Summary
In this episode of Painterly Life, host Shannon Grissom interviews Gina Mims, an award-winning artist and owner of Inspiro Brands. They discuss Gina’s journey from Orange County to the Sierra foothills, her experiences in building a gallery, and the intersection of her business and artistic endeavors. Gina shares her insights on using art as therapy, the importance of community, and her latest project, the Okurs Art Hop, which aims to create opportunities for artists to showcase their work. The conversation highlights the significance of setting goals and finding inspiration in the creative process. In this engaging conversation, Gina Mims shares her artistic journey, focusing on her unique approach to creating ‘serenity scapes’ and the importance of plein air painting. She offers valuable advice for aspiring artists, emphasizing the significance of classes and online resources. Gina discusses how travel and podcasts help her overcome creative blocks and maintain consistency in her work. She also highlights her future projects, including a calendar challenge and the importance of experimentation in her art.
Takeaways
- Gina Mims emphasizes the importance of community in the art world.
- Art can serve as a therapeutic outlet for artists.
- Setting goals can help artists stay motivated and focused.
- The Okurs Art Hop is designed to create opportunities for artists.
- Gina’s journey reflects the blend of business and creativity.
- Art can be pursued at any age without pressure for immediate success.
- Creating a welcoming environment fosters creativity and collaboration.
- Gina’s gallery showcases rotating art to keep the experience fresh.
- Networking and marketing are crucial for artists’ success.
- Art events can be fun and engaging for the community. Gina creates ‘serenity scapes’ inspired by nature.
- Plein-air painting is a valuable practice for artists.
- Classes and online resources are essential for beginners.
- Travel helps Gina overcome creative blocks.
- Consistency in art is crucial for long-term success.
- Experimentation is key to artistic growth.
- Listening to podcasts can provide creative inspiration.
- Setting deadlines can drive artistic productivity.
- Having a project on the easel can alleviate pressure.
- Networking with other artists can inspire new ideas.
Chapters
00:00 Igniting Creativity: Introduction to Painterly Life
00:49 Journey from Orange County to Sierra Foothills
03:02 Building a Gallery: The Evolution of Inspiro Brands
05:03 The Intersection of Business and Art
07:09 Art as Therapy: Balancing Passion and Profession
09:00 Creating Opportunities: The Okurs Art Hop
10:53 Inspiration and Goals: The Drive Behind Art
12:00 Creating Serenity Scapes: The Art of Impressionism
13:00 Plein Air Painting: Embracing Nature’s Inspiration
15:04 Advice for Aspiring Artists: Classes and Resources
16:03 Overcoming Creative Blocks: Travel and Podcasts
18:00 Future Projects: Balancing Art and Personal Goals
20:05 The Importance of Experimentation in Art
21:58 Consistency in Creativity: Finding Your Rhythm
About Gina
Gina Mims, a California native, relocated from Orange County to Ahwahnee, near Yosemite National Park, in 2013. Her family has been gathering at Bass Lake for annual reunions for over 75 years, and during one of these cherished trips, Gina decided it was time for a life change. While she painted frequently as an art major, the demands of running her graphic design agency left little time for creative pursuits. After her move, she reignited her passion for painting, returning to the canvas after nearly 20 years.
Now the owner of Inspiro Brands, Gina works remotely with clients but always carves out time to paint. Her acrylic on canvas pieces, crafted with both brush and palette knife, are known for their dreamlike essence. She refers to her work as “Serenity Scapes,” using art as an escape and striving to bring a sense of peace and calm to those who view her creations.
Gina is a past President and the current Marketing/Community Outreach Chair for Yosemite Sierra Artists. Learn more about the organization at YosemiteSierraArtists.org.
Her artwork is showcased at her gallery in Oakhurst Spirits, open Fridays and Saturdays from 2-7 PM and Sundays from 12-5 PM. For the past six years, Gina has participated in Sierra Art Trails, held annually during the first two weekends of October. She is also the visionary behind the Oakhurst Art & Wine Hop, hosted on the third Thursday of each month from May through October, from 5-8 PM. For details, visit OakhurstArtHop.com.
