Gay Gaddis' artistic journey is a compelling blend of entrepreneurship and creativity, rooted in her deep connection to the Texas Hill Country. After a successful career in advertising, Gaddis returned to her artistic roots, drawing inspiration from the land she has known since childhood.
As a "plein air" painter, she captures the ever-changing landscapes and expansive skies of her surroundings, using bold colors and rich textures that mirror the rugged beauty of Texas. Her art is more than a reflection of nature—it embodies her life as a rancher and the powerful connection she feels to the land, making her work both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Can you tell us about your process?
I face all kinds of weather when I paint -- driving rain, wind, scorching sun and moonlit skies – capturing what I see in that fleeting moment. In the beginning, all of my work was painted outdoors. My husband, Lee, a longtime craftsman, built custom easels for me large enough for canvases taller than me. I used to drag them out into the middle of the pasture to paint, fighting the elements.
Today, I’m lucky enough to have my own creative sanctuary on our family land, the Double Heart Ranch. Then in 2019, we launched our Fossil Ridge Art Studio & Gallery, which is a private venue for my artwork as well as other creative endeavors and special events. My studio is elliptical shaped with floor to ceiling windows facing the west. Now, when the mood strikes or when I see an unbelievable skyscape, I turn on some music and get to work.
Can you tell us about your journey to becoming a professional artist?
My story in becoming an artist is unique in that I started off as an entrepreneur before officially becoming a fine artist.
After graduating from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in studio art, I used my creative skills to work in the advertising industry. After various positions, I founded my own advertising agency that I named T3 (now called Material). I led T3 for over 30 years growing it into the largest independent female-owned advertising agency in the country with numerous accolades. It wasn’t until 2015, that I was brave enough to stop in an art supply shop and pick up a few canvases, brushes and paint and load them up in the back of my Jeep. I hadn’t painted in so long, but decided to give it a try, and return to my roots as an artist. And now the rest is history.
I wear many hats as an entrepreneur that help inform my art. I’m the best-selling author of “Cowgirl Power: How to Kick Ass in Business & Life” and a leadership instructor with a women’s development program that I founded and co-teach at the McCombs School of Business called “Women Who Mean Business.”
Survival, destruction and renewal are part of everyday life in the Hill Country, and I’ve had my share of each as an artist and entrepreneur.
Throughout it all, I never abandoned my passion for painting. In fact, I credit my business acumen to training as an artist and I draw most of my inspiration from our family’s Longhorn ranch, the Double Heart Ranch, home of Fossil Ridge Art Studio & Gallery, my private sanctuary for creative thinking.
When you are looking for inspiration, what resources do you turn to?
Every night at the Double Heart Ranch, I take my three ranch dogs, Henry, Lizzie and Rice, for what we call our “Evening Constitutional.” It’s our nightly walk and a wonderful source of inspiration for me. We walk the same trail, but each time I discover something I didn’t see the day before: a tortoise crossing the road, a new wildflower I hadn’t seen before or 80-million-year-old fossils from the ocean floor that once covered the land. Getting out into nature in the Texas Hill Country inspires me to dream big, create something new and learn by watching the plants and animals who thrive in sometimes harsh conditions.
Walk us through a typical day in your studio. What is your routine?
Since my life is a mixture of business and art, every day is different. Some days I’m painting a new collection, finishing a piece for a show, or preparing the gallery for an event. The next week, I may be filming leadership videos, preparing for a board meeting, or building presentations for speaking events. As a creative, I embrace the variety in my schedule. Consistency is found in my nightly walks with my dogs and my mornings reviewing my schedule for the week.
Finding the right rhythm to be productive can be a challenge, what advice do you have for staying productive and focused?
“Know thyself” as Plato once said. Study your mood and energy levels at various times of the day. Take a personality assessment test like Myers-Briggs or Strengthfinders to discover your strengths and weaknesses. Get to know yourself well. Are you firing on all cylinders early in the day or late at night? Do feel energized when working with other people or do you find more inspiration working alone? Do you like routine schedules or to mix it up? This is the same advice I give in my leadership training for business professionals, but it applies to any discipline or career. The more you truly know yourself and what makes you work more effectively and efficiently, the more you can craft an environment for better success.
For me personally, inspiration and big ideas usually happens late in the day and even well into the night. Nighttime is a peaceful time for me to clear my head and explore new ideas. Then, if I need to stay focused on a project, I’ll block off all distractions. No calls or meetings, just time to stay engaged with my work. Music is a big part of my process as well. I love to put on an album and turn it up loud while I create something. In fact, I’m happy to share one of my favorite playlists that I named, “Gay’s Eclectic 50” on Spotify. From Lyle Lovett and Mozart to 50 Cent and Led Zeppelin, I like a wild mix of music to get the creative juices flowing.
What is your advice for combating creative block?
