Meet Parks Schoen | Artist & Tennis Coach

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

Hi Parks, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Work life balance is something that has been at the forefront of my thoughts in this past season. Starting your own business is consuming and hard, yet at the same time so worth it. As I have begun to start up my art business, I have a full-time job as an academy tennis coach. In hours I’m not on the tennis court, I am in the studio dreaming, creating, and planning. Having a full-time job and starting up my own business is a grind, but it has been worth it. However, I’m learning that it’s not healthy to just go hard all the time. Balance is important in regards to rest, something that I’m learning I need to grow into. Rest and balance looks different for everyone, but for me I have realized that rest is being with my people and enjoying adventure. In this season, I’m looking to pull back and not have to feel like I need to be so productive and compare myself to other businesses, but I want to lean into more of a balance of rest and work that allows me to experience more time with my friendships and exploring the outdoors.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My artist statement: As an artist, I specialize in painting athletes, people, and landscapes using acrylics. These three subjects are a good representation of my interests: I love both playing and watching sports, enjoy spending time with people, and experiencing God’s creation. In my style, I am exploring the effect that color, line, and shape have through my brushwork to create an energizing composition. Through painting, I am led to a deeper understanding of God’s character as the ultimate artist. As I seek to reflect the Lord’s beauty, I hope to share a glimpse of His handiwork in my own creating.

I am definitely at the beginning stages of my business, but I am learning to celebrate every little success. It has not been easy and at many times, it has been isolating – being your own boss and only employee brings challenges of having to do all the steps and work yourself. In being your own boss, I’ve had lots of flexibility, which at first sounds amazing, but it has been more flexibility than I have ever experienced before. Learning what to do with this freedom and how to spend my time in pursuing my art career has been one of the greatest lessons I’m learning. If anything, I am learning to set boundaries and limits to what I can handle, what’s too much to take on, and how to create healthy rhythms in being creative, working, and resting.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Greenville, SC – great place to be. Downtown is the place to be. We would go to dinner spots like the 05 and Kitchen Sync for a good burger, Gather GVL and Birds Fly South for a good atmosphere, and Bridge City Coffee and Chestnut for a good cup of joe. GVL is close to the mountains, so we’d hit up a beautiful hike on the Art Loeb Trail or mountain bike in Dupont Forest.

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?
My parents deserve so much of my success. Both my mom and dad have been the encouragement and voice that has pushed me to pursue my dream as an artist. They both have been my biggest collectors of my work and have been my second hand when I needed guidance and assistance. Another important person has been Charles Pate. An artist, friend, and mentor who has opened his studio doors to allow me to have space to create and hold my first solo art show. His mentorship and friendship have been such an encouragement and given me hope that I can pursue my dreams as an artist.

Website: www.parksschoenart.com

Instagram: parks_schoen_art

Linkedin: Parks Schoen Art

Facebook: Parks Schoen Art

Image Credits
Christian Drothler, Claire Stanovich