To explore Gina’s work, visit GinaMimsArt.com
Inspired and ready to paint? Check out this link to a great starter set: https://amzn.to/3EkvZrv 149Pcs Deluxe Artist Painting Set with Aluminum and Beech Wood Easel, 48 Colors Acrylic Paints, 24 Colors Oil Paints, 24 Colors Watercolor Paints, Art Paint Supplies for Artists, Beginner & Adults. Note: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
CONNECT WITH GINA
EVENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS
CREATIVE INSPIRATION
TRANSCRIPT
Shannon Grissom (00:05.688)
Hi, I’m Shannon Grissom. Are you looking to ignite your creativity? Or how about be inspired by a steady stream of muses? Welcome to Painterly Life, the podcast that celebrates those who create, inspire, and innovate. So whether you’re looking to spark your next big idea, reignite your passion, or simply soak in some creative energy,
This is the place for you. Painterly life, where every guest is a new muse, just for you.
you
Shannon Grissom (00:49.996)
Welcome to Painterly Life. Today’s guest is Gina Mims. Gina is a painterly powerhouse. She is the owner of Inspiro Brands. She’s an award-winning artist, graphic designer, community leader, and a huge visionary. So welcome, Gina.
Well, thank you. I’m so excited to be here.
Yay! So what’s the weather like over there? Is it snowing?
No, no rain, no snow, no- we’ve had no winter, we’re going straight into spring, so…
I like that. That’s happy. So I noticed you’re from Orange County, California. And how did you come from Orange County up to the Sierra Foothills the mountains near Yosemite?
Gina Mims (01:35.32)
So our family had been coming up to Bass Lake for, let’s see, this next summer will be 83 years. Wow. And so this is about, I guess, 12 years ago now, we were up here and camping and it’s just beautiful. We love it up here and Zillow works. So we started kind of poking around for houses and realistically, one of the selling points of us moving here.
was that there was such a great art community. And we went to the Gertrude Schoolhouse that had a fabulous artist who was showing there. And he told us about Sierra Art Trails. Yosemite Sierra Artists was “Western” Artists at the time. And without that, I don’t know if I’d be here. But the fact that there was such a great art community was really important to me. And in Orange County before we left, I had been looking. I was an art major.
you know, and then I had my business and I hadn’t painted in a while. So I really wanted to get back into that. So I was looking in the Laguna and they’re like, you have to be, you know, vetted in and so special. And everybody here is so welcoming and just, you know, creative. So there’s no judgment. So that’s how we got here was this community and the beauty of the area.
And now you own a gallery. So tell me about that.
So that happened a little bit in a good way, bad way. I had done all the branding for Oakhurst Spirits Distillery and Allie was an artist. They had moved here from San Diego and they started the distillery and she had a gallery and then she passed of cancer. So I helped sell all of her art supplies off and I was working with Mike, the owner.
Gina Mims (03:23.758)
and then the space was just sitting there empty and I’m like, can I rent this little part? I just want that little back part. And then, you know, I have this idea of, well, let’s do rotating shows in the front. So I started doing, you know, guest artists in the front for Yosemite Sierra Artists because I was president or vice versa. I don’t know at the time. I’ve been at every role on that board ever. And then I realized it was kind of like herding cats. And then finally, this is
I had had that and COVID happened. I, for Inspiro brands, I do graphic design for restaurants and all of my restaurants shut down for like six months. So I just painted and painted and painted. So then I had a lot of artwork. So then I took over a whole gallery. So I love having the space. I’ve been there for almost four, three and a half years. And I love having, you know, right now all of my art is in it.
which is nice, but I’m also doing Oakhurst Wine and Art Hop. So for six of those months, I’ll have guest artists and I’m also having rotating shows. We’ll have Visions of Self, which is a women’s show. And so that’s March. And then in April, get to do a nude show. I think it, not many people do nudes. They, I don’t know what the hangup is, but.
doing nudes. So it’s fun to have that space. And because I work from home for, my, what I call my grownup job, nice to get out and be able to be in that space too.
Well, it’s great how you’ve been able to merge the two. I’d like to hear about how your business life has influenced your success. You’ve had tremendous success as a visual artist. So how has that helped?
