Breaking Boundaries with Brushstrokes: Marcy Stone’s Journey in Art and Life
From a very young age, she assumed the role of “the boss” in her upbringing, harboring a distaste for the word “no” that still persists today. Amidst a battle with cervical cancer from the ages of 16 to 25, her aversion to limitations stems from an unwavering belief in the possibility of achieving anything.
Today, I spoke with Marcy Stone, a visual artist. In the tapestry of her life, every thread, from hardships to triumphs, has woven the fabric of who she is today.
Can you share the story of Marcy Stone and provide insights into your background and artistic journey?
Realizing very early on that authority figures, especially ones that tried to control me, instilled in me a strength, decisiveness, and independence that I am grateful for today. People like my grandmother and father, who became my closest allies and friends, were also my biggest cheerleaders. My grandmother’s intuition saved me during my health issues. She felt something just wasn’t right and took care of me. She was my favorite person as a kid and she felt that way about me. We were always together. She was a free spirit and thought out of the box.
I wasn’t supposed to be able to have kids from all of the various surgeries over those years. Unexpectedly, I defied odds and became pregnant with twins, ultimately giving birth to my daughter, Aubrey. Another surprise followed in 1995 with the arrival of second daughter, Sydney. Following a hysterectomy in 1997 and the end of my marriage in 2004, I thrived in creating a joyful life for “We 3”. My father joined us, bringing 12 years of shared joy.
Sydney was the peacekeeper in the moments it was needed and she would sing “why can’t we be friends” when disagreements happened and we would all just laugh and it was over, whatever it was. She also sang, “we are family” walking throughout the house. She was a kind, whimsical, important and loyal person who loved everyone and was loved by everyone.
I was balancing multiple jobs including wedding planner, yoga teacher, esthetician, ordained minister, and life coach, and I found fulfillment in various roles. Through a serendipitous connection during yoga teacher training, I met Ken, a man who embraced my daughters as his own.
I lost my daughter Sydney in 2016. While I mourn the loss of Sydney’s voice and presence, the heavenly connection we share keeps me rooted in the present moment, driving me to create, experience joy, and strive for a better version of myself.
Ken and I got married in 2017, and over the past eight years, I’ve channeled my experiences into writing books and establishing a culinary scholarship fund in Sydney’s honor. I started painting in the winter of 2021 as I just needed to dive in. I was accepted into the Lititz Art Show in July of 2021, where I participated again in July of 2022 and will again this July. I am also involved in 2 local galleries. Through the art I create and the spiritual connection I maintain, I continue to navigate a journey of healing and growth.
Could you elaborate on how your experiences have shaped both your artistic style and the techniques?
In the beginning, I did everything “by the book”. Fluid art has many “rules” and most need to be adhered to in order for the process to work and art to be successfully created. It’s probably why I loved it so much. In my days of being a business owner, the business was very process driven in order to achieve the desired deliverables and measured success. The same applies to being a life coach. The work, while a lot more open to interpretation of each person’s deliverables and success, there is still plenty of process. It seemed an almost natural transition into art for me as fluid art required a high level of process while marrying to its creative partner of color, texture, and design.
This was very comforting and, undiscovered to me at the time, the beginning of something very freeing while still very intellectually stimulating. A beautiful synergy for someone hardwired like me.
Delving into your creative process, how do you approach the transformation of an abstract idea into a tangible and expressive painting?
I have an intuitive approach. While I meditate and ensure my energy is in a happy state before painting, I allow myself to feel what is to come. I enjoy layers in my works, so “playing” has become a large part of my more recent pieces. It allows the freedom to flow and as the layers appear, so does a direction of the piece. Some pieces can take hours, while some can take weeks. It’s all in the flow of my energy. As soon as I feel my mind try to engage in what I am working on, it’s time to stop.
Within your body of work, could you highlight a particular painting that you feel was pivotal in your career?
There have been 3 pivotal pieces as I have moved through phases in my painting. The first one was “emerging butterfly”, created during my first joy of working with fluid art. I was moving the paint in ways that are currently different than many abstract artists. Also, the science behind the paints, consistency, mediums, pigments and layering was unique. The challenge was blissful as my brain worked in harmony, the left and right sides conspiring to achieve an artist masterpiece.
