenges to claim my life as an artist… As soon as I could hold a pencil, my mother encouraged me to draw. It was probably a tactic to keep me busy and out of trouble. When I began having homework in elementary school, I was dissuaded from having hobbies in favor of focusing all my attention towards my studies. Later on I did get involved in my high school’s art & literary magazine and various undergraduate literary journals. I submitted both drawings and poetry. After graduation, my career kept me pretty busy. I worked in healthcare for many years. It wasn’t until in my late 30s did I re-connect with art. I arrived early to a class at a local spiritual center and saw a flyer entitled, “Discovering Your Inner Artist.” It wasn’t until I was back home that I decided to register for this workshop. It was the best decision I ever made. After the workshop ended, I re-structured my life to dedicate time to creativity. I can absolutely say that I’m a happier and more resilient person for it. I’ve even used my creativity in healing my inner child, as a way to relax, and retreat into my imagination. I hope to contribute more beauty to the world. I will always be on a personal journey of exploration, self-discovery; continuously seeking new knowledge and inspiration. I’m thankful that it has brought like-minded, nurturing communities into my life.