An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
Find examples of people who have done or who are doing what you want to do and remember that you are just as capable as they are. Finding artists like Allison who were making bold, authentic art and selling their work and using their art for good helped me to stay encouraged that I could do that, too.
As a part of our series about “dreamers who ignored the naysayers and did what others said was impossible”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Stephanie Kirkland.
Stephanie is an abstract and landscape artist creating paintings inspired by the outdoors. Her work is inspired by the many miles that she has spent hiking in remote parts of the globe. Like hiking, her paintings are created from a practice of grounding in the present moment, releasing control, and savoring the journey. Stephanie is also the host of the podcast, Artful Gatherings, which is a series of fireside chats connecting strangers across the globe through raw and heartfelt conversation.
Thank you so much for joining us! Our readers would love to ‘get to know you’ a bit better. Can you tell us your ‘backstory’?
I grew up on the outskirts of New Orleans. When I wasn’t outside, I was creating — drawing, painting, making “books.” I studied English and art in college, but I never thought art could sustain me in any substantial way, so after graduating, I pursued the commercial route. I used my creativity and communications skills to earn a living helping other organizations achieve their goals until one day I thought, “Why not use my creativity to implement my own vision?” And from there, my art business was born. My business has grown steadily since I began selling art in 2017, and nowadays I send my art all across the country, breathing hope and possibility into people’s homes through my paintings.
Are you working on any new or exciting projects now? How do you think that will help people?
Yes, I actually just started a podcast! It’s called Artful Gatherings, and it’s meant to foster community and connection through inspirational interviews with people living boldly and against the grain. I make art for similar reasons — to inspire boldness and authenticity, to foster connection, to capture human experience and show others they’re not alone. A podcast seemed like a great way to share those same messages through a different, more conversational medium. I hope the podcast helps people to think differently and bigger about what’s possible for them and their life, and I hope it gives people the courage and drive to go after their wildest dreams.
In your opinion, what do you think makes your company or organization stand out from the crowd?
Two things make me stand out as an artist. First, my paintings aren’t just visual replicas. They are created to capture feelings and experience, which is important because it allows my art to connect deeply with people rather than just being “pretty.”
The second thing that makes me stand out is that my art practice is deeply rooted in social issues and social justice. Art’s importance really struck me during a year in which I taught high school in a Title I school in rural Alabama. My school didn’t have art programs because it couldn’t afford them, which is such a shame considering how powerful and impactful art is. As an artist, I’m conscious of using my platform and resources to combat issues of inequity such as this, and I’m excited about growing my impact as my business grows.
Ok, thank you for that. I’d like to jump to the main focus of this interview. Has there ever been a time that someone told you something was impossible, but you did it anyway? Can you share the story with us? What was your idea? What was the reaction of the naysayers? And how did you overcome that?
When I first started exploring the idea of taking my art seriously and selling it, so many people said that I couldn’t do it. They said that artists don’t make money, or if they do, artists only make money after they’re dead, or artists only make money selling work that is easily recognizable or consumable. They said you can’t make money creating what you love — which in my case was bold, outdoor-inspired abstract paintings.
I overcame those doubts by returning to my “why.” I was interested in making art not just to make money or to do something easy. I wanted to make authentic art because I believed in its power, and I wanted to have a really big and meaningful impact. Creating artwork that I loved, no matter how much money it made, was a no-brainer. Why bother making art otherwise?
In the end, how were all the naysayers proven wrong? 🙂
I have always created my paintings from the heart, and my revenue has grown every year. In fact, most years my revenue has doubled. I think it just shows that when you share something with authenticity, people respond to that, and your success is inevitable. You just have to be patient and realize that most successes don’t happen overnight.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
There are so many people who I’m grateful for, but the person who immediately comes to mind is my mentor and fellow artist Allison James. Allison is so encouraging and full of empowering advice, and she really showed me that I can carve my own path and that my path will look different than everyone else’s — which is true for all of us. It was Allison who gave me the final push to blend my love of painting and writing by launching a podcast. As she says, if something lights you up, do it. That excitement is a sign that you’re meant to pursue it.
It must not have been easy to ignore all the naysayers. Did you have any experiences growing up that have contributed to building your resiliency? Can you share the story with us?
For better or worse, I have always been extremely stubborn and strong-willed, so there have been many times that I staunchly pursued something which led me to fall on my face, literally and figuratively. I think those experiences taught me that falling down isn’t so bad. At least you tried. You can always get back up, and the fall usually teaches you something, which can help inform what you do next and help you succeed the next time.
Based on your experience, can you share 5 strategies that people can use to harness the sense of tenacity and do what naysayers think is impossible? (Please share a story or an example for each)
- Find examples of people who have done or who are doing what you want to do and remember that you are just as capable as they are. Finding artists like Allison who were making bold, authentic art and selling their work and using their art for good helped me to stay encouraged that I could do that, too.
- Feel the fear and do it anyway. Many people think that fear eventually goes away, but it doesn’t. You can be scared and ready to do something at the same time. I was scared when I started my business. I was scared when I shared my first painting. I was scared when I accepted my first commission. I was scared when I created my first mural. I was scared when I conducted my first podcast interview. But I did those things anyway and grew as a result.
- Pretend to have the confidence of someone famous who you admire. For example, when I’m nervous or not sure how something is going to work out, I imagine that I’m Beyoncé. How would she think? Act? Talk? And I try to behave with that kind of unshakeable confidence. I’ve found that so many doors open for you when you approach them from that kind of contagious energy.
- Focus on the next right step rather than everything you need to do to reach your end-goal. When I’m planning a mural, for example, I might decide on a color palette or I might develop a design or buy the paint. Those things are much easier and more manageable than something like “paint a 60-foot mural,” which can feel overwhelming. Always break down the bigger goals into smaller, more manageable tasks.
- Look back and marvel at what all we’ve accomplished through history. We’ve sailed across the world. We’ve been to the moon. We’ve cured polio. We’ve climbed Everest. We’ve learned how to predict volcanos and withstand hurricane-force winds. Nothing is impossible! Anything you want to accomplish is within your reach.
What is your favorite quote or personal philosophy that relates to the concept of resilience?
I have always loved Teddy Roosevelt’s “man in the arena” quote: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
I would love to create beautiful and one-of-a-kind dining experiences that bring together people of all ages, races, incomes, beliefs, and backgrounds to share their experiences, struggles, and dreams over dinner. There are few things that connect people and put people at ease like a nice meal, and I think that kind of environment would foster empathy and understanding that would benefit all of humanity.
Can our readers follow you on social media?
Yes! You can find me most frequently on Instagram at @stephaniekirklandart. I also send monthly studio letters via email, which you can sign up for on my website at stephaniekirklandart.com. And of course, you can listen to the Artful Gatherings podcast on Spotify or your favorite podcast platform!
Photos by Jinny K Photo
Thank you for these great stories. We wish you only continued success!
Stephanie Kirkland Of Artful Gatherings: They Told Me It Was Impossible And I Did It Anyway was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.