As I moved away from fluid art to try my hand at other forms of painting, I found mixed media and sketching to be the next phase of painting to capture me. While this style still required a level of left/right brain harmony, there was another level that was tied into it for me which was my spiritual beliefs and connection to the Universe and all that is. As a life coach, working specifically with women, the divine feminine was something I felt I needed to capture. So many strong, independent, and loving women have made their marks in our history and in turn, many have been painted. I too created my version of Audrey Hepburn but then felt the need to direct my focus to that power within many of us. The archetypes; some of which are the Nurturer, the Seer, the Priestess, the Maiden and the Lover. Many of these traits are within each and every one of us and as we use these innate skills they may go unspoken or even unnoticed. We move about living our best lives as unsung heroes, so I created a series of the Divine Feminine Archetypes. As you gaze into each one of their intense expressions, their eyes practically speak to you, to your soul. I found the series to be very moving for me and while the first piece created was “the Seer” (sold in December), the second piece, “the Lover” speaks to me.
The 3rd pivotal piece was a very huge leap for me. “Free Spirit” came from just that. For this phase in my painting, I moved away from the harmony of the left/right brain and went to an intuitive approach. I don’t believe I would have gotten here without the first two stages because of life as we live it in society and the business, I was involved in. This way feels like what it’s meant to be for me.
Please shed some light on the literary aspect of your portfolio by discussing the content and themes explored in the book or books you have authored.
As of now, I have authored /co-authored 4 books. My first book, The Voice of an Angel, came from the need to express my grief and as a life coach, the need to help others who might someday be in the same place. My daughter was killed by a drunk driver on Christmas Eve day, 2016. Our lives were shattered and all that we knew was no more. The book was published in September of 2018. It was a mission for me.
While I was working on promoting my book through interviews, podcasts and YouTube, I was asked by K.C. Armstrong to participate in a book he was putting together, called Simply Amazing Women. My chapter (#7) is included with 12 other amazing women sharing their stories of survival and courage.
My husband and I then co-authored 3 cookbooks, The Best of Both Worlds Cookbook, Volume 1, 2, 3 in our daughter’s memory. She was a budding chef so this was something she would have greatly appreciated.
Since the books, I have started creating “commemorative art” for those that have lost loved ones and want to have their essence preserved to hang in their homes. This has a separate page on my website and has the criteria needed to make these thoughtful pieces come to life.
Who are your inspirations, from the art industry or other domains, and why?
I am not sure I could speak to one individual for inspiration but more of the collective of what art is and does. After losing our daughter, I took a good hard look at life and what I wanted to continue to have in mine. I no longer wanted anything “unauthentic” in my life. This approach is because there are so many things, we each do in our lives that take from what truly deeply matters. I had an absolutely beautiful life with my girls, and I wanted that again but knew I was going to need to go about it completely different because one of my reasons for living was now her watching over me and not walking by my side. I also knew I needed to remain a positive role model for my daughter who just lost her best friend, confidant, and sister as we navigated this new place in life together.
I have always considered myself an artistic being. Our interior and exteriors of our homes, my gardens, my wardrobe and, well…how I am. My inspiration was finding happiness in life again. Experiencing joy like when you are driving with the top down and your daughter is singing at the top of her lungs in the passenger seat. That kind of joy, that feeling, but knowing I needed to find it in different ways/things now. So I went back to my roots, my creative ways.
After the books, I felt I needed more. The books were for keeping my daughter’s memory alive. I now needed something for me. To keep me whole, I found art. We moved to Lancaster, PA in late fall of 2019 and they have a row of galleries (“Gallery Row”) and when we went exploring and saw all of the art and the different styles, that was it. I just decided I was going to paint and become an artist. So, it was said and so it is to be. I emersed myself completely into learning all that I could find. I was inspired by my desire to be whole and hoped that my efforts might empower and inspire others as I live with hope, joy and vibrant color in my life, mixed with a little soulful magic, some rainbows, mystery and daily signs from my Angel.
What advice would you offer to emerging female artists navigating their way into the realm of art?
EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE! Don’t listen to the noise around you. Learn the rules to break them. No one knows you better than you, trust your gut. Create from your soul. Start local. Social media is great but your neighborhood, those are your people.
Two of my favorite quotes are
“well behaved women rarely make history”
and
“be fearless in the pursuit of what set your soul on fire”
Always have inspiring words around you for the days you doubt yourself. Hang pictures of your favorite works of art in your workspace as a reminder of just how awesome you truly are!! Don’t compare your art to others, you are meant to be different and unique. The world needs you to sparkle as authentically as possible.
What’s the best way for individuals interested in exploring and supporting your artistic work to engage with you?
To come to Lancaster, Pennsylvania! My art can be purchased many places online such as my website. You can join my email list to get updates of the shows and galleries involved in on my website. You can also reach me on my social media channels on Instagram and Facebook. My books are also available for purchase on my website. Purchase my books, share them with people that have lost someone dear to them.
Spread the word, share my works, say hello and introduce yourself! I love meeting and talking to new people and hearing their stories. Namaste!
