Speaker 1 (00:00):
My saying is you're already at zero, and you can't go less. So, trying is not going to take you less than zero.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
This is the Bold Artist podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
You have answers, and you're expressing them in your art. Your art is important, and it needs to be seen.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Welcome, and let's get started with today's episode. Welcome to the Bold Artist podcast. In today's episode, we interview Tricia Faulkner of Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Tricia is a highly educated professional. She's a pharmacist and a realtor, and she was willing to put that away to pursue her passion of paint. She has an incredible story, a journey to share with us, and even shares insight on how moving so many times in her lifetime has contributed to her growing confidence. Let's go right on over to the interview and meet bold artist, Tricia Faulkner. Welcome to the show, Tricia.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Hello. Thank you so much for the introduction. Thank you for having me on the show.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
We're so happy to have you here, and I'd love it if you'd start out today's show by sharing with us a little bit about yourself.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Okay. Um, well I currently live in Nashville, Tennessee. I have moved about 36 times in my life from, uh, from all sorts of cities, like, um, Alabama, New Orleans, Phoenix. I even lived in England for three years, South Carolina, Georgia. And, uh, I just found myself back here and, uh, in Nashville, Tennessee. I've lived here thankfully for 15 years.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Yeah. You've lived quite adventurously, and I'm sure that has a big role in your bold character.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Yes, that is true.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yes. So, tell us a little bit about your bold character and being a bold color painter.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Um, I started off early in life, um, as a really hard worker. I grew up a lot on the farm at my grandparents' every summer, but, uh, when I decided it was time to go to college, I went to school to be a pharmacist. Um, I have always drawn, I don't know if growing up early in New Orleans had anything to do with it, but, um, I was always able to just pick up a pen or pencil and draw a cartoon characters, people sitting in front of me. I could draw them in about 10 minutes.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
So -- thank you -- so, um, when I got to college, it was just, um, I thought, I don't know if I can ever pass chemistry. And then I realized chemistry is just drawing and drawing mechanisms and the shapes and how they bond and how the chemicals bond. And then I accentuated that into the body and even made charts for some of the professors on how to then use art to teach courses. And it's just been a part of who I've always been.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Wow. So, it sounds like you really learned visually. You made that connection. Now you made that connection between science and art. That's remarkable.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
And I hear that you have done a very interesting art project, like a scientific art project. Is, do I have that story right? Where you made like 3D, uh, renders for a scientific project?
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Right? I would do drug mechanisms and how they worked in a body and, uh, show how they would, you know, open up, and the chemicals would bond into the cells or to the, uh, re recip receptors on the cells. And that's how the drugs take it into the body. So, I've, I've done a lot of that. And, uh, as a pharmacist, I would teach my patients who didn't understand. For example, why do I need to take this medication for blood sugar? I would draw a sugar molecule and show them that it's too big to fit through your capillary. That's why you're losing your eyesight. You can't, you can't have all that sugar. So,
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Oh, so you've always connected the visual arts and the art into everything you've done.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
That's, that's very remarkable.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
So, tell us now about yourself as a bold color painter. What does life look like as an artist for Tricia Faulkner right now?
Speaker 1 (04:17):
I am in love with art. I, it's everything to me. It's my heart. It's my soul. Um, April, 2020, um, came and after... I was a pharmacist for a little bit, and then I, well, for 16 years, I decided to try real estate because I was actually getting pretty burnt out. But April, 2020, when COVID hit, I decided, you know what, I'm not going to do real estate. I really need to dedicate my time and talents to art. It's my passion. And I got a easel, and my canvas, and my paints, and I hadn't bought paints in years. And I thought I would try to paint a picture of my daughter, since I could draw a face. And every time I tried to paint her in flesh tones, I could not do it. And I would just get the red and the purple, and wanted to just push all that energy out there and show everybody what she looked like, but still could not cohesively make her look like a human. It was just very cartoonish. Um, so I prayed, and I prayed,, and I got online and it was just as if -- I don't know, the Google and the Facebook heard everything that I was saying to other people. I don't know. But there she was, Charla Maarschalk, and Bold School. And I say, yes! And I immediately signed up. Didn't even think twice about it. I paid the money, got the supply list. It just did change my life.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Wow. So you were, you were really struggling with the flesh tones and then Charla's, Charla's Bold School is everything but flesh tones. So, you must've felt so liberated to start painting portraits with everything but flesh tones. Tell me a little bit about that.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Uh, yeah, it was just totally liberated and I w I was trying to be patient, you know, draw the skulls, draw the muscles, draw the faces, do some pencil work. And as soon as I could mix my colors, I was just at all with the color mixing, and I did my first painting. And, um, I thought, well, I feel like, I feel like I might be done. And, um, I did struggle with color theory, you know, which color that goes best with the other. And I would play Charla's videos back and got to the point where I realized I really need to study a lot more color theory. So, then I did that as well.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Yeah. So, tell me a little bit about that study component, because it's really clear, you know, how to study, you have your Doctor of Pharmacy and, uh, in Realty and... you know how to study. So, what did you bring about, uh, into your artwork, um, as far as your study habits, and your determination, and your ability to study, what does that merging look like?
