Gratitude and Vulnerability with Cortney Herron
LA-based visual artist Courtney Herron stays connected on her path of endlessly creating beautifully simple uplifting art through disconnecting from self-comparison, and staying connected with the passions that drive her to share mindfulness from the Black female perspective.
“Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started painting very young and continued throughout high school, but took a break in my early twenties - you know, that time when you’re just trying to figure what you’re doing with your life. There were a number of years where I felt like I was just coasting through life without truly knowing my purpose. I had a great job but felt like I was stuck on this hamster wheel wondering why I didn’t feel fully fulfilled. So it wasn’t until about 2017 that I made a commitment to myself to make art more of a priority in my life because it’s truly the one thing that consistently fueled my soul.
I’ve spent the last few years really working on myself, specifically my mental and emotional health, and I’ve learned so much about the importance of finding the silver lining in everything. I was tired of being too worried about what-ifs. What if they don’t like my art? What if I don’t make any money? Should I give up? What keeps me going is the fact that life is so much more enjoyable when you’re not so hard on yourself. Letting life happen is the fun and exciting part of life. So if I’m going to let life happen, I might as well try and enjoy everything in the process. I take pride in not overthinking a final piece of art or sticking to a rigid technique or formula, allowing for the process to remain exciting and spontaneous.“
Your art has all kinds of literary messages attached to their meaning, what messages have you felt are most important for you to stand behind?
“Tending to mental health, especially in the Black community, is something that I feel is so incredibly important. And I feel like now more than ever it’s becoming more acceptable to stand up for ourselves, to own our feelings, good and bad, and to be vulnerable. I started sharing my words and my feelings through my art because I knew I couldn’t be the only one our there feeling my feelings.
We may all be trying to figure out how to navigate life during a global pandemic, but feeling connected to other people from all walks of life, through vulnerability, even if it’s just to bring us a little bit closer together as humans, I think, could be considered a silver lining. We can use tools for mental health to learn how to lean into our feelings and navigate through them to get on the other side. So sometimes we all just need to see and hear that we’re not alone in this world and our feelings are valid.”
In what ways does your work reflect some of your own experiences?
“We all know there’s so much happening in the world right now. And my art is an extension of me and my feelings, so making sure we are taking time for ourselves, practicing self-care, operating with gratitude and kindness, is all a part of what I love practicing and sharing creatively.
But these times are also so strange and different, so to be unsure and uncertain and confused, is totally okay too. We don’t always have to be strong, and especially as an artist, I feel like I’m challenged to remain positive and happy all of the time, and that’s just not realistic. I think it’s important to share the good, the bad, and everything in between. So sometimes challenges turn out to be incredibly triumphant, resonating, and relatable pieces of art. There’s something cathartic about sharing how you feel and being vulnerable enough to do it. I’m inspired by feelings, my mood, people, culture, and even things that make me laugh, so a lot of the time, my work reflects the rawness of daily life in both a serious and playful way.“
What projects have you been working on lately?
I recently launched my own limited edition prints:
https://cortneyherron.com/limited-edition
I decided to invest in a large-scale printer so I could sell prints directly on my website, rather than only on relying on a third-party printer. I used to work in the art print business so I wanted to make sure I took my time to make sure everything (color, resolution, etc.) turned out right. This was actually a really big project for me – it was pretty much at the top of my to-do list for months – so I really wanted to do it right. Right now, I’m only selling one standard size but really looking forward to getting more use of my new printer and selling even larger sizes.
What are some things you want to get more involved with?
“I definitely want to have a few murals under my belt within the next 5 years. I’m Los Angeles born and raised so I grew up always paying attention to murals and street art. Anything community-related or being able to leave a stamp on my city would bring me great joy. I plan to be doing art full time and have my own creative space/gallery – I’m claiming all of that, along with a few other goals that I’ll keep to myself for now. ;-) I also love style and fashion (just about as much as I love art), so making more of a name for myself when it comes to personal style is also on my to-do list. Whether it’s through abstract art, powerful quotes, quirky portraits, or style, any way that I can express myself creatively, I’m happy.”
