Faith Williston; an artist from Birmingham, AL, sits down to talk about her career, what inspires her creatively, and Canton’s small-town charm. Her piece, Cuive et Fleurs, is displayed in Canton as part of the Mississippi Art Colony’s traveling exhibit.
We’re so happy to be sitting down with you, Faith. You’re originally from Birmingham; what led you to Mississippi?
I’m so thrilled to be speaking with you! My husband and I met in High School. He was in the Navy for 20 years, so we lived everywhere – from Virginia to California. We lived all across the United States. That experience gave me the opportunity to see all types of landscapes,
cultures, and people. So, when he [my husband] finished his Navy career in Pascagoula, we were trying to decide if we wanted to stay there or wanted to move.
We had three boys and wanted a change of pace, so we moved to Ocean Springs. We’ve now lived here for 24 years and absolutely love it. I never thought, being from Birmingham, that I would end up in Mississippi, but it has been such a nice little surprise.
We are so happy you have enjoyed the Coast. It’s such a beautiful slice of our great state. Can you tell me a bit about your piece on display, Cuive et Fleurs?
Absolutely. I really love to challenge myself. Still lifes and landscapes challenge me (in a good way). They make you go back to the roots of your training. We did them all the time in college, and that’s where I learned how to really look at objects and how they’re put together to paint them. This piece was a good example of that training in action. With the copper pots, fruits, and the flowers – it was an excellent way to see how light floats across a still-life and trying to capture that feeling when painting. Seeing how those shapes relate to each other and being able to pull light through the image is such a fun experience as a painter.
What draws you to still lifes and landscapes?
The simplicity of these styles is really what interests me. I don’t want my painting to look “photo real.” At the end of the day, it’s not a photograph. It’s a painting, so I like it when they are simple and get the point across. I love it when the viewer is able to see the brushstrokes and imagine the work that was put into the painting.
Who or what inspires you in your creative process?
This is a tough question. I think you always have people that influence you throughout life. All kinds of people inspired me to pursue my art. I guess I’ve always just found it easier to paint what I’m feeling or want to communicate. For me, it’s easier to paint it, rather than communicate it. It’s just easier. I love being outside and seeing all kinds of landscapes and
still-life’s that just exist freely in our world. I’m inspired by everything that’s out there and the beauty of what we’re surrounded by.
Mississippi Art Colony’s 2024 exhibit is currently located on the Canton Square. Tell us a bit about your experience in Canton and your time visiting there.
Canton really reminds me of Ocean Springs. It’s kind of artsy. It’s different and not the norm. It’s a small town but has a huge personality. The people there are so kind, and I’ve met so many friends there. They are all just so kind and open to talk with you.
Author: Ace Henley