One of my favorite things to do to open my mind is a stop at a few of my favorite thrift stores or antique shops. I always find something interesting and sometimes the designs and colors I find in items that have been tossed aside are intriguing and inspirational. I recently found an art deco lamp of a woman’s face and bought a new red lamp shade for it that matches her lipstick. Love this in my studio space. (You can leave the first part of this paragraph about step away, gallery visits, etc.) You can take out the walk with a friend. I rarely do that as I prefer to walk alone or with the dogs so I can think!) Leave the Once you feel recharged sentence at the end.
As an artist, how do you measure your success? Can you recall a specific event or milestone(s) in your career that made you feel successful?
I was a business owner before becoming an artist and at the height of our success at my company T3, we had 230 employees with offices in Austin, New York, Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco and a net revenue of 40 million annually. So, when I take on a project, I aim for the top, especially as a female artist. Women are still underrepresented in the art world and paid far less than men.
Fairly early into my art career, I worked with a curator who helped me hone my unique style which resulted in a one-woman art show in New York City. I invited everyone and hoped for a successful opening, but this was a brand-new world for me. I’ve been on-stage many times for business or speaking events but walking into my own art show was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of my life. Would art buyers like my work? Would we sell any paintings at all? The unknown was terrifying, but to my surprise the show was a big success. Paper Magazine featured my show as one of “10 Must-See Art Show Openings” in NYC and we broke the gallery records in art sales. I remember calling my husband from the opening proudly sharing the evenings’ profits. It was a lesson for me, because I knew I had done the hard work, but I needed to trust myself that everything would work out.
As of now, I’m proud to say that I’ve sold 245 paintings, and my artwork is in homes and office spaces around the world. However, one of my most meaningful moments was selling a large landscape painting to a notable cancer research and treatment hospital on the east coast. It warms my heart knowing that someone undergoing chemotherapy might find comfort taking in a Texas Hill Country painting of mine.
How do you see the art market changing? Where do you see yourself in this transition?
I’m not sure if the art market is changing as much as the way to discover art is. I think we’ll always have traditional forms of art, but you’ll probably hear about it through digital marketing. This goes back to my advice in learning how to market yourself and watching how others do this successfully.
I see myself in the same situation. I’ll continue to create my artwork in the same fashion I always have, but while testing out new tactics to promote that work. For example, videos and social Reels have become a must in digital marketing. So, now as I finish a painting, I think about the soundbites and visuals that might go with it. What’s the most interesting angle for that painting? How can I translate the same excitement I have for a painting to a larger audience? I’ve been marketing myself and my work for a long time, but my learning continues.
What advice do you have for artists who are beginning to build their careers?
With my history in business and my leadership training, I’ve hosted several talks and discussions around this topic. In fact, I led a discussion for the University of Texas Fine Arts Department entitled “Learning the Business of Art.” Yes, I was trained as an artist in college, but I wasn’t trained to be a marketer. Some of those skills came naturally to me, but I also took business courses to help prepare myself.
Almost everything you need to know is at your fingertips these days. I say this in my book that “today, you can be an expert in anything.” It’s true. Read articles and white papers on how to market your own work and manage the finances behind it. Take a virtual class, because even if your work makes it into a gallery show, the gallery will rely on its artists to help promote events and their work. If digital marketing is a challenge for you, hire some help, but you’ve got to put yourself and your work out there.
Do you consider yourself, and all artists, to be entrepreneurs? Why or why not?
Entrepreneurs create something new, take risks and are always thinking about what is next. Artists share these similar traits. I know I’m an entrepreneur and have been since I was a child.
Failure is an inevitable part of success in any field. Do you have advice for overcoming setbacks?
Yes, expect setbacks and learn from them. In my book I say two things: first, “the path to success if not a straight line.” It’s true. You make plans and are rolling along and then life smacks you in the side of the head. It could be a death in the family, a financial hardship or a global pandemic as we all experienced. You never know what life has in store for you, so prepare yourself mentally. Then, when a setback arises, look for the best path forward and eventually you may see that the setback put you on a new path that made you wiser or better in some way.
I also say in my book, “listen to your gut.” Every bad decision I made was because I didn’t listen to my gut. That feeling or voice inside that says something is off. With every opportunity have a “gut check” first and then make a decision quickly.
What sparked your interest in partnering with TurningArt? Has your experience with TurningArt differed from other art companies you have worked with?
I was introduced to TurningArt as my work was considered for a commercial building featuring Texas artists. I’ve been delighted to see a group support a wide range of artists. Connecting businesses with artists is such a clever concept, because while architects and contractors go to great lengths to make buildings beautiful, nothing brings life to a space like art. Art brings people together and TurningArt is the bridge that starts that connection.
What does having your artwork in the workplace and other commercial or public spaces mean to you?
One of the most common public spaces my work appears in is in client-facing lobbies or conference rooms. Knowing that someone waiting for an appointment or preparing for a big meeting, might take a moment to reflect as they gaze at my artwork is special.
In my short time as a fine artist, I’ve been lucky to catch the attention of notable art collectors and critics around the globe. As a kid who grew up on stage, the more people who can see and appreciate my work, the better.
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