Artist of the Month
Each month we feature an “Artist of the Month”. As we celebrate our artists we hope you enjoy learning more about them.
Bailey McGuire
Bailey is our youngest member of the Art Center. At 16 she is a breath of fresh air, bringing us up to date on social media and encouraging us to bravely face the process of video taping interviews for the Artist of the Month. Check out our video page for teasers of her work and our YouTube channel for complete interviews. Along with Bailey establishing our YouTube channel she also acts as co-administrator of our website. With Bailey we have been doubly blessed as her mom Amanda is also willing to share her talents with us. Amanda has independently taken on refreshing our patio at the Art Center, bringing new life and beauty to create a welcoming spot. Bailey has also brought in her friend, Ellie Kieth. Ellie says she’s not an artist but she has independently taken on creating our Instagram page and acting as the administrator. Art comes in many forms and we see that with Bailey, her mom Amanda, and Ellie.
Bailey is a multi-talented young lady: not only creating beauty with her art pieces, but also performing in the Switzerland County High School Marching Band as a color guard, playing base in the jazz band, and is first-chair in the high school band playing flute and piccolo. On her own time Bailey enjoys playing drums, guitar, and keyboard. Bailey is also active in a local performing arts theater.
Below is Bailey’s self-written bio:
Ever since I could hold a pencil I have been drawing and painting. I’ve always wanted to be a realism artist, and I got really serious about it when I was nine. I started out with acrylic paint because it was a relatively simple medium, at least for me it was. Recently I’ve been really into oil painting and charcoal. I dabble with a little bit of every medium, but I really like painting, and it is what I usually do.
I wouldn’t say one specific thing really made me want to draw. It feels more like I was born with this love for art, and I have been creating it ever since I can remember. I definitely am inspired by my Mamaw, who also was a self-taught artist. I’m also very inspired by my sister-in-law, who would always encourage me when I was little. I am also inspired by other artists like Bob Ross and Vincent van Gogh.
My parents were, and still very much are, my biggest supporters. My mom keeps me motivated and supports everything I do, and my dad is the critic I need. He always lets me know what he honestly thinks of my art and pushes me to be a better artist for every piece I create. My brothers are also big cheerleaders and are there every step of the way.
For me, art is a way to see who people are and what they feel. For a lot of artists, including myself, boxing ourselves in and only creating things we’re comfortable with/good at is constricting. I like to experiment with techniques and do things I’ve never done before. I have a slightly different style with each medium I work with, and I think you can tell. But that’s how I like it to be.
I hope that with me being so young, I can inspire and welcome more young artists to the Art Center. I think for me, seeing a younger artist in an art museum or gallery, I would have felt more confident with my art and getting it out there. I hope I can do this for more young people because everyone deserves a chance to be lifted up and supported. I also hope my art can bring inspiration for people of all ages and prove that you can do anything you set your mind to.
