Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrienne Oates.
Hi Adrienne, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I grew up always being a crafty child. In middle school, I got into Durham School of The Arts, where I attended 6th-12th grade. There, I got to explore every art form and learn that my true passion was ceramics. I went to Radford University in Virginia where I got my BFA in ceramics. There, I learned I also enjoyed watercolor painting.
After college, I got a job at Highwater Clays in Asheville where I worked as a Clay Tech for 5 years. Thanks to the power of Instagram, I was able to quit my job and continue my art full time.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest struggle for me was after college going now what? You have a degree in art, so now what do you do with it? Many people don’t see or understand how art can be a full-time job. As much as I Ioved my job at Highwater Clays, I knew I wanted more, and the only way to get that was to not be working full time on top of my art.
I have been very lucky to be from such a supportive community. Once I started doing shows and getting my name out there, many opportunities started happening.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have 2 very different styles. But one of my most known is my NC cityscape paintings. These are watercolor paintings of local skylines. I finish off every painting by dripping the watercolor from the bottom of the scene. This is a style that sets my work apart from many other scenery artists.
My other style of work is ceramics. I get my inspiration from old vintage works. My mugs have handles like the old pewter tea sets and vintage florals. I also incorporate crystals into my work. I am very proud of where my ceramics has gone.
I started off my business with my watercolor paintings, but over the years ceramics has become my main focus.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was always creative. I always wanted to make SOMETHING. My mom ended up sending me to the Durham Arts Council every summer where I got to embrace my artistic side as a child.
Contact Info:
- Email: AdrienneOatesArt@yahoo.com
- Website: AdrienneOatesArt.com
- Instagram: @AdrienneOatesArt