Gina Mims (05:18.744)
Well, I think because I do brand development and marketing for my clients, I think a lot of people, like to paint or create, but they don’t like to market. And so being able to go, hey, I like to market, I can do that. That definitely helps. And I think that also having a community together, we have Yosemite Sierra Artists and we have a large group of people. A lot of the work that I do are like,
restaurant events. So I do an event called Pacific Wine and Food Classic, which is 500 people and it’s doing the marketing for, you know, getting people there and you know, so, you know, doing other events, it’s similar. It’s definitely, you know, just still inviting people to show up and have a good party. And that’s what I like. I can have a good party. I’m, I’m in.
You’re all over it.
Truthfully, I paint for my own therapy because I’m deadline-driven. Everything I do is always like hey we need it today. It’s got to be done at this time. So to be honest, I don’t know if I love to paint and I love to do all of this, but I don’t know if I’d ever do it full-time because it takes away from the get-to-do and it becomes a have-to-do.
My big epiphany for the new year was just goal setting and thinking, who do I want to be when I grew up? And one of the things I really realized is you can do art until the day you die. You can, as long as your body works, a lot of artists start at 50. A lot of artists, they’ll working at 90. So you can have multiple careers and you can only get better the more you do it. So I feel like there’s no pressure to like…
Gina Mims (07:09.366)
I have to be successful in X amount of time. So a lot of what I’m doing is helping other people kind of elevate their art at the same time. I’ve even been starting a little mastermind group of about 12 people and it’s elevate art. yeah.
I’m sorry, go ahead.
all over the place with what I like to do, but again, it’s for the bigger picture. It’s, you know, not a short term game.
Well, it’s all interrelated. I talked about you being a visionary. know that you’re instrumental at Yosemite Sea Artists as a tremendously successful, vibrant organization. And you had a huge part as president and all the other positions that you’ve had over the years of keeping, you know, not only invigorating it, but just keeping it going. And your latest venture, which just…
amazes me, you’re just doing so much, is the Oakhurst Art Hop. And I would love to hear about that. Can you tell us about that, your brainchild there?
Gina Mims (08:12.962)
Yes. So those are, you know, again, fun, like, hey, we should do kind of things. And I think a lot of people say, I want to do. Downside is I go, hey, let’s do it. So I don’t say much because, know, that’s if I’m going to do what I’m going to do it right. And so I was sitting at Yosemite Wine Tales, you know, having my glass of wine and I mentioned it to Colette the owner.
And she’s one of these squirrel brain people as well. So she’s like, what if, you know, we added wine to the art hop? And so we’re like, Ooh, I like that. So then the Visitor Center is trying to figure out how to save the trolley in town. So then we added the trolley. So now it’s an art hop where there’s nine stops and you get to get your wine glass, jump on the trolley for free.
Your wine glass is $20 and it includes tastings at each of the locations and everybody gets to see art. So that’s May through October, which is, you know, we’re by Yosemite, which is the busy season. And, you know, again, my goal is to really help everybody have a place to show and reason to create because what happens is, you know, like I want to, you know, do a photograph for that painting and then you build up this body of work. But
If you don’t have a place to show, ends up under your bed or in a garage or, know, it gets grumpy if it can’t breathe. I want to be able to, you know, hang out and show people. So the nice thing is there’s, you know, a couple of the places you can show for a full month and, you know, kind of need to be a little, you know, juried in for those locations. But there’s some others for people who
or just starting out that are just pop-ups for a day. So I really want it to be all-inclusive for anybody who kind of wants to play. So that’s the goal is to have enough, you know, so that you can, there’s a lot to do, but it’s not this overwhelming where you miss a lot. So this year we’re doing it again. We’re just doing a call for artists right now and looking for, you know, new food trucks to show up and…
Gina Mims (10:33.474)
you know, some live music. And so each time, you know, there’s always the builds and, you know, what’s next and fun and different. So I love a good party. Let’s speak.
I love how you’ve integrated having a good party into sharing it with everybody. It’s just great.
Yeah. Downside of this is if you do it too well, then you get sucked into other things. So yeah. And now I don’t know if I’m now the Banner Art Coordinator. We now have a banner project in town too. And because, you you jump in and helped with all of that. So now I’m chair person for that as well. So I’m kind of merging the two. I’m making sure that the deadlines are similar. it’s, you’re asking the same people.
So we’re making a lot of opportunities for people to play.
So what inspires you the most? What really gets you going?
