Guest Artist | Tiffany Goff-Smith
/My guest artist today is Tiff Goff-Smith from Southern-Gals. Even though Tiff and I have never met in person, I feel like I’ve known her for ages. She is kind, hysterical, and a gifted artist. Tiff created a beautiful art journaling class for Jeanne Oliver called Soul Food last year. She has created over 300 free art videos on YouTube. And just launched her first portrait classes this June. Her colorful and messy style of art-making is inspiring and beautiful!
You believe that everyone is creative and helped countless artists reconnect with their creativity in your sweet Southern way. Would you tell everyone how you started on your own creative journey?
So I grew up in a creative family. My mom is multi-talented, and anything she picks up, she is instantly amazing. My brother plays music by ear, and I mean any instrument. Here I was with what I thought was zero talent, I would ask my mom all the time what my talent was, and she would say, “You just have to keep practicing.” That didn’t seem fair since they, in my eyes, appeared to be instantly amazing. So I tried many creative things, danced for years, took an art class, and dabbled in about every arts and craft known to man.
The love of paper and images started as many of us do with a scrapbooking party, and I fell in love. Does anyone remember those Creative Memories Parties? Then guess what I grew up and became an adult with real-life stress and all the things. So I pushed it to the side and focused on my career, well along that career focus the pressure of every day became hard and stressful. I started creating jewelry to help deal with the stress with beads for my mom a bracelet and came across a book ( I wish I could tell you the name of that book) where someone did art journaling, and the colors inspired her jewelry line. WOW, art journaling? What is this you speak, of course, I bought the book and began down the road of letting the stress go through the paint, paper, and all the art supplies I could hold. That’s where it all began.
Your work is overflowing with layers of words, images, color, and texture. Would you tell us how you developed your beautiful "messy" style?
When I first started, I didn't really get the whole concept of mixed media and what that really meant. I began finding other people's work and pulling tidbits from each of them. Then I noticed I started creating for others to like not for myself. So when I finally decided to break loose from the mold and just go wild and crazy…. well, that's my messy art now. I enjoy things that are raw and messy and encourage the viewer to pause and want to investigate.
You have created at least 300 free art journal video lessons, that you share with your 14k followers on YouTube, do you find this an essential part of your creative process? How do you stay inspired?
I don’t necessarily think it’s an essential part, but what it does do is hold me accountable to create. I know that many people look forward to my Monday’s videos, and so many have shared that I am the sunshine on their cloudy day, and that means I show up even if I don’t always feel it. I stay inspired by showing up even when I don’t “feel it” what happens to me is when I get up and get into my space, the inspiration finds me working. I rarely have a single idea when I hit the record button, I just enjoy each step along the way, and somehow it comes together.
You are launching a brand new course called Soulful Reflections, and you encourage your students to be free, messy, and allow the magic to happen. Can you tell us a bit more about this course? Also, where can they sign up?
I am so freaking excited about this class!! So this class is for anyone who says they can’t draw or feels they don’t have the time to create faces. I show you that ANYONE can do it and a few ways to really get loose and free in your work. I typically create my faces in 10 mins or less, cause well again I enjoy the less than perfect form of expression. So, where do you sign up?
https://southerngalscreativeacademy.teachable.com
You are a wizard when it comes to mixed media supplies and making incredible art journals - I love watching you work. If someone is new to art journaling and mixed media, can you suggest a few of your favorite items?
My advice is don't go out and buy all the things, it's not about the supplies, yes they can make life easier, but I would recommend finding out the things you really love in someone else's work. Is it sketching? Collage? Then get a few things together, cheap craft paints, paintbrush, a roll of masking tape, #2 pencil, and your journal or loose-leaf papers. If you like collage, then add glue sticks and papers. I find talking to other artists that sometimes having so many supplies can actually paralyze you, especially in the early stages.
You can find Tiff here:
Instagram: @southerngals_designs
YouTube: SouthernGalsDesigns
Southern Gals Creative Academy
LifeBook 2020