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Um, first I will say that, um, the Bold School community would post things about color. And, you know, hey, here's a, here's an article about how you use four colors or two colors, and here's the Zorn palette. And I think, um, the mentor Axel posted, uh, an article once on, on colors, and Charla had mentioned two books to buy. So I just did. I searched every website they recommended. I read as much as I could about every color theory. I bought the books, and then I would sit down and study my color palettes, and I would just spend a day mixing and trying to put all the colors together until I finally realized, um, with Cory's class -- I think it was the challenge that she offered on Bold School -- hey, try to do, um, just three colors or just do four colors. That's really, when it hit me. You know, less is more. And it's funny because as a pharmacist, I would tell people less is more, don't take the whole pain pill, just start with half.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Very wise, very wise.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
So, it's true. Um, with everything in life less is really more. You don't have to be, you know, over the top with everything, which I tend to be.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Yes, well, that comes with a bold character as well, just loving life.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Love it.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
And, the bigger, the better. But you learn the less is more lesson. And so what does that help you do? Just, uh, keep your palette simpler, and approach it with less brushstrokes? Or, what is less is more look like for your artwork?
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Less this more for my artwork to me, looks like a it's more cohesive. It feels, uh, less conflicting. It, it can draw the emotion of the piece that I want, um, more finitely than I could before. So, it has really enhanced my artwork. [inaudible]
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Yes. So we've already established that you're a bold character, Tricia Faulkner. And, and you have so much adventure in your past with all your moving and even your, your different careers. Can you just tell us a little bit more about being a bold artist and what that means to you and the different steps it takes in your, your artistic, um, pursuit to, to be bold and to take risks with your art?
Speaker 1 (09:21):
So, taking risks is me. That's... if anyone could say, tell me about Tricia, uh, they'd say she is not afraid to try anything. Um, I fully believe, and it maybe comes from my religious upbringing also, that nothing is impossible, that we can accomplish all through all things, honestly, through Christ who strengthens us. So, why be afraid? Just go for it. I do have a saying, and I'll tell my daughter all the time, you know, what's my saying? My saying is you're already at zero, and you can't go less. So, trying is not going to take your less than zero. If you ask a question, no, is going to be the answer until you ask the question. It could be yes. And so go for it. Um, she happened to come by one day when I was doing a painting of my boxing coach, and I said, I've never used a palette knife before,
Speaker 1 (10:16):
and I have to show action in this, um, scene of my coach punching out his opponent. So, I literally videoed it, or my daughter videoed it for me, of me saying I'm really nervous; I'm really scared. Literally I was shaking, but I'm going to do this. I've got to try it. If I don't try it, I'll never know. And then I just swiped across the palette, like he was gonna do the punch and throw the sweat. And it was just like, yes, it worked. It's perfect. And how would I know, how would I know if I didn't try it?
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Yes. And in the show notes, uh, I want to just let all the listeners know that in the show notes, uh, you can find Trisha's Instagram and peruse her Instagram feed, and you will see, uh, her boxing coach, the painting and the video that she just referred to, that her daughter took of her making those big, bold moves to use the palette knife for the first time on a painting that, you know, you, you didn't want to ruin. You mentioned the word, yes. You said yes. Now, being bold and saying yes for you are, um, one in the same. You, you said to me that the biggest bold move you've ever made was saying, yes, I can do it. Tell me a little bit more about the courage it takes to say yes.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Uh, I've had a lot of, uh, people from Bold School, private message me and ask me different questions, uh, similar to this. Um, when you're approaching the canvas and you have an idea, and the first thing you think of is I've never done this before, I'm really scared. That's the point. That is the point where you must say yes. You have to say yes, because you'll never cross that bridge, you'll never find out what's possible if you just stare fear in the face. Um, you've got to overcome it, and you've got to just push through it. And so many amazing things can happen. And who cares if it didn't work. You've learned. It's the journey that you're going through. It's not just everything you put on there has to be perfect -- that's not true. Everything you put on there, it's just another process in your steps toward whatever it is you're trying to express that you want the world to see. So, go for it. Just say yes. Just do it.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Just say yes and express. I love how you just tied expression right into there in what you were just saying. And that almost has a little ring of its own. Say yes, and express! Love that. I love that. So, uh, so Tricia, what is the, um, the boldest move that you ever made that, I know that, that you said that saying yes, was the boldest move, but in your, let's say decisions as an artist and, and taking, taking steps to change your life, to pursue art. What is the boldest move you've made in that realm?
