We had the good fortune of connecting with Maureen Clark and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maureen, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
In my younger years, conventional learning and schooling presented considerable challenges, despite my parents’ unwavering support. They organized tutoring, tests, and learning resources, including those from the Columbus Speech and Hearing center in Clintonville. My educational path underwent a significant shift during high school when I received a diagnosis as a visual-spatial learner. This revelation illuminated the distinct workings of my mind, bringing to the forefront the obstacles I faced in traditional learning settings and communication. As a visual-spatial learner, my cognitive processes diverge from the norm, offering unique strengths and challenges that have shaped my approach to learning and auditory abilities.

[The visual-spatial learning style, or visual-spatial intelligence, involves the ability to perceive and understand visual information. Individuals with this style excel at visualizing concepts and processing information as images rather than words. While they often exhibit strong integrated abilities, they may struggle with auditory sequential skills, presenting challenges in traditional learning environments. These learners can also experience heightened sensory awareness, making it difficult to filter out excessive stimuli. Visual-spatial learners often think in a non-linear manner, preferring to see the big picture before focusing on details. Visual-spatial learners excel in tasks involving design, judgment, and creativity, making them well-suited for careers such as painting, art, architecture, engineering, and design.] ~google

My art has always been my way to communicate.

From high school to my early 20s, I delved into a variety of creative classes, including those at the Cultural Arts Center. While my parents encouraged me to attend Columbus College of Art and Design, I chose to follow my instincts and opted to enrolled at Columbus State Community College to study graphic design. This decision demonstrated my determination to forge a unique path in pursuit of my passion.

During my educational journey, a pivotal opportunity arose when I was accepted into a study at The Ohio State University. This program was designed to provide learning impaired individuals with the essential skills and tools to succeed in a college environment. This program not only provided invaluable support but also covered the costs of my college education contingent upon maintaining a specified grade point average.

Despite the support offered by the program, I encountered persistent challenges and ultimately found myself ineligible to continue. As a result, I delved into full-time work at the Clerk of Courts by day, while tending bar in the evenings and on weekends, and attending classes part-time. However, the financial burden of repeating classes brought me to a crucial turning point. Confronted by frustrations and setbacks within the education system, I made the arduous decision to step back and reassess the way forward.

Numerous years were devoted to the service industry, while also embracing a diverse range of roles and accumulating a wealth of varied experiences. From vending gear at Irish festivals across the country to contributing to a rooftop garden in Philly, serving as a wine steward, and working as an administrative assistant at the Aveda Institute. Additionally, I found joy in working as a teacher, a certified cook, and a bus driver within the environment of a daycare center. The path has been nothing short of eclectic. I’ve had the opportunity to immerse myself in a wide range of experiences, from solo backpacking through the stunning landscapes of Ireland to serving at a renowned Stephen Starr restaurant and ultimately returning to my beloved hometown of Columbus. Each experience has played a significant role in helping to shape me.

Throughout this journey, I found myself reflecting on profound questions about my life’s trajectory and purpose.

Amidst this time of introspection, I found solace in reigniting my artistic pursuits. Art became my outlet for expressing emotions that were difficult to capture in words, especially in response to certain traumatically poignant experiences from my travels. Initially, my artistic creations conveyed somber and murky themes, reflecting the weight of my experiences. However, this marked the beginning of a deeply personal exploration of the therapeutic power of art. As I delved into my creative process, a noticeable shift began to take place – my work gradually evolved, shedding its darkness and embracing a vibrant spectrum of colors, symbolizing my own journey towards healing and renewal.

During this transformative period, the profound potential of my art became apparent. It dawned on me that if feelings of hope could be communicated and a glimmer of light infused into the dark and desolate spaces that others might be navigating, then the essence of my art had been discovered.

Eager to share my art with a wider audience, I utilized social media to showcase my work and established a presence at local markets. Seeking to understand the inner workings of the art world, I interned at a gallery in Downtown Columbus for a summer. Additionally, I dedicated several years to serving as a lead teacher and manager at an art studio in East Columbus, where I was able to nurture my passion for art and refine my leadership skills. Subsequently, I embarked upon the entrepreneurial path by establishing SOMO Art Studio. Through this endeavor, paid gigs were supplied for fellow artists, and an integral role was played in the Franklinton Arts District by collaborating with local artists to foster and strengthen the artistic community.

