Arts in Atlanta: Blayne Beacham

What emotions drive the creation of your art?
For some reason, right now I am obsessed with older teenage girls and the emotions that go with that time in life. It's such an amazing time. Part of you life is over, high school and living at home, and there is a whole world of possibilities in front of you. Every decision impacts the rest of your life. And, there are so many firsts… First kiss, first car, first boyfriend…. It's all no new and exciting. That idea has prevailed my work for a while. It was the basis of the "Dress Up" series. The idea of shedding your old life and moving forward. I am working on a project right now where I am reading 52 young adult novels. I am picking out the most poignant scenes in those books and creating a photograph to capture that feeling. I am so excited about the project.

When did you make the decision to be an artist?
I must have been about 5… That's the age I had my first memory and got my first camera. An artist is the ONLY thing I've ever wanted to be… Of course the type has varied… I've gone from wanting to be a photographer, to a painter, to a writer (a type of art). I have circled back to photography, but still live writing, which is why I write my blog This Photographer's Life.

Is your art goal-oriented?
Yes! I have a ten year plan, and work diligently to fulfill those goals. If it all works out, by the end of the ten years I will be in a museum and get to curate shows! Lofty, I know, but I'm working on it!




What are you passionate about?
Telling stories through images. Period. End of statement.


How would you describe yourself?
I love things that are beautiful. I'm passionate, goal-oriented, outgoing, and social. If you look up the definition of Libra it describes me perfectly :)


What artistic challenges do you face?
I feel as if I am climbing an uphill battle with photography. People are happy to pay for paintings or drawings, but hesitate when it comes to photography. It is not collected by as wide a variety of people. I want people to see photography as art. If they view it that way, then I don't have to try to reinvent the wheel by putting resin or paint on the photography. I want it to stand as art on its own, but that is hard right now for many consumers to grasp.



What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned as an artist?
Ask advice from experts, but in the end you have to do what you feel most strongly about. It's important to have relationships with other artists. Its better to sell a piece because you want to than because you have to.

What’s your proudest artistic achievement?
I finished the "Ghost Series" last year, and I am so proud of it. Not because it is necessarily the best series of photographs I've ever seen, but because of how much I learned. I learned how to envision a series, gather the necessary pieces, execute it, and get critiques that were not necessarily shining, but grow from them.




What artists have influenced you most and why?
Todd Murphy because he is a great friend and an exceptional artist. He also give genuine and thoughtful advice. And he is truly talented.
Angela Bacon-Kidwell. I love the depth of her photographs. She has an amazing vision, and she took the time to help me when I asked for it. I appreciate it so much.
Dorothy O'Connor for her vision and the beauty she creates.

What’s been your best decision?
To wait on the gallery representation thing until I find one that loves my work and will represent it well. I feel fantastic about not being represented right now. It will come when the time is right.



Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet?
I know it's cliched, but I would like to meet Annie Leibovitz. Who wouldn't.

What are you currently reading or listening to?
I just finished "Anna and the French Kiss" by Stephanie Perkins for my book project. It is a great Young Adult novel. I am actually so sad that it's over I haven't started anything else yet.
http://www.thisphotographerslife.com/2011/01/funday-monday-new-years-resolution-and.html

Who would you like to trade places with for one day? Why? I am going to go with Annie Leibovitz, but on her day off. I would hate to mess up her work!



What dream do you still want to fulfill?
I want to be in a museum and sell a photograph to Elton John.

What subject would you like to portray in your art that you have not yet attempted?
Regret… But it is too big for me to tackle at this point in my life.

Thank you so much, Blayne.


An accomplished architectural photographer for The Beacham Series, an Atlanta real estate magazine, Blayne received a warm welcome to the Atlanta art scene with her first show last July at Artist Trifecta in Castleberry Hills. In addition to her photography, Blayne also takes time to for painting classes, which is, in fact, how I met her. After spending two days painting together, in a mixed media class at the Art School of Sandy Springs, we exchanged blog addresses, and I've been a huge fan of her work ever since. Blayne's artsy bungalow appeared in a recent issue Simply Buckhead, and, if you take a peek at the photos, here, you'll see that interior design is also one of her many talents.
.. To see more of Blayne's work and follow her artistic journey, be sure to pay her a visit at This Photographer's Life. You can be sure we'll be seeing a lot more from this up and coming young artist!

for Crazy Amigos