Gio’s Art spreading positivity through creative paintings & craft

Dec 08, 2024 Features / Columnists, News, Waterfalls Magazine

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“My long-term goal is just to see my art bring positivity into people’s life.”

By Allyiah Allicock

Kaieteur News- While art is the expression of one’s creative skill, emotions and ideas on a physical medium, for Giovanie Fletcher, art is more than that, it serves as positivity and a safe space for her.

In an exclusive interview with The Waterfalls, 34-year-old Fletcher said her art business ‘Gio’s Art’ was launched in 2020 following a very difficult period in her life.

She recalled, “My creative energies for art were reactivated four years ago which was a very difficult period in my life. On the verge of my breaking point, art, the act of drawing and painting became my safety net.”

Fletcher shared that finding her way to art again, she was elevated mentally and spiritually, and that each illustration she created caused a ripple effect on her life in a positive way. “From that, I knew this is what I wanted to do. I want to activate and invite positive energies into everyone’s life with each purchase of my art. My work which is also my hobby will forever be a vessel of positivity for me, a shield, my safe space,” the young woman explained.

Gio’s Art for those who are not familiar, is a business that creates paintings and other illustrations using mixed media mainly, acrylics on canvases and wooden surfaces. All paintings can be customized to your specified desire.

Having been in the art industry for some years now, Fletcher mentioned that the support for her work has been good noting that it comes in a seasonal manner.

Elaborating, she said, “I have been doing this for five years and I found that it is seasonal, there are times that you will have lots of work and there are times when you won’t have anything.”

According to her, the support has been mostly from foreigners though she appreciates this, she would also like to see the gesture coming from more locals.

“I think Guyanese are now catching up to the sense of art. To the sense of creativity and what it is to be creative and to acknowledge, support and understand creative people that it is hard work. I think Guyana is slowly catching up to that concept,” she added.

Addressing the challenges, she would have faced time to time with her business, Fletcher disclosed that a main one would be sourcing the materials to create her pieces. She said from the time she launched, to now, she has seen progress where some small businesses would now be selling the materials needed for art.

“We have gotten a far way from 2020 to now in terms of the art world, persons are being able to ship in varnish and paints and so forth but art materials are still hard to come by in terms of artist brand materials, not only will it be pricier but because it is being shipped here,” she related.

Another challenge she alluded to has to do with the seasonal support for her art. Asked how she manages to overcome these hurdles, the artist explained that having a passive income helps a lot in this area.

“Even in these dry spell seasons where business isn’t that good having something else to fall back on, a side gig actually helps,” she pointed out.

Fletcher, who is not only known as an acrylic painter, muralist and crafter, is also a part-time art teacher at a private secondary school.

Notwithstanding the challenges, she said she will continue doing what she loves and spread positivity.

With that being said, the young entrepreneur noted that part of her long-term goals, is that she trying to move into mural paintings. “So I have been trying actually for like two years to get into the mural world because honestly my goal is to see my artwork on buildings like on a larger scale,” she informed.

She shared that even though it’s technical and difficult; she is up for the challenge in showcasing her creative skills in this way.

Noting that colours bring different vibrations to one’s life, Fletcher mentioned also, “My long-term goal is just to see my art bring positivity into people’s life.”

It is with this she said that young entrepreneurs have a crucial role in society and that through their skills and ideas they are raising the bar and showing diversity in life and in careers.

When questioned what she thinks that can be done locally to give small businesses that recognition, our featured entrepreneur made a call for more local support.

She noted that speaking from an artist’s perspective, she thinks larger organizations can utilize the services of young artists for any artistic work they may need, whether it be to paint murals for their buildings or other events.

“Give them the exposure and commission, support your locals in any field of work, support them in their early stages of their creative life,” she expressed.

In addition to that, she said she would like to see more and more pop-up shops and expo being held across the various regions.

 

Interested in one of the many creative pieces by Gio’s Art, feel free to contact her on (+592) 693-2442, 655-7348 or on Instagram @ gios_art_creation_.

 

(Gio’s Art spreading positivity through creative paintings & craft)

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