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

Hi Tricia, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I was introduced to fine art at a young age. After attending the Unitarian church in what is now referred to as Midtown in Detroit, Michigan our mother would take my sister and me to the Detroit Institute of Arts for lunch. I remember these visits as an unhurried time when I would roam around the museum taking in all the wonders including the famed Diego Rivera court.

Even though I was interested in the field of art I didn’t think of it as a viable career choice. When I entered Wayne State University my goal was to become a physical therapist. After the first year of struggling through Chemistry and Zoology I decided to take a break from science and enrolled in a summer drawing class. As I started going to art openings and meeting artists it became clear to me that I had “found my people”. I switched my major to painting and went on to earn my BFA.

After graduation the reality of making a living became evident. I entered a series of day jobs while always continuing to paint. I eventually learned graphic design and desktop publishing which led to a successful career at a global insurance brokerage firm. That job provided a decent source of income and some creative gratification.

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 am excited about the direction my work has taken in the past few years. The opportunity to make larger works on paper has opened a new state of creativity and complexity where a systematic approach backed by intuition has served me well in completing my monotypes and mixed media collages. I think of my process as being akin to planning and planting a garden. I start with a determined yet playful focus. I like the method of layering imagery to imitate the sensation of looking at elements of the landscape which are close however at the same time you are aware of the space behind. I pre-select the forms I’m going to use but then allow for randomness to occur by placing my own hand cut stencils in various positions and allowing my intuition to dictate the color palette.

My journey to where I am today has been one of fits and starts. My ability to concentrate on my art career in the past was hampered by what day job I had at the time and how much energy I had at the end of the day. Another factor was family obligations which required my time and the need to provide a steady income. I had this magazine page picturing a woman in a painting studio on my bulletin board in my cubicle. The caption read “Live your best life”. It may sound trite, but I found hope in that picture that one day I would be getting up in the morning and going straight to my studio. I’m happy to say that since I retired from corporate life, that time is now.

Lessons I’ve learned along the way: Persistence (never give up), Take risks (If you get an idea, don’t hesitate, just go for it) If it doesn’t work out, I will bet money that you learned something. The best advice I’ve ever heard on making art is from Andy Warhol: “Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.” I love that!

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?
I would start out with the “must see” attractions in Colorado Springs (COS), Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Both are highly memorable. Then we would seek out some less populated hikes such as The Seven Bridges Trail and the trails at Cheyenne Mountain State Park. If we wanted to make a day of it, we might take the scenic drive to Buena Vista and have lunch and hike around that area. If it was a nice warm day, it would be fun to check out the Riverwalk in Pueblo for lunch.

There are many interesting and fun places to eat in town and I haven’t been to all of them. The ones my husband and I have been to and would take our visitors are Pizzeria Rustica in Old Colorado City, The Rabbit Hole, Red Gravy, Edelweiss Restaurant and the Ivywild School all in COS.

For shopping I would encourage my friends and family to “shop local” starting with the many shops and galleries in downtown COS and Old Colorado City. I’m certain any of my artist’s friends would also enjoy spending time in Manitou Springs.

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?
I moved to Colorado Springs from Michigan in 2021. In my search to find a place where I could have access to a larger printing press than what I have in my studio I found the Manitou Art Center. The staff and community over there have been welcoming and supportive and I feel once again that I have “found my people”.

I want to recognize the “Tuesday printmakers group” at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center in Michigan. I learned so much from working with them. Also, my many steadfast family and friends in Michigan who continue to cheer me on in this 3rd act of my life.

I must mention my late mother who supported my impractical decision to major in painting. Finally, my amazing husband who promised that I would have a bigger and better studio if we moved to Colorado. He has made good on that promise.

Website: www.triciasoderberg.com

Instagram: triciasoderbergart

Linkedin: Tricia Soderberg

Facebook: Tricia Soderberg

Other: https://embracecreatives.com/artwork/paper/bamboo-sunset/

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