Lindsay Gilmore: Painting Outside
Did you think of yourself as a creative kid? What did you do for fun?
I was a total art nerd as a kid! I had no interest in playing with dolls or doing any imaginative play, but would absolutely lose my mind whenever we went to a craft store. I loved drawing and painting, but also just making stuff in general. It's been so wild to see my 7-old-daughter have interest in many of the same things. I love watching her creative spirit emerge!
I was lucky to have some great art teachers growing up, many of whom singled me out from an early age and took special time to encourage me and help me develop my skills. I don’t think I’d be where I am today without them! It makes me want to surround my girls with other adults (who aren’t their parents!), who can help push them towards whatever they’re interested in.
Tell us about a day in your life, how do you fit in creative moments?
I'm so grateful for good childcare, and my business wouldn't be possible without it! It takes a village, and while we don’t have family nearby, we have found a daycare that feels like family. I feel so comfortable leaving my kids with people who I know love them. I also feel confident that they’re getting things from school that I couldn’t provide as well on my own.
So with that said, I typically work weekdays from 8-4ish. I imagine that many people think being an artist means I get to paint all day, but that couldn't be far from the truth! In addition to original paintings I offer prints, cards, stickers, and puzzles, and I do a fair bit of wholesale. So a lot of my time is spent ordering things with my printer, communicating with customers and retail shop owners, coordinating details, marketing, updating my website, writing email newsletters, etc.
I made a goal this year to create more space for painting, and what’s helped the most is trying to be better about batching my work. I try to reserve 2 days a week to focus on painting, 2 days a week to tackle the administrative tasks, and 1 day a week (my husband’s day off!) to adventure together without the kids. I find it difficult to be creative when I have a lot of tasks hanging over my head, and I’ve also learned that I can’t force creativity. If it’s not clicking on a day I had reserved for painting, I’ll pivot. I try to ride those waves of creative energy, and be gentle with myself when I’m not in the right headspace.
When do you feel most creative?
I primarily paint landscapes, and I’m always inspired by my time spent in nature. Especially when it’s somewhere new — travel usually kickstarts so many new ideas! It’s hard to make the time to prioritize time AWAY from the studio, but I have to remember that it’s really essential to my art practice.
How would you like the world to see artists and mothers?
I’ve always had a difficult time claiming the title of “artist.” For years I would qualify it in one way or another, probably out of the fear of people not taking me seriously. The “starving artist” myth is a real beast, and I’d love for our culture to let go of that stereotype. I’d like the world to see artists as successful and essential. Art brings so much value to our lives, and it’s time we all start acknowledging that fact.
And as for the title of “mother,” I’d love for that to not just be an all-consuming identity. Yes, I’m a mother, but I’m also still me. While motherhood irrevocably changes us in so many ways, I don’t love the idea of women just being reduced to that single title.
What do you hope your kids will learn about creativity from you?
That it’s FUN. There’s such a tendency to turn everything into a business or an activity to excel at, but I’d love to see them create just for the fun of it. I don’t want to teach them the “right” way to do things, I just want them to play and enjoy. Kid art is my favorite, because it’s true, wild expression. They’re not focused on rules, they’re just taking whatever’s inside and bringing it out onto the canvas.
Lindsay is an artist living and working in Bend, Oregon with her husband, Beau, and two daughters, Miles (7) and Emerson (3). She fell in love with drawing and painting at a young age and feels most alive when in the process of creating. Lindsay and her family spend a lot of time outdoors, so her paintings are inspired by the colors and compositions that have captivated her while on their adventures. her hope is to capture a tiny bit of the beauty that’s all around us and help you bring it to your home. You can find her on Instagram @lindsaygilmore and at lindsaygilmore.com.
Nebula Notebook is a place to meet kindred spirits, get inspired, and learn how to find ease and joy in the creative process—even when life is bananas. 🍌🍌🍌
