Artist Spotlight Series: Marcy Cook
A long overdue introduction to a talented Texan.
I am crazy collages and I know you will be too.
Enjoy getting to know
Dallas, Texas
What is your training?
I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting at Baylor University.
What inspires you and your designs?
I am inspired first and foremost by the patterns and pace of nature – flowers specifically.
My background is in floral design and that practice carries through heavily in my painting and collage work.
What is your favorite piece?
My favorite piece is constantly changing (of course) but I love my painting “IRIS, HEAVEN and EARTH”
and the collage “MADE OF SUN” available at Anne Irwin Fine Art in Atlanta.
One of the most challenging, thus fulfilling pieces I’ve ever completed is “SHADE UPON MY RIGHT HAND” available at Liz Lidgett Gallery 🙂
How has the your area influenced your work?
I live in Dallas, Texas but my family has a home on the Guadalupe River in the Hill Country of Texas. Observing the movements of nature and spending time by the river offers me so much visual inspiration to deconstruct in my work.
Dallas is beautiful to me because of the incredible people I’m surrounded by. The relationships that exist for me in my home city are so vital to my work and offer me a lot of inspiration.
What is your favorite restaurant in Dallas?
So hard to choose one! My all time classic fav is Neighborhood Services on Lovers!
And I love Matt’s Rancho for Tex-Mex. Paradiso is a new favorite for a fun cocktail with girlfriends!
What is your favorite cocktail?
A *very slightly* dirty martini with bleu cheese stuffed olives.
The bar at the French Room has one of the best in town!
When at home, I love Angel’s Envy on the rocks with a little bit of topo chico and some lime.
How do you balance personal life and work?
It is VERY hard. BUT, over the years I have grown and learned a lot about boundaries, decisions and priorities. It’s incredible how integral rest and quiet are for the quality of my work/production.
I try very hard to keep a 9-5 schedule but my studio is in my home, so the balance can get really tricky sometimes.
On a good day I’m finished around 5/6pm, cooking dinner and sipping a glass of wine!
Dream trip?
EVERYWHERE. haha. I absolutely LOVE to travel and have been so fortunate to have been able to travel extensively over the last few years.
Next up on the bucket list would be exploring the fjords in Norway or spending a few weeks in Autumn in French wine country.
Dream commission?
Hermes! (To design a line of scarves…)
OR I would be thrilled to be commissioned to create a very large scale, multi-panel collage piece for a hotel or restaurant.
I’m thinking like 20 feet long, mural style.
It’d require a lot of patience and focus and at this moment that sounds like an amazing challenge.
Your favorite host / hostess gift to give?
I love Maison Louis Marie candles, and my favorite scent is No. 4 – Always one of my go-to gifts!
Who is your style icon?
Oh goodness … I’m not sure. I love following Blair Eadie, and adore her funky, unexpected use of color.
My favorite house is probably Valentino. Love the intricate, floral, maximalist vibe they offer – always drawn to that multi-pattern, textural feel and adore wild, flowy dresses.
But then most days in the studio I’m in black leggings and a turtleneck .. haha.
Your favorite up and coming artist?
So many beautiful, effective artists + communicators working in and around me. I can’t believe how lucky I am.
Rachel Walter is an incredible artist that meditates on celestial landscapes and I could just stare at her paintings for. ever.
I love Andrea Pramuk,
Taelor Fisher (of course),
What is your most treasured possession?
When I turned 30 last year my mom gifted me an old ring of hers that I was able to have redesigned. I wear it on my right hand and it always reminds me of God’s promise in Psalm 121:5
“The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand.”
It is such a treasure to me for so many reasons but I love knowing that I’m wearing a ring that my mom wore through her 30s because she really is my favorite person… sorry Dad 😉
What are you reading?
I am an AVID reader and am always reading multiple books at a time!
I am on book two of the Discovery of Witches series (hehe),
midway through The Dutch House and loving it.
My daily go-to’s are Streams in the Desert and Mary Oliver’s Devotions.
I also just finished a book by N.T. Wright called “Surprised by Scripture” that has really given me fresh eyes for reading the bible.
What are you listening to?
MUSIC. Patty Griffin, Gregory Alan Isakov, Maggie Rogers, Haim, Sandra McCracken, Jill Andrews and
realllllly loving the Little Women score by Alexandre Desplat.
Podcasts – The Daily, Revisionist History, On Being and The Glorious in the Mundane.
What are your favorite blogs / publications?
I am a loyal subscriber to Southern Living Magazine
and really enjoy Conde Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, Flower Magazine and Veranda.
(A lot of these magazines circle back into medium for my collage work).
I also love Cup of Jo and Emily Henderson’s blog for fun-time reading.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Be sure to follow Marcy on her website and Instagram.
Daily Desires:
(email subscribers open in a browser to view content)
Be sure to subscribe to THE ENGLISH ROOM for extra news, giveaways and discounts.
See & shop my Lacefield Designs Textile & Pillow Collection.
Let’s get friendly on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr & Instagram.