Gina Mims (11:31.79)
to do art, I’m very like, yay, I have a goal. And then in this last couple of months, I’ve had like family issues. So that, kind of takes you down. So I find that ramping back up is sometimes hard, but knowing that, you know, that’s kind of why I did Art Hop as well, because I have a goal to rotate art and have something new.
And then we have Sierra Art Trails. So Sierra Art Trails is our big, know, in October, I want to have a new body of work each October for that. So definitely deadline driven. So I love where we live and it’s beautiful. And then we travel this next week, I’m going to Hawaii. So, you know, to be able to create from that. And then we’re by the coast. So
create from that. So a lot of it is creating what you feel and kind of capturing that. Everything that I do, I call serenity scapes for the most part. They’re kind of impressionist landscapes where they’re, you could tell where they are if you ask, but if somebody says, hey, is that lake so-and-so? Mike, the owner of the gallery says, you just tell them yes. That lake is what you just said.
Yeah, they’re all a little, a little bit of everything. It’s my favorite, you know, I like this tree over here and that mountain over there. So a lot of it’s out of my mind, but inspired by nature.
So do you get out and plein-air paint or do you prefer being in the studio?
Gina Mims (13:18.752)
I wish I could plein-air paint more. I still have my clients during the day and our group that does plein-air which is an amazing group, but it’s the Wednesday in the middle of the day. So I try to get out about three times. I give myself three times a year at least. And there’s a plein-air paint out in Mariposa that’s a brand new event. And I’m excited that
I feel like everybody, like if we’re doing stuff on this side, it, not that it’s competition, but it inspires you to like, hey, we should do something too. So they’re doing a plein-air paint out. They even got it in PleinAir Magazine which is huge.
That is huge. Yes. Yeah.
So I’m going to do that one. that’s a fun, you know, they’re just painting the town and there’s, you know, hotel stays, there’s, you know, restaurant recommendations. So if anybody’s interested, right now, I want to say it’s only $55. But it’ll go up a little bit. And there’s also Penny Otwell who’s an amazing artist is doing a workshop.
There’s a couple other artists who are doing workshops as well. So, that’s a final one.
Shannon Grissom (14:43.95)
Sounds like a great opportunity.
Yes, so to do plein-air sometimes, but I mostly finish in the studio.
Yeah, it sounds like me. So for somebody starting out, what advice would you give somebody new just getting their creativity vibe on? What would you recommend?
I would say classes when I was an art major and I didn’t paint for 20 years. So it’s one of those things that you really use it or lose it, but it does come back. So classes are definitely a good starter. There’s a lot of classes online, even Jed Dorsey is doing an acrylic challenge. So I’ve signed up for that. It’s three days and he’s showing everything you can learn and it’s free. But each time, you know,
There’s you can try before you buy. So I’m sure at the end he going to say, okay, now, you know, college university is X amount, but there’s so many YouTube videos and online Streamline has a ton of the videos. So if you can’t find somebody in person to learn from, you know, definitely that or even community center will have classes. So.
Gina Mims (16:03.886)
And then just not caring. think everybody wants this. You can see it in your head and your hands aren’t there yet. So what do they call it? 10,000 brush hours or whatever. It’s true. Even my, I’ve been painting again for 10 years and I’m still taking classes. I’m still watching videos. I’m still trying new things because again, if you’re going to do it for another 30 years, got…
You have to learn something new,
So what would you say along those lines, life happens to all of us, what do do to get unstuck? What do you do to lift yourself out of whatever funk is going on?
My main go-to is travel because I find that even if I don’t think, you know, like I’m not going to do anything, I’m grumpy. You go and you start seeing things in a different way. So a lot of that is, you know, just getting out of your funk. I do also have podcasts that I listen to. I have, it’s Creative Pep Talk. And I like that one. I’ll drive.
because a lot of times I’m driving and I listen to that on both sides because I get in the same creativity on whether I’m doing logos and marketing, it’s still creative. So I love that podcast because it speaks to if you’re a musician, if you’re an artist, if you’re even a stand-up comedian. It’s a lot of fun tips that way. So that’s my cheater.
Gina Mims (17:44.462)
And I have a couple other, I like Eric Rhoads to listen to as far as, you know, when you need the like little marketing push, because, you know, I can create, but, you know, then I get like, do I really have to sell it? So I’m like, oh, really? Yeah. Like, that part’s work.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we had peeps for that, right?
