In the Studio with Artist Gloria Garrett

Gloria Garrett is the Mother of Makeup Art from Baltimore, Maryland. Famous for painting pictures with make-up. Gloria is also a poet, performer, entertainer and storyteller. She performs historical, musical, holiday and recycled art programs throughout Maryland.

Gloria also works with community members and partners to facilitate art for healing from trauma. She’s very passionate about using her art to help uplift people and bring joy to their lives.

Gloria lights up the room with her energy and art, I’m so excited to have Gloria share with you her art, process and experience.

What art do you most identify with? I identify with the French Impressionists.

When did you realize you were an artist? I realized that I was a artist when I was 5 years old when my mother would buy me paper and pencil and I could illustrate a coloring book without tracing the pictures.

How did you get into your art/side-gig? I would perform for my family at 5 years old with my two younger sisters. We would sing and dance. They would give us nickels. At ten my sisters and I played Supremes. As a teenage I started selling my poetry to family and friends. I am selling my poetry today. After I left my 9 to 5. My husband, Ben, was the director, producer, and the DJ for our historical, musical, and holiday programs. I did the research for our programs. I told stories, read my poetry, and gave trivia. People won my handmade jewlery, makep art, poetry and books at all our shows. I have been painting with makeup and selling my makeup art 15 years. People donate me the makeup. I did not like the smell and mess of oil paint. In 2005 my nephew died suddenly. I asked God to bring color back to my life. My mother gave me some makeup and I figured out how to paint with it.

What are you currently working on? I am currently working on promoting my handcrafted Black History, Afro Star and promoting my program based on the book, Our Story, Not His Story. am also painting flowers with makeup. I planted sunflowers over the Summer and they were beautiful. I working on a program called Laughter Therapy where I tell wholesome funny stories, jokes, and riddles and teach people the importance of Laughter in their wellness tool box. I am plan to teach my Art for Healing Workshops and Intention of Being Thanful Workshop. I have a Gloria's Healing Art Page on Facebook where I share how art, meditation, family and friend support, gardening, and laughter have helped me bring joy back to my life during these challenging times.

What food, drink, song inspires you? I love fresh fruits and vegetables. I planted arguala, lettuce, kale, and collards this fall. I made fresh salad my garden for months. My arguala, kale, and collards are growing they th ed Winter. I have never tasted salads as good as mine from the garden. Water with a squeezed lemon is my favorite with ice. It is so refreshing. THE song Rise Up inspires me. I have been through some he as lth challenges this past year, but Iam rising up by painting and performing on Zoom. I am selling my artwork again. I have brought the joy back to my life.

What memorable responses have you had to your work? I have been a visionary artist at the American Visionary y Art Museum for 15 years and Ted Frankel, the gift shop owner has been buying my originals on 8 1/2 x 11 paper 15 years. I was in the show there, " What Makes Us Smile" , in 2010 and was featured on Channel 45 News Cover Story painting a picture on the steps of the museum. I have sold hundreds of originals because I paint people that remind them of the wonderful people or a joyful time in their life. They tell me my paintings are beautiful and make them happy. People sponsored me to travel the world and come back and paint the beautiful sites with makeup. I have been to Rome, Milan, and Paris.

What’s your favorite quote? "The possible we do now. The impossible takes a little longer.

What role does the artist have in society? Art can make people feel happy. We can inspire people to make art to add joy to their lives. It is great to bring something you made into the universe. Art can be used to unite people. It can inspire them to open their hearts ans imagine a world of peace and joy. Art can help you heal from trauma and life challenges. It can soothe your soul. It can make you think, smile, and laugh. It is something that you can do to add beauty to your soul.

Is there any local artist that Inspires you? If so, who and why? There was a local artist named Larry Scott. He told me that my art had a lot of emotion in it. He also told me it is about the art. I took that as it is about the art and what the art can do for others.

Why art? I think art is something that you can do from the heart. Art helped heal me. I always enjoyed writing, drawing, performing, and telling stories. I always enjoyed dancing. I enjoyed looking at Lawrence Welk as a little girl and made up my own songs and dances. It has always been there. I believed God gave me art to share and make a difference in the world. I grew up dancing and listening to Motown and I still do it today. I still do everything that made me happy as child. I was artful then and now. I believe art is in all of us to make us happy. I hope someone or something inspires us to tap into it and create something wonderful.

You can found out more about Gloria at www.gloriasart.com, on youtube and Facebook at Gloria Garrett Folk Artist. You can join her Facebook Group at Gloria's Healing Art.