ASI 37 "Artist Spotlight" Interview with Sandy McTier, Artist & Teacher

And welcome back to art supply insiders. My name is Jeff Morrow, and today we have an artist spotlight we're gonna be talking with Sandy McTeir Sandy is an internationally known artist and teacher. And let me read this right here, Sandy. It says you've been featured in interactive artist magazine and painting world, and you've had appearances on.

Create and craft TV, UK, and make it artsy on PBS. You're all over the place. How do you have any downtime? 

Well, I'm one of those that likes to keep busy. Let me just say with my children, I have three boys, 15 months apart  to the day  so, um, I married someone that's very