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Well, I stopped working as a pharmacist. I retired my real estate license, and I just, I have dedicated all of my time to art, and showing the world what God wants me to show the world. And I have zero regrets.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
That is an incredible move to me.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
It's been amazing, thank you.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
How has that felt? I mean, you are a bold person that, that sounds fearless. But truly there must still be times that, that you have to push through the fear. And so how has that been?
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Uh, it's been, like I said, a journey. Everything is a journey. When I, when I first started and posted my work on social media, I was really shocked how many people tried to get me to do a commission for them. And I said, sure. Well, it started off, uh, that I realized I have to be a part of the person in order to express them emotionally with color. I have typically taken all of my photographs and been a part of the process of the person that I'm going to paint -- or I know them intimately like my child or my husband. And I'm thinking, oh, this is how they are. And this is their personality. Or this is what happened when I took the photo. And we were all in this unity, and I know exactly the behavior and what colors should be should be expressed. So, commissions became quite the challenge for me. I had to make a point of saying, I will not be able do your commission until you talk to me on the phone or send me an extensive, a note about what's this person like. Tell me a story about the person, tell me some things that happened in your life that you interacted with this person, and how that made you feel. And then I was able to express that person in the light, in the colors that Bold School allows. So, it was a quite the journey.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Well, what I hear in that is your desire to not only paint the shapes and the values that you see in a reference photo, but to capture the essence, the emotion, the intimacy with the subject matter, the subject person. And I, I love that. And I love it when the artist engages their heart and emotions into wanting to render that portrait with such passionate feeling. So, so good for you, Tricia. I love that. Yeah. So, do you have any tips on, um, besides hearing a story about the subject or getting to know them, do you have any other tips on how to render that emotional, uh, connect connective kind of portrait?
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Um, I do focus a lot on the eyes. I do need the photograph that will, uh, express their emotion. Uh, the smile and say cheese photos? I typically refuse to do those commissions. But, um, I will never forget when a lot of the Bold School students will post that, they'll say, you know, something is missing. Something's not right. And what I'll never forget is Charla saying in her course, you know, always put a little tiny dot of most of the colors that you've used in your painting into the Iris of the eye. Um, and it actually will really enhance the emotion of the peice. And so that's one tip I will say that I got from Charla, and that's what I always put in the portraits. And people will say to me, how did you make their eyes look so vibrant? And I'm like, ah, it's just what I do. But Charla is definitely the one who taught me that.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Yes. And for any of our watchers on YouTube and listeners on the audio apps, if you want to know more about that, if you're listening and you haven't taken Bold Color Bootcamp or any of the courses at Bold School and you want to know more about the way Charla teaches, and tips just like that one, do check out boldschool.com. That is where and how Tricia learned these tips that she's, that she's said, or have been transformational to her style of painting. And so I just want to throw that in there because some listeners won't have taken the class, and they'll think, oh, wow, where can I learn that? So Bold School was very transformational for you, Tricia, can you tell us a little bit more? You said that, um, it sounded like the start of the pandemic you came Charla online and signed up right away. But it's been a journey with that community.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
And it has been. Um, I have made some really great friends through Bold School. Uh, people can reach out to me whenever they feel like it on Messenger. I asked for advice on Messenger. If I'm debating ideas, um, it's just a really good source for encouragement. Another thing that, uh, we do is we always try to give really positive feedback. Um, it may not be your best, but we'll do our best to tell you what's good about it and what we think we see. Uh, even though sometimes we aren't the artist who's, who's, um, got the same story that they're telling, we can definitely give feedback. And I definitely appreciate the feedback that I get from the mentors and the, and the fellow students from Bold School.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
