Meet Louise Cutler | Artist and Founder of the Beauty of Blackness Fine Art Show

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

Hi Louise, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Follow your passion

It’s risky, most opportunity to evolve and grow are.

Starting my own business just kind of happened, it wasn’t something that was planned. Art has always been my passion, it has been one of my interests since an early age; as a result, I always knew that it would be a major part of my life. However, not everyone looks at it as a profession, so becoming a professional artist was quite the risk, but it was well worth it.

While developing my professional art career I have had the opportunity to pursue many artistic endeavors. I have participated in many art shows and festivals over the years and have shown in several amazing galleries and Museums, with my latest showing having been at the Royal Academy of Arts in London England. I have taught in several Fine Art and Cultural Centers, helped to develop amazing programs, and worked with some awesome students. Just this year I was selected as the featured artist for CSU’s Social Justice Through the Arts program, where I get to work with student in the area of creating art that addresses some form of social injustice in society, how cool is that!

Art and the business of art are two separate things, most artists create art but not all artists have a business sense. Art as a business requires a business plan. Most artists are good at creating art but are thrown into the business part of things kicking and screaming. Those who embrace it create a business.

Just recently my business branched out to create “The Beauty of Blackness Fine Art Show”. This is an indoor, all-original art fine arts festival that features Black and African America Artists from across the country. It happens in September in Fort Collins Co. This year it takes place Sept 1-4 2022. I started this business venture in 2020 to help artists sell original works of art as well as create a community event in Fort Collins Co. that would bring about social and cultural awareness and engagement. It is now in its third year.

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.
I believe the purpose of my art is to bring peace and harmony into a world where chaos has become the norm. My work almost always starts with a figurative form, be it human or floral, beautifully draped in color using acrylic paint and gilded in metal leaf. Gilding, the process of applying extremely thin sheets of gold, called gold leaf, to a prepared surface. My art is a visual narrative that tells a story through creation, emotions, and symbolism. Most of my images are faceless, allowing the viewer to connect to the entire painting without getting bogged down on the who or what of the painting while drawing them into the story. The use of both negative and positive space creates a sense of calm allowing the eye to relax while creating balance 0f peace and harmony for the viewer.

What sets my work apart is that it connects with people on both a spiritual and emotional level. Some say my work feels very biblical to them, like taking a journey through ancient times. Others are simply immersed in the calm and peaceful nature of my work and enjoy its vibrant beauty.

One of the things I am most proud of is having my work exhibited at the Royal Academy of Art’s Summer exhibit in London during 2021. That was pretty amazing. It was something I had been wanting for a long time and it finally happened. Another big milestone for me was creating The Beauty of Blackness Fine Art Show. It was a long time in the making, but in 2020 the show was born and we are now in our third year; the show happens during Labor Day weekend in Fort Collins Colorado, meaning that this year it takes place Sept 1-4. The Beauty Of Blackness Fine At Show will Take Place indoors at the Fort Collins Foothills Mall 2022. The show Is an indoor Fine Arts festival that features all original Art by Black/African American artists. Most recently, I have been invited to curate an exhibit at the Museum of Arts in Fort Collins Co. The exhibit is called “A Culture Preserved in the Black Experience”, where for the first time the museum will feature an all-Black/African American Art exhibition by black artists. The exhibit opens July 29th-Oct 16th 2022  and you can visit the Fort Collins Museum of Arts Website for more info.

Hard work and never allowing myself to give up even in the darkest of times is what got me to where I am today. You just have to keep moving forward, because it doesn’t matter what your version of success looks like. If you have a goal and it’s the right one, you’re going to achieve it. It may not always look the way you think it will though. It’s not easy, and sometimes you feel like giving up. I am often reminded of a childhood saying, “winners never quit and quitters never win.” so I never quit, I am continually pressing towards my goal. This is not the end, only the beginning.

Over the course of my journey as a creative soul I have learned that it’s important to know who I am as an artist and never steer away from my authentic self. To always Invest in my craft, because it’s unreasonable to expect others to invest in my work if I don’t do the same. I have learned that it’s important to be open and accepting of new things so that I can incorporate them into my work to take it to the next level. Most importantly I have learned that you have to give back, help others, mentor up and coming young artists, show your support, and use your gifts as more than just an avenue for revenue.
What do I want the world to know about me and my brand and story? Well I love to have collectors visit my art studio so that I can connect with them on a personal level. Call and make an appointment for a private showing and we will have tea and French pastries. I am a rebel at heart, only now I rebel against hate, chaos, ignorance, intolerance, prejudice, and discord, with love, awareness, acceptance, beauty, peace, and harmony. These are the things I show in my work and that is what I want people to take away, along with purchasing my work, LOL.

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?
When a friend visit Fort Collins, I would take them to breakfast at La Creperie. Then we would go back to my studio and hang out for a lil until lunch. Then maybe a drive to Old Town where we would have Ice Cream at Kilwin while we walk around Old Town square. After that a visit to Walnut Creek where I have a space with some of my Tie dye for sell. on another night we might go to Candle Light Dinner theater for a night of entertainment and dinner or my new favorite place at the moment which is Meow Wolf in Denver. Mostly we would hang out do some art and catch up.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My eldest son, Anthony is my ride or die. He has been doing the art thing with me from the being of the pursuit. From me doing portraits on the streets of Chicago as a street artist to driving my art work across the country to the Art Expo in New York. He is my biggest fan and has been one of my biggest encouragers. He never lets me give up and is always there with a helping hand. If he can’t do it or be there, he sends his friends. Honestly all three of my sons are awesome when it comes to pushing their mom forward with encouraging words and help. The other person is my husband he is the one that encouraged me to leave my job and pursue my passion. He has been with me for all the ups and downs. And I can end without shouting out my sisters and nieces, my New York crew, never missed a show always there to help me set up and take down,

Website: www.louiseCutlerstudio.com

Instagram: Louise Cutler Studio

Linkedin: Louise Cutler Studio

Twitter: Louise Cutler Music

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Youtube: Louise Cutler Studio

Other: web site for the Beauty Of Blackness Fine Art Show: www.thebeautyofblacknessfineartshow.com Face Book: TBOBFAS Instagram:

Image Credits
John Robson