Yes. But a lot of galleries, they don’t want you to do it, but you don’t have that control. So I would rather have the control. You can tell I’m kind of a control freak here.
A common thread. So what’s next for you? What do you have coming up this year?
Well, I’ve kind of given myself because what happened last year is I was so focused on Art and Wine Hop And then I know by taking on this Banner Project as well. And I’ve got a painting started. We have the Visions of Self. So that’s all my easel at the moment. I’m doing a mermaid for my nudes show. You know, sketch out and that’s fun. I’ve bought new.
Gina Mims (19:02.75)
inks that I’m trying that are metallic and so those are my little
I really like, this is a weird one, but I read a book by Colleen Hoover and you were, I just popped in my head, sorry, about getting stuck I’ve been trying this is just kind of keeping something on your easel that is just an experiment. So my mermaid’s going to be experiment for a bit, but Colleen Hoover, I don’t know if you, she wrote It Ends with Us book series and she’s been, she wrote this book.
that is called Too Late, but she was just writing it when she was having writer’s block. So it was her go-to just to have there and whenever she stuck on this one, go over here. So that’s my thing is to give myself something always on my easel that I can go to. So you ready? Whether I do this or not, I felt really bad this year because I didn’t get my mom’s calendar done. I’ve been doing a…
calendar with all my paintings every year for my mom. Didn’t get one done because I was doing Art Hop and I didn’t create much. So I’ve given myself a calendar challenge to have something on my easel and have a one painting done once a month for my mom’s calendar. And then I’m going to do it as a series for Yosemite or for Sierra Art Trails and put calendars together. And so that’s my my again goal.
Deadline-driven challenge for myself. So that’s what I’m up to.
Shannon Grissom (20:40.622)
That’s a great goal. And I love having something on the easel that you don’t have a vested interest in. have what I call throw up paintings. And if I’m feeling just, I paint every day, but there are times when things just don’t work or you’re not feeling good or you don’t even feel like it. I mean, I get inspired, but some days you just don’t have it. So anyway, I know better than to approach.
a serious work. We have serious work, we have off the wall work, we have all kinds of different work, but I know better than to approach something that I really got my heart and soul into when I’m feeling that way. So I just work on the throw up painting and sometimes it works and sometimes it needs to be thrown out or painted over or whatever. So I love that you just keep going. That’s just great advice, Gina
Yeah, the other thing I’m going to do this year is I’ve got, I have a tendency to squirrel brain. You know, I have my work and my art and my easel. do have an easel in my office as well as my gallery and it sits there and it talks to me. So to compartmentalize my day. So, you know, this time, this time is business and like three to six, three to seven every day to do art.
But with that same caveat is it’s like going to the gym. You know, I’m going to go to the gym, but sometimes you’re not in the mood and I’m just going to go walk at the treadmill. If you can get yourself there, then the other things happen. But if you can’t get yourself foot in the door, you’re not going to do anything. So to kind of make myself, you know, two, three hours a day. And if you’re not feeling it, you know, do the marketing. If you’re not feeling it, do, you know, watch a video, whatever it is.
But to block out that time because I’m finding that, you know, I had taken Christmas off and dealing with family stuff was getting back into is hard staying consistent with it, you know, once I’m back in it, I love it, but getting back to it, there’s a little, little track there.
Shannon Grissom (22:49.102)
All right, well, we’re getting ready to wrap up. Do you have any parting words or things that you’d like to share?
I can’t think of anything except for if you’re ever in the Yosemite area, come visit me. I’m at The Gallery at Oakhurst Spirits
And where can we find you online?
So, GinaMimsArt.com and then I’m on Instagram and Facebook. Facebook is the Gina Mims Art is my business page. I also have my other just, hey, you want to come see where I’m traveling? What my family looks like? And that’s the other one. So yeah, and LinkedIn if you need any graphic design for restaurant.
Then OakhurstArtHop.com is, you know, come hop on a trolley, drink some wine and, yeah, see some art.
Shannon Grissom (23:47.8)
That’s great. We will put all of those links in the show notes so that you guys can easily find Gina. Well, thanks for being here, Gina. Just a pleasure always to talk with you. And thanks to you for tuning into Painterly Life. We hope you enjoyed the show and got inspired. And if you did, don’t forget to like and subscribe. We’ll see you next time.