There's such a sense of community. And I know that community plays such a role in giving us courage and confidence as artists. And so there's a lot of different ways we can draw on community -- the community around us are family, friends, um, people in our city or neighboring cities, art clubs. But, um, if you could just tell us a little bit about that for you, of how your community in general, bold School and otherwise, give you courage. Even though we know you're already bold.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
I'm pretty bold. Not muchI won't... There's not much I won't try. Uh, yeah, the Bold School community is fantastic because, um, every month we have monthly challenges. You can participate or not, but it gives the artist something to think about that the mentors put out there for us to work on. Um, I think we feed off of each other's energy. For example, uh, Charla has the course on Painting the Wild, which is wild animals. And it's so inspiring to see her beautiful artwork and the artwork of others and that encouragement. And there's a young lady that you interviewed ,who's a zoologist and she paints zoo animals. And it's just fascinating. So, I've actually gone out and taken pictures of different animals and wildlife just because I'm, that's going to be something I do soon. You know, I can't wait to paint the butterfly that I captured. So, uh, yeah, the community is fantastic. Um, if it weren't for the community of Bold School, it wouldn't be the same. So, it's really important to me.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Yes. I'm very thankful for it as well. I find that community, yes, as I mentioned already, it, it, um, rallies around us, and gives us courage, and helps us take the steps. And that is one of the reasons, one of the main reasons we have this podcast is to create a sense of community where those watching and listening are they're in some ways just listening in on our conversation, Tricia, but yet it is giving them, uh, fuel, inspiration, and the confidence that you have, the boldness that you have rubs off. This podcast, it just rubs off. It gives others the courage to say, Hey, I hear Tricia Faulkner, say, I can say yes, I can do all things. I can face the fear. I can step out and be bold, and I can join a community, and be part of Bold School, and have that kind of feedback and support, and fit in. And that's exactly what the message that we want to share is that you're not alone,
Speaker 1 (21:11):
You're not alone.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
You're not alone. It's, it's really important. And Charlae, and I have said several times in different aspects of our interviewing -- I think even in the podcast trailer that's on boldschool.com -- that we said how as introverts -- often artists are introverts -- we can spend a lot of alone time in the studio. And it's so important to come out of that cave and connect. And, and that is part of the role of Bold Artist Podcast as well as to create that connection.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
That's true.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Yes. Yes. So, so Trisha, do you have, you've already shared so much encouragement. You've already shared, um, food for thought and, and these sort of tips on being bold and stepping out, but do you have another word of encouragement for artists who are just looking for their footing. Perhaps they're not bold by nature as you are, and they're more timid and hesitant, and the ones that, that they're actually terrified. They're terrified to show their art. They're terrified to step out. Uh, what would you share with them today?
Speaker 1 (22:21):
I was that person. I was very terrified to share my art when I was a child. Um, I was afraid my parents would know how I really felt about things. It was my way of coping with the world and the sadness sometimes that I felt. Um, but, um, once you just, as I said, say yes, uh, you've got to push through, and you've got to try. Um, it is not something that, uh, is that complicated. It really is as simple. Just start. You know, just getting started. Sometimes you can sit there and stare and you're afraid you're gonna mess it up. What are you gonna mess up? It's paint, paint, paint over it. Just do it again. I have one canvas I've probably painted over six times. Um, I might post it, then I changed your mind, and I don't like it, and I'll do something else. So, that's what cameras are for. Take an iPhone photo of it. But, um, uh, just, just get through the, get through the modules by the program. It is so worth it. You can play it back for life. You can, you can get on the community, other people to help encourage you. It's a fantastic, uh, relationship that we have with everyone in Bold School.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Um, yes. Well, thank you so much for sharing that, and for encouraging us all today. And I want to just rewind a little bit in our interview. Uh, in, in the beginning, you touched a little bit on your struggle with skin tone and your study of color theory. And I would like to go back to that before we close and just talk a little bit about color theory and your approach to color. You did talk about simplifying your palette, but I know there's more. There's more to it than that. And so, uh, what can you share with us today about your love for color and how you're approaching color right now?
