My core products are original abstract, floral, and landscape acrylic paintings on canvas, and fine art prints.
- Tell us a bit about your journey in the field of art.
I’ve always wanted to pursue art as a passion and career. It’s only been fairly recently that I’ve been able to pursue my art full time and turn it into a business.
- Would you say you have always been a creative person?
Absolutely! I was always drawing, painting, and making things as a kid. I come from a creative family who enjoy knitting, quiltmaking, painting, woodworking, and making things with their hands, so it was natural for me to explore my creative side.
- Do you have in mind what you’re going to create prior to painting it?
For an abstract painting, unless there is a certain constraint such as color scheme, I usually don’t plan ahead. I choose the colors I feel drawn to and paint intuitively, with each brushstroke informing the next. For landscapes, I sometimes paint in a realistic style but prefer the freedom of abstraction. For abstract landscapes, I’ll have a general idea in mind of what I want it to look like before I begin. I’ll sketch out the basic composition, but will leave the details to reveal themselves farther along in the process. As the painting builds layer by layer, I decide instinctively what is needed next and am sometimes surprised by how it turns out.
- Which art piece is your favorite and why?
A bold, colorful abstract piece I painted in 2019 called “Touched by Nature.” I feel it most closely represents me and the core of my art philosophy that combines a love of abstract art and the beauty of nature. Being able to get outside and spend time in nature, especially near the ocean, is imperative to me and my art process. Not only does it provide inspiration through color, shape, and texture, it melts away stress and quiets my mind so that I’m relaxed, ready to paint, and able to tap into my creativity.
- How long does it take to develop, create and paint one of your pictures?
It can take anywhere from a few days to a few months, depending on the size and complexity of the painting. Occasionally, if I have a good chunk of uninterrupted time set aside and am really feeling “in the flow,” I can complete a smaller painting in one sitting. That is pretty rare but wonderful when it happens!
- Can you tell us some of the stages you go through to create such lovely products?
Brainstorming, planning, sketching, mixing colors, studying techniques, experimentation, drawing inspiration from nature. Sometimes stepping away from it completely to let my subconscious work on an idea. I’m passionate about my art and think about it and do something art-related every day. As a business owner, it can be difficult to balance creative time with deadlines and the not-as-fun administrative tasks that need to be completed, so one of the most important things I do is schedule my time.
- You have a unique line of products, can you tell us what you offer?
My core products are original abstract, floral, and landscape acrylic paintings on canvas, and fine art prints. I also allow myself a space to create and play, which is where the “unique” comes in. Currently, I have a collection of gold-rimmed decoupaged trinket dishes I’ve made from scallop shells collected on one of my beach walks. Artists are often told to stick with one thing, but I enjoy learning, experimenting, and creating many kinds of art. Often I use objects that I find in nature and collect on walks such as shells or driftwood. I like the challenge of ‘what can I make from this?’ and thinking outside the box. For me, the variety keeps things fresh and I go back to my painting with new energy.
- Have you always been curious and passionate about art and design?
Yes. I don’t have a formal art education. Through the years, I’ve done a lot of self-guided study, starting with checking out books at the school library about the Old Masters, to studying eras and genres of art, design movements, and architecture.
Tying in with that is a continuing passion for interior design and how my art can complete or enhance the feel of a living space. I eventually studied and received my diploma in Graphic Design, which gave me a great foundation in design principles, and taught me to use software helpful in my business and in creating digital art.
- What is your most popular item you sell?
My most popular items are my fine art prints on stretched canvas. Original art is not always an option for everyone, so I like that I’m able to provide a high quality, affordable alternative.
- What inspires you to keep creating products daily?
Creating art and getting lost in the process is therapeutic for me. There’s such a sense of calm and even a bit of wonder at creating something from nothing, so much so that I feel antsy if I have to be away from it for more than a day or two. My art is such an integral part of who I am and sharing it is such a personal thing that it’s an amazing feeling when someone connects with something I’ve created. My hope is that looking at it will bring them that same sense of joy and well-being that I felt creating it.
- Where can we purchase your art products?
My decoupaged scallop shell trinket dishes and a collection of fine art prints on paper are available at Nova Scotia Pantry. My website, www.connieschofield.com is currently a work in progress and will be the home of my original acrylic canvas paintings and fine art prints on canvas and paper.
- When not in your home studio creating these lovely pieces, what other hobbies oradventures can we find you doing that you may have in your life or enjoy?
One of my favorite things to do is to get up with the sunrise and grab my camera. I like to jump in the car with no particular destination in mind, exploring the back roads, spending time in nature, and taking photos of our beautiful Annapolis Valley.