Meet Lindsey Veil | Artist, Designer, Creative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lindsey Veil and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lindsey, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Balancing life and business can be a challenge! I can afford to lose my business, but I definitely cannot afford to lose myself or my family. So we must always keep things in perspective. My motto is that people are always more important! It is a saying I try to live by every day.

Now, imagine a giant pendulum swinging left and right. It never stops moving, but I can somewhat control how far it goes to the left and right. On the left is my family, our home, and my personal self. On the right is my professional self and my business. Now let’s imagine that pendulum swings hard to the right, damaging my professional self and my business. It probably happened because I have been mostly focused on home life, time with family and making sure everything gets done at home (laundry, cooking, kids, etc.). Everything has been good at home. But my business took a hit from that pendulum. Now if I’m not careful, it will swing hard back the other way towards my family and home life as a result of being consumed by my business and work. If I become a workaholic, then my business is doing great. However, it comes at great cost to my family- which ultimately hurts me too.

The idea is to maintain the pendulum and keep it from swinging too hard. Keeping it in the middle is ideal. We can never stop life from happening. The pendulum will always swing. Stress, work, commissions, family time, sports, homework, and laundry will never stop. But we don’ t want to wreck our personal life or our business. So we need to make sure that pendulum swings in the middle and never gets too far to the left or right.

This is harder than it sounds and easier said than done. When I am not getting much work accomplished, I will let my husband know that I need some time in the studio. He will sacrifice on his end to make that happen, because he fully supports what I am doing. He will make dinner, do some laundry, keep the kids quiet, or take them somewhere so I can get some extra hours in. Maybe there are family members or friends who can help in this area also, to keep the burden light. On the contrary, when I become too immersed in my work I begin to see the effects at home. My kids and husband want to spend time with me, or I need to cook or clean the house. So I will try to maintain certain hours in the studio and not go over them. I will be home in the evenings and not work during that time. Sometimes in certain seasons (like Christmas for example), my family will need to be more patient with me because I have more work and commissions. However, the goal is to try to keep that pendulum from hitting either side.

I also give myself space and grace, instead of setting super-high, unattainable goals for myself and my business. I realize that my pace of life during this season doesn’t allow me to work all the time. So I submit to that, and it actually helps me to really pinpoint what is most important in my work. It takes time to figure this balance out, and our situation is always changing. My kids are growing, and my husband’s work schedule is important too. I just trust this process and allow the business to unfold at the rate it needs to, in order to maintain the most important people in my life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an artist because it is deeply engrained in my being. I create acrylic paintings. My signature trademark paintings are painted on wood, with the woodgrain showing through. I often build my canvases and love working with wood. It’s a material I am comfortable with because of my love for nature. Although I have always been an artist, my official entrepreneur business journey started when someone asked me if I was selling what I was making. I said yes. My passion and business came together in that moment, and I have been selling art ever since!

I currently have art overseas in Paris, France and Madrid, Spain. I also have many works of art represented by several galleries near Atlanta. I find inspiration everywhere, but mostly in nature. I am enamored with our world, both on macro and micro scales. I feel so much peace and joy when going on outdoor adventures! There is always something to study, behold, and admire.

My official fine art journey began as a consequence of my struggle through anxiety and depression. Giving every part of me away to my husband, kids, and also those around me was a priority for a long time. I did not take care of myself and would roll my eyes at things like exercise, eating well, and doing things I enjoyed. Who has time for that when you have 4 small children that you are also homeschooling? There was no time for myself. Consequently, I reached my breaking point. I needed space to breathe, think, and be myself for a change- for myself AND my family. They needed me to be healthy. So with lots of tears and struggle, I made the hard decision to send them to school. I spent my days healing, meditating, reading, working out, and also started painting some.
Each painting was a challenge, and I soon realized that I enjoyed challenging myself. It became a game that I could win by getting better and better. Commissions would break me out of my comfort zone and force me to do work I wouldn’t have otherwise tried. Painting a portrait was scary and hard, so I signed myself up for a portrait class where I had to face my fears. Each work of art would feel like an emotional roller coaster! Looking back over these last several years, my struggle to blend wholeness, business, and passion has been very hard, but worth the pain.

My brand is simply a glimpse into my personality, and each painting is filled with things from my heart, soul, and mind. I thrive on nature, and adventure. I enjoy peaceful moments, portrayed as the tiny nuances and textures on a leaf. I love having fun, which can be seen in my pop art fruit series. Feeling humbled in nature can be seen through my landscapes or mountain paintings. And through each painting, beauty is an idea I am constantly trying to capture on canvas with my paintbrush.

Many people say I have talent. I’d say I have some, but I have gotten to this level of artistry because I have attempted very hard things and persevered instead of giving up on my craft. Anyone can paint, but painting well requires time, effort and hard work. I am also a follower of Jesus, and seek to honor him in everything I do, so my journey through healing and art has been largely spiritual. Thankfully, I can say I have overcome so much anxiety and depression. I am grateful that I can create from a place of wholeness and rest now. My family is thriving as well. I still can’t believe that my job is to create beauty. I absolutely love that my job and passion align, and feel incredibly fulfilled and thankful to do meaningful work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When it comes to adventure and fun, Atlanta ALWAYS has things to do and see! My favorite places to explore include the The Painted Duck (bar, free games, and bowling in a cool atmosphere), High Museum of Art, Atlanta Botanical Garden, the Georgia Aquarium, and Zoo Atlanta. There are also many murals to see spread across the city. Atlanta always has good concerts- whatever kind of music you like, someone will be playing live music!

Food also happens to be one of my favorite things ever.
Masterpiece Sichuan Restaurant in Duluth has incredible dumplings and green beans. Apothecary Brunch in Dacula has amazing brunch food, and the best shrimp and grits I’ve ever had. Over the Top Burger Bar in Buford has great milkshakes, cocktails and their breakfast waffle burger is my favorite!
Danji in Buford and Sweet Hut in Duluth are excellent choices for Korean fusion and bakery treats. Kerala Kitchen in Lawrenceville has amazing, authentic Indian food.

I will always recommend a day trip to the mountains of North Georgia. The Blue Ridge Mountains are amazing. There is an abundance of hiking, tubing, waterfalls, and mining for gold and gemstones. Stop by the town of Helen or Dahlonega to enjoy fun, good food, and entertainment for the whole family.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I cannot do anything I do without the support of my husband Zach. He is my biggest fan and is always the one telling me to go for it! He has believed in my art and knows I have an ingrained need to exercise my creative energy. He has sacrificed so much for me to be able to paint and be an entrepreneur! I will forever be indebted to his support for me.

Also, a huge thank you to all of my collectors and people who have commissioned me to paint for them. It is an honor that they would trust me to create something they love and cherish forever. They are the reason I am a business owner and I do not take that for granted!

My parents have also been a part of my art journey. They have always encouraged me and celebrated my wins and milestones, even as a girl . They have several Lindsey Veil originals hanging in their house, and I owe a big thanks to them!

Website: www.lindseyveil.com

Instagram: lindsey_veil_art

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lindseyveil