Randi Ford and Creative Flow
Artist Randi Ford talks to Kardia about her connection with natural West Michigan landscapes and explains her creative process. Already in the early stages of her career, she has made a name for herself through her readily identifiable “natural flow” acrylic paintings. A graduate of Grand Valley University focusing in Illustration, Randi gives our community more beauty to appreciate — a tribute to our shared environment.
Randi Ford
K: Tell us a little about your work and what makes your paintings distinctive.
RANDI FORD: My work is inspired by the spirit and beauty within nature. Through my work I capture the essence within the natural landscape through the colors, forms, and patterns I create within the scene. My paintings have a natural flow and sense of rhythm to them, created by my repeating patterns and flowing lines. This flow and movement fills the painting with life.
K: What is your creative process like? Do you have a specific routine you try to stick to, or particular habits that help you get creative?
RF: I often take photographs when I am hiking or camping to gain inspiration for my work. I will sort through my collection of images and find the ones that move me the most. In my studio I then work from these photographs to create my paintings and use them as a reference for form, color, and composition. When creating my paintings, I bring life, color, and movement to the scene with my repeating patterns, flowing lines and vibrant color palate. Listening to music while I paint puts me in an inspirational mood. The music allows me to get lost in the painting and to create to the music.
Pastel Sky
acrylic on canvas
K: What sparks inspiration in your life outside of the studio?
RF: What I found brings me a lot of happiness is being active outdoors as well as appreciating music and having a sense of community. I like to mountain bike, hike, spend time with friends, attend live music, and weight train. My paintings are meant to inspire peace and happiness within others. To do this, I try to be a happy, healthy, and a well rounded person that is reflected in my paintings.
K: What is the greatest duty of an artist?
RF: I think the greatest duty of an artist is to bring value to others lives. With my work I try to inspire others, bring beauty and peace to their lives and homes, and connect them to nature.
Empire Bluff
acrylic on canvas
K: What has your experience been working with the art community in West Michigan? Do you see the experience of artist and viewer changing in the future?
RF: I think that the art world has grown a lot in West Michigan since I first started showing my work at local events after my graduation from Grand Valley in 2012. The internet alone with website builders like Squarespace and Shopify have now allowed artists to have online portfolio spaces and websites where people can now easily see their work and what they are about. The use of Facebook and Instagram has allowed artists to spread the news of current work, as well as events. They have made a difference in the way artists are able to share their work and stay connected to others. I see more people continuing to purchase work and handmade goods directly from artists in the future because of this.
K: What artists are you in awe of? How have they influenced you or your work?
RF: When I first started creating landscape paintings, my biggest influence was the Canadian Group of Seven landscape painters who painted just north of Lake Superior. They would backpack and paint studies in nature to gain inspiration for their larger paintings. Their impressionistic work captured the spirit within the landscape and personified the trees. Seeing their work really helped me understand what my work was about, because I was creating work very similar to the way they did.
A contemporary artist that I also look towards for inspiration and guidance on my path is San Diego painter, Erin Hanson. She is a present day artist who has a gone down a similar path that I have, but is about 10 years ahead of me. I love her paintings, and we have a lot of similarities within our work. She paints scenes out west, but the theme behind the work, the way she composes her paintings, and the techniques we use, have similar qualities to them. She has her own successful gallery in San Diego, and I aspire to have something similar in the future. I am glad to have discovered her work, because seeing her success allowed me to grow in a lot ways.
Forever Evolving Adventure
acrylic on canvas
K: What strategies do you tap into when you experience a creative block? What would you recommend to other artists that might be struggling with finding a creative flow?
RF: I think creative blocks happen when one becomes overwhelmed with so many other things that need to be taken care of in life, and it is hard to find time to create. I find it is best for me to finish work unrelated to art first thing in the morning. Once I am done with my list and I am free of tasks I need to do, I am then able to get into my creative flow throughout the afternoon.
I find it is best for me to work when I am planning on creating specific pieces ahead of time. My best bodies of work have turned out when I plan on a set of paintings to create before standing in front of the easel. That way I don’t have moments not knowing what I am reaching for. If I am in between projects, it’s best for me to review my old photographs that could be potential paintings, or take a new hiking trip to gain inspiration for another series.
K: How do you manage your inner critic while working in a world filled with instant access to constantly new virtual artwork? Do you see these social platforms as a positive tool or something to be cautious about as an artist?
RF: I really love social media for finding the work of others. I think it is a great tool to see what other people are doing and to follow artists that inspire you. Social media is also a great way for you to connect with people who are drawn to your work. I think it can be harmful at times for the inner critic, because there are so many things that you could be doing, and so many other great artists out there.
I can get overwhelmed with ideas inspired by the Internet, but you can really only do so much. I think it is key to not compare yourself to others, or try to replicate their style. I found my voice by staying true to myself and focusing on my own experiences for inspiration for my work.
When creating my paintings, I don’t try to mimic another artist’s style. The way I depict things comes out naturally in my creation process and flow. It can be easy to compare yourself to others, if they have had more success than you, but remember that you are on your own path and have your own circumstances. What we can do when we feel down is try to grow from the success of others, and figure out ways we can do similar things in our own lives and communities.
Cliff’s Edge
acrylic on canvas
K: Are you working on anything new currently? Or thinking about experimenting with new subject matter?
RF: I am actually working on something very new right now. I am finally starting to design graphic tees and some other merchandise with my designs on them. They will have the same themes and stylizations of my paintings, but the images will be created graphically on the computer. With art festivals being cancelled and an unsure season for next summer where I show most my original work, I am taking some time to dedicate to expanding my line of products. I have some paintings in mind as well that I am planning to start creating, but I am going to diversify a bit for now.
K: What are some ways that your community can support you as an artist?
RF: The best way that my community can support me is by spreading the word about my art, or by purchasing an original painting or print. I have made many home visits to find the perfect painting for a clients home, and also have created many custom pieces for them. If someone is interested in seeing my available pieces, please let me know. I love to work with people in my community, as It brings me a lot of joy to connect with others and bring beauty to their lives with my paintings.
Randi Ford
Northern Michigan