Meet Paige Barton | Artist

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

Hi Paige, why did you pursue a creative career?
The short answer to this question is that I can’t see myself doing anything else. The thought of having to abandon my passion for art and replace it with a traditional “9 to 5” job is (and always has been) terrifying to me. Of course, there’s the argument that I could still do my art “on the side”, but I have a feeling that wouldn’t satisfy me. Being an artist isn’t just what I do, it’s who I am. Who would I be if I subdued my passion for art to just a hobby? To be honest with you, I don’t know. Pursuing this type of career is not an easy task. There are plenty of reasons to quit now while I’m still ahead, but I know that if I did, I would kick myself for it later. I doubt myself all the time. I doubt whether my art is good enough, I doubt whether this is the path I really want to take, if I’m okay with the inconsistency of this job, or if all of this will even work out in the end. This series of unanswered questions torments me, but not as much as the thought of not pursuing it at all. I want to pursue this career because I owe it to myself to do so. I want to make art that I love, meet people that I admire, and share what I learn along the way with others. I hope to travel around the world, connecting with people of different cultures. I aspire to open my own gallery one day with space for not only my art, but for young artists of all kinds. The possibility of all of this coming to fruition is worth the risk of it failing. I can’t explain what it is, but somehow I know that it won’t.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Though my style, medium, and subject matter have changed plenty of times, I believe that I’ve really found my niche in the last couple of years. I create vibrant, acrylic paintings on canvas in a Pop Art style. Some of my favorite great artists are Andy Warhol & Roy Lichtenstein. Through them, I found my favorite style in which I love to create. I always use very bright colors along with black outlines in order to stay consistent. Subject wise, I love fashion, pop culture, and music. A lot of my art comes together based on phrases or collections of lyrics that I’ve heard. I also recreate photos or outfits on canvas, but I’m always sure to make them my own. I love being able to take something and show people how I see it through my own lens. My paintings take weeks to create, and so much love goes into every single one. In between paintings, I also make digital art using my iPad. It’s a more recent medium in my life, but I love it. With it, I’ve been able to create prints & stickers that I sell in my Etsy shop. Through the shop, I’ve been sending packages all over the world which has been so cool for me. I think what sets me apart is that as much as I want to be an independent artist, that’s not my ultimate goal. I more so see it as a stepping stone. Creating art is a huge passion of mine, but my passion for helping people is even greater. My ultimate dream is to open a studio space as well as a gallery for aspiring artists to create and display their work. I would love to take in young and less-fortunate artists and help them to support their dreams. Mentor them, teach them, and most of all, believe in them. Artists are a part of our culture, and that needs to be preserved. Before I’m able to do this, I need to create a platform and establish myself as an artist first. I need to continue to learn and build experience, therefore, establishing credibility. So, when I say “stepping stone”, I mean that being an artist has always been my dream, but I’m planning on using that dream in order to pursue another. I think that sets me apart because I’m not so interested in the money or in promoting myself. I’m interested in creating, learning, teaching, and then passing the torch to the youth. That’s what I’d like people to know about Paige Barton Art; It may be my name on the door, but it’s about so much more than just me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting for the first time, I’d have so many exciting places to show them. First of all, I’d hope they were coming just in time for my favorite Atlanta event, Music Midtown. Thousands of people gather in Piedmont Park, and just enjoy music together. This would be an essential for my friend’s trip! One day, we’d grab lunch at one of my favorite pizza spots, Max’s Coal Oven Pizza. After, we could walk right up the road to the Georgia Aquarium or the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. We could even go to the stunning High Museum of Art, a personal favorite of mine. After spending those few days in the city, we would work our way back toward where I grew up. I spent a lot of time on Lake Lanier with my family when I was young. So, I’d be sure to show my friend the family lake house. We’d spend time with my family and friends, go boating, and have drinks in the infamous Georgia heat.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d first like to dedicate my shoutout and the success of my art to not necessarily a person, but rather another art form. Music. I’ve always possessed a great admiration for music and the people who make it. I never had the ability to make music myself, but I did know how to make visual art. For a while, these two interests in my life seemed to run parallel to each other. Two separate entities. It wasn’t until the two collided that my interest in each became a burning passion. I began to create art that was inspired by music that I loved. I created paintings inspired by musicians such as G-Eazy, Billie Eilish, Post Malone, Halsey, and more. I began sharing my art on social media, where my art was recognized by not only other music lovers, but sometimes the musicians themselves. So, I suppose I owe a bit of credit to social media as well. It’s a powerful resource for artists to connect with their audience, fellow artists, and in my case, my muses. As for people who have contributed to my success so far, I’d like to mention Mr. Lasseter, my high school art teacher. Mr. Lasseter lit a flame in me that I didn’t know was there before. Leading up to taking his classes, I didn’t take my art seriously, nor did I think it was any good. He changed my perspective on both of those things. I wouldn’t be here without him. I would also like to mention my parents. My parents have been my personal cheerleaders through my entire artistic journey. Art is not the most conventional career path, but that has never stopped them from providing unwavering support, encouragement, and love.

Website: www.paigebartonart.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/paigebartonart

Twitter: www.twitter.com/paigebartonart

Facebook: www.facebook.com/paigebartonart

Other: TikTok: @paigebartonart Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/PaigeBartonArt