This journey demanded an abundance of confidence, unwavering ambition, relentless drive, and significant sacrifices, all while contending with imposter syndrome. Nevertheless, through it all, I had discovered my true purpose.

Amidst my involvement in the local art community, I embarked on a multifaceted creative art career, encompassing the sale of my original artworks, teaching, mural creation, curating, facilitating and community engagement. This dynamic pursuit allowed me to channel my artistic expression into diverse avenues, enabling me to not only share my creations with a broader audience but also to impart my knowledge and passion for art. Wholeheartedly discovering my passion, which deeply resonated with others, led to the achievement of financial stability solely through my art. It became evident that despite the hurdles, I was not alone in my joy – we were all reveling in the experience. The local art community was thriving.

Then the pandemic hit.
In January of 2020, the curatorial position I had established and maintained for two years at Chromedge Studios, vital for financial support of the studio, was unexpectedly taken over. Facing the formidable task of sustaining the studio, it regrettably had to close due to a substantial business loss caused by COVID shutdowns. Consequently, I opted to relocate the studio to my East Franklinton apartment, leading to the temporary closure of SOMO Art Studio.
As 2020 unfolded, I faced significant women’s health challenges that ultimately led to major surgery in 2021. Acting on my doctor’s advice, I dedicated a full year to my recovery, due to the complexity of the situation. In 2022, my Facebook and business pages were taken down due to an informative post sharing information about my women’s health journey. Unfortunately, this action resulted in the loss of art collectors, fans, and valuable connections. Nonetheless, despite these setbacks, my unwavering dedication to art and my personal journey endured.
 The pandemic cast a profound shadow over us all. Shortly after the world came to a standstill, I found myself back in an unhealthy relationship that had ended just months before. Life presents us with recurring lessons in various guises until we finally grasp them, and what we fail to alter, we effectively endorse.
 Common anxieties brought on by the pandemic, including housing instability, increased expenses, financial insecurity, isolation, uncertainty, and heightened stress, were also contended with.
Despite navigating through the aforementioned series of unfortunate events and additional significant life challenges, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety and depression. My journey was complicated by encounters with medical gaslighting, victim blaming, and the impact of social media, which led me to feel isolated and overwhelmed. I am immensely grateful for the unwavering support of my family and lifelong friends, and I am steadfast in my commitment to navigate my own transformative healing journey.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve had the opportunity to immerse myself in a wide range of artistic endeavors. I’ve been fortunate to contribute to various events and weddings through live painting and have been entrusted by Lower Lights Christian Health Care Center to create large-scale paintings for two of their West Columbus locations. Additionally, I’ve had the privilege to create a mural for Mount Carmel at the Healthy Living Center in Franklinton and have happily contributed numerous paintings to causes I believe in, including a recent donation to Franklinton Farms. Alongside these experiences, I’ve been dedicated to working on private commissions, collaborating closely with clients to bring their artistic visions to life.
My artistic journey also led me to Milwaukee, where I participated in a competitive juried painting competition open to artists from around the world. I’ve recently marked my 7th year at Scrawl, a dynamic live mural painting festival in Columbus, and completed a large-scale mural for 934 Gallery in the Milo-Grogan neighborhood of Columbus. These experiences have been incredibly fulfilling and have deepened my passion for art and community engagement. Looking ahead to 2024, I am thrilled about the upcoming launch of a new body of work and the rebranding of SOMO Art Studio as I pursue the establishment of a new studio.
This transformative experience has given me a deeper understanding of mental health, reinforcing my commitment to embodying kindness, compassion, and empathy while also maintaining healthy boundaries. I hope to use these insights to support others in some way, even though the specific path forward is still uncertain. I’m driven to push my artistic boundaries and am embracing a mindset of letting go and allowing things to unfold naturally.
I recently came across a quote: “…the light you get from a piece of coal is actually sunlight. The point is that light lasts forever. For a billion years inside a piece of coal. But darkness lasts not even for one second when you turn on the light.” – From “All the Light We Cannot See”
 This quote beautifully illustrates the enduring nature of light and the fleeting existence of darkness. Hope.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Family, Friends & Supporters

Website: https://www.maureeneclarkart.com/

Instagram: @maureeneclark

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureen-e-clark-646b0395

Other: TikTok: @maureeneclark

Shop: https://www.maureeneclarkstore.com/

Image credits: 
•Maria Khoroshilova / first photo

• Tim Evans / second photo
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