Meet This Month’s Featured Volunteer!

Grace Guillebeau started volunteering with The Arts of Life right after moving here from Delaware in the beginning of January. In the short time that Grace has been here, Grace has made many friends, has doubled Health Matters attendance, and has shown a great affinity for our highly collaborative model.Grace is a talented figure artist and creates beautiful quick sketches of the studio members that she works with on a daily basis. She also has a side business painting one of a kind sneakers. To see some of her work click HERE. We are so excited to get to have Grace with us on a regular basis and are looking forward to getting to know more about her and her art practice. To learn more about Grace, check out the interview below. An Interview Between Grace Guillebeau and Quinn Zenner:Quinn: So this is my first time.Grace: Me too, so don’t worry.Quinn: HelloGrace: Hello, I’m GraceQuinn: How did you hear about the arts of life?Grace: I saw the arts of life online on volunteer match on Linkedin.Quinn: Ohhh is it a college or university?Grace: Linkedin posts jobs and opportunities that people are looking for and it came up as a suggestion. I thought that it sounded very interesting so I emailed Rick.Quinn: Oh.Grace: YeahQuinn: Did you know any of the artists before starting?Grace: No I did not. Everyone is new to me actually.Quinn: Did anybody give you a tour of the place?Grace: Yes, Niki and Hector and it was really fun. They gave me a great impression of the studio and it was a good introduction.Quinn: Um…what do you like most about arts of life?Grace: I like that we all share a common thought process of making art. Everyone goes through the same creative process, and no matter what your mind-set is, your creative process is all same. You get an idea, you get excited about the idea, maybe mid way though it’s kinda tough and you want to quit, but all of a sudden everything kinda falls together. Then you end up with something you are really proud of your artwork and the process that you went through to make it. I think that is what connects everyone here.Quinn: It seems like to me that individuals have their own perspectives on that..Ahhh…What do you like most about being in the studio environment? Grace: I like the passion, that everyone has a passion for making art and that you can feel it. You can feel it as soon as you walk in. A passion for painting, drawing, or whatever your medium of choice is. It could even be music. I think that creates a certain kind of environment. I also like that it is respectful.Quinn: Do you think that a majority of the artists are born with their talent and passion?Grace: Born with an art talent or passion?Quinn: Uh…yes … passion, that’s what I am trying to say.Grace: I think that if you have an interest in art, it is in you from the start and then someone or something around you enhances it. I think that’s what the studio does. You have an interest and then it enhances your creativity. It makes you want to create more and to create better. The best way to get better at something is to surround yourself with an environment and people who share your passion or interest. I’m not sure if that answered your question or not. Quinn:  Um…yeah…me either. Are you an artist and if so what kind of art to do you do?Grace: I am an artist. I like to draw people. I do a lot of figurative drawing. I also create hand painted sneakers on the side. I have been kinda battling that question of “are you an artist”. Part of me wants to say yes and the other part of me wants to say no. It is a whole other conversation I guess.Quinn: Are you a conservative? You know, like, politicians. You know, like, conservative or democrat. Grace: In my art, um…I could be I guess…Quinn: Never mind. Do you have a favorite artist in mind?Grace: I don’t think I can have a favorite artist. Michelle might be one of my favorite artists. Quinn: Who is Michelle?Grace: Michelle is a new artist at The Arts of Life. I am working with Michelle on Mondays and Wednesdays. We are getting to know each other and I am having a great time getting to know her. We are learning about each other and having a great time so far. Quinn: Yeah…I can see that. What do you do when you are not at arts of life?Grace: When I am not at arts of life? I like to go to Lake Geneva. My family has a summer house up there. I like to run and exercise. Exercise is a passion of mine. I like to make Art. I like to hang out with my family. I moved here in December from Delaware and all of my family is still up there. I am living with my aunt and uncle and two younger cousins.Quinn: You said Delaware?Grace: That is where I am from. Quinn: Oh really? …I have never heard of it.Grace: Yeah most people haven’t. It is pretty small. Quinn: You have interesting answers. I would like to know more about Delaware. Grace: Oh yea? Well I am happy to tell you more about it some time.  Quinn: Thanks!