This month’s artist feature is Liv Tyler, an abstract painter currently living in Brooklyn, NY that makes art about mental health and spirituality. A student at Pratt Institute, a YouTuber and artprenuer, I applaud them for having an incredible balance with their education, business and personal life while still choosing to fulfill their passion in hopes of making their art career fulltime.
Q+A
Liv’s bio.
Hi! My name is Liv Tyler! I am 20 years old and currently studying Graphic Design and entrepreneurship at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. I’m an abstract expressionist painter and I’m inspired by emotions and process them through color and movement. A lot of my work touches on themes of spirituality and mental health. I’ve run a small business since I was 16 selling my art. I sell paintings, prints and merchandise with painted designs on them. I create to learn more about myself but to also inspire people to explore themselves and dive deeper and I hope people feel less alone when they see my art. I also do YouTube and stream on twitch. Live-streaming has been an amazing way to build a community and it’s been one of my greatest experiences. I stream live while playing games and making art and through it I’ve been able to meet people from around the world.
As mentioned above, I am currently studying Graphic Design and Entrepreneurship at Pratt Instiute in NYC. I am currently a junior. Art school and living in NYC has been such a big dream of mine and it is amazing to be here. I am learning so much about so many different things and really getting pushed to learn and grow as an artist and designer. I initially got interested in graphic design when I became the creative director of a social justice group my friends and I created in 2020. Through schooling I have become really interested in publishing design, everything to do with cover design, interior layout design, and more. While design is not my main focus it has been a really great way to learn different things I would not typically teach myself.
Tell us about your art. What kind of art do you make and what/who inspires you to create? Music, surroundings, people, colors, etc.?
I primarily make abstract paintings but sometimes touch on landscapes as well. I’m deeply inspired by emotions as I see all emotions as colors. I also believe in auras and think everyone has distinct colors and I represent those in paintings. I started this abstract exploration when I was going through treatment for PTSD and it quickly became a tool for healing and exploring more about myself. I often find I have trouble communicating through words and abstract painting allows me to communicate in a clear way. A lot of my process is about meditation and intuition I try to tap into a spiritual energy when painting and channel higher messages and oftentimes I see abstract painting as almost an oracle reading, sometimes I go into it with no idea at all and I come out with something I didn’t know I needed to process or hear.
If you use different mediums, which one(s) do you like to use the most?
Acrylic is my favorite medium to work in it is what I’ve used since I started working. I’ve tried oils briefly once. This year I got an acrylic gouache set and that has been really fun to experiment with as it is able to be reactivated so I can go in with multiple layers and take more time with it, it has been really fun to use as practice.
You’re a student, small business owner, YouTuber and an artist. How do you manage to take care of so much while still keeping up with your studies?
The truth is that I’ve had to pull back a lot on my passion projects to prioritize school. I don’t have the capacity to run everything to the point I want to so I scale back based on what is needed to be focused on each week. I’m really good at managing my time so I do my best to dedicate some time each day to my business and passions. I also have to be realistic about my expectations of what I am able to do each week and make a plan for being consistent even if it is less frequent than I’d like.
Have you participated in exhibits and/or art shows? If so, which one(s)? Or perhaps, there is a show that you wish to participate in.
I have not yet! My work has been exhibited at a small school show that opened on my birthday which was super cool!
Actually the first show I was supposed to exhibit in was a show where we transformed an entire house into an art exhibit based on fear. It was set to open in March of 2020 and the week before we were to open the world was shut down due to the pandemic. I still hold that experience really close to my heart because I learned so much and gained so much freedom even if the show never opened.
Do you have any goals on where you want to see your craft or business? New projects, collabs, etc.?
My dream is to be an artist and business owner full time and to be able to make a full time living off of this. I love what I do so much and want to be able to do it all day every day. I have big big dreams and so many goals I would like to achieve.
I would really love to have a solo show by the time I graduate. I would love to collaborate with fashion designers to bring my painting to clothing. More immediately I would like to start working on larger scale canvases – I think there is something so special about large paintings.
Further in the future I dream of having a collaborative art studio where we can host classes and artist residencies. I want to have a scholarship to help marginalized people gain the access to go to art school (there is such an apparent lack of diversity in art school in part likely to cost inaccessibility and I would like to help change that because marginalized and diverse voices are so important in art).
Overall I want to inspire people to follow their dreams and be a tool and resource in helping them get there. A lot of the reasons I want to find success is so that I can help uplift others to get there too. I deeply believe in my dreams and ability to make them come true.
Do you have any upcoming events or projects that everyone should be aware of?
I am releasing my official website in January of 2024! This will be the hub for all of my operations and house all of my paintings for sale. I am going to have a live launch party on twitch and I will be releasing paintings that have not been available for purchase before! I am digging into the archives of my studio for it.
Liv’s use of deep purples and blues drew me in. I connect with blue the most because it’s a calming color to me. I picture a setting that is serene - sitting on a beach and watching the waves come in and out on the sand. In her painting “River”, Liv explains the power of water. “I was reflecting on the power of the river we live on and how water never stops flowing. Allowing you to wash away all that doesn’t serve you and to reenter the flow when you are ready. Water is a cleansing force and I hope the energy of this painting brings you calm and allows you to reflect on what you want to let go.”
Let me get a little personal because as I write this blog, “River” resonates with me. I couldn’t help but to reflect on my own life - the days I allowed pain and negativity to sit in my spirit like trash in a stagnant murky river; constantly reflecting but unable to allow new water to come in and wash it away. Water is constant, healing and nourishing - so why do we find ourselves denying what’s good for us? The daily norm upon waking was immediately channeling dreadful energy to myself but still wanted to share my love and encouragement to others. I hated feeling that way, but a lesson was to be learned. I sat and felt those feelings until I was ready to let them go. This breakthrough took more than just reading motivational books, quotes and prayers. I had to actively change my routine, what I thought and spoke into the atmosphere. It’s what I told myself everyday where I slowly started to see the change. I finally allowed myself to let go of the things I couldn’t control and invited positivity deeply into my heart.
There are seasons when we have to experience the lows and learn from them. We want small amounts of trouble and a little bit of discomfort that doesn’t feel like the weight of the world is crashing down on us. Here we are, crying out for help and leaning towards nearly anyone with an ear and an hour that will listen to us. The lessons are meant to be painful, uncomfortable and challenging. You’re supposed to reevaluate your life and purge what isn’t necessary. The low moments, however long they may be, doesn’t confirm that your life will be like this forever, but a test of your faith and understanding. Do you choose to sit in dirty murky water or allow the constant flow of fresh water to wash away all that serves no purpose?
Make sure to check out more of Liv’s work. Follow and support at the info below:
You can find my shop at livtyart.etsy.com
My instagram is instagram.com/livtyart
My youtube is youtube.com/@livtyart
My twitch is twitch.tv/astrolivical
Thanks Liv!
*All photos provided by Liv Tyler.