Speaker 1 (24:15):
When I did start, I just would go buy paint out of the tube, and start mixing colors, and just hope that it worked out. Uh, I was spending hours on those types of artwork and not getting anywhere, just kind of going around in circles and, you know, heart palpitations, sweating a little bit. I mean, I'm bold, but we all have those feelings. We all go through those traumatizing feelings of, ugh, it's, you know, I just ruined this. But, get the book. I actually paint with my color wheel at my feet so that I can look down at the color wheel and constantly remind myself of, you know, what's complimentary, what's next to each other. Uh, read online. Get on there yourself. Look it up. Go to the art store. I often sign up for, um, Golden Paints has seminars, and they have artists, and they'll teach you online for $20 for two hours once or twice a week.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
So, you can go to Golden Paints and get on those, uh, art classes. And, and, uh, so I've taken a lot of initiative to learn and knowledge is actually peace. The more you know, the more calm that you'll feel about what you're doing with your artwork, the more educated you are. Um, and I'm still not anywhere near the educated, uh, that I need to be an art, but I try. There's no wrong. I mean, there is no, there's no right or wrong in art. And I remember when I first started, I wanted someone to tell me, well, what's wrong with it? What do you think I could, you know, what do you think I could fix? And artists will tell you, you could fix this, or you could fix that. But there are some artists with degrees out there who will say, and who have told me, uh, your art is ridiculous. This that's not an, that's not an art form. You're just making things up. But you know what I say? Yeah. I'm making it up. Good for me. I'm going to do what I feel like I want to do. Yeah. I don't want to, I don't want to be everybody else. There's no reason to be somebody else. So you be you out there.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
Yes. Yes. And that's part of creativity. The beauty of creativity is making it up, and using your imagination, and experimenting, and yeah. Um, and I always say, there's, there's a beautiful balance between practice and play, and study and inspiration. And so what you said, you, you just said it also beautifully in what you just shared, because you said knowledge is peace. And so learning and studying, we've talked about the study of, of color, but studying brings that knowledge, which brings the peace. But you also share a how, like, in the beginning of it all, you were just mixing colors and hoping it turned out.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
Then disappointed if it didn't turn out and, and too much experimenting perhaps. And so there's this beautiful merge and weaving together of experiment and inspiration with the knowledge and the study. And it's like this beautiful merge where it kind of comes together.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Correct.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
And I love that. I love seeing art when artists bring that balance,. Like they're not afraid to play, and try things, and make it up. And at the same time, they're diligent to study,, and grow and learn, and kind of keep that balance on both sides. And also what really stood out to me is you said you put the color wheel at your feet. So, I always keep a color wheel on the wall. And what is, what is the benefit of the, like, what's the trick with keeping it in at your feet? I gotta this know.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Okay, well maybe it's because I have a small room that I call my studio. In fact, in fact, I call it my office. I didn't call it my studio until I felt really confident. I just felt like I can't call my office, my studio. I'm not really an artist. But I am, it's my studi, darn it. I keep it at my feet because I don't have a lot of space. And I keep the brushes I have not used next to it at my feet. Because I'll end up using 40 brushes, and I'm like, what brush did I use? And why do I need 40 brushes? I really just need three. So,
Speaker 2 (28:27):
Yeah. Well, I love learning all these little tips of the trade because, uh, in one of our episodes, Ludzy Rivera shared how she actually paints her own color wheel with all the colors that she has available. So, she makes her own color wheels. And then, and I thought that was fascinating and a really great idea. And then now I'm thinking maybe I need to find the place for the color wheel that you know, is where I'm naturally looking.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
Rather than trying to turn my head and look at the color wheel.
Speaker 1 (28:57):
How many times do you drop something, and you've got to look down, and there was like color wheel. Oh, okay.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Exactly. Good idea. So, I have yet to see an artist with the color wheel tattooed on her hand.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Okay. Maybe we should all have a Bold School tattoo. Oh, you're a member.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
We can start that. I'll run that past Charla later. Yeah. So, um, yeah, I love this. I'm going to be thinking a lot about knowledge is peace, and saying yes, to be bold. I love what you shared and imparted into our community and our listeners and watchers today. So, thank you so much,
Speaker 1 (29:37):
So much. Thank you so much for having me. It's been a joy, so thank youso much.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Yes. Thank you for being on the show. We have so loved seeing you grow in the community, and we just wish you all the best in your artwork. Tricia. Thank you for being here. Thank you for having me. Thank you so much. You guys have a great day. Thanks for being here with us today. The Bold Artist podcasts can be found on YouTube, the Bold School channel and on audio apps. Look for Bold Artist podcast. And don't forget. We would love to hear from you so you can ask questions, offer topic ideas, and just join in the conversation by going to Instagram at Bold Artist Podcast. Coming up in the next few episodes, we have some really interesting artists that go to deep levels of conversation. We are so excited to keep giving artists voices through the Bold Srtist podcast. Until next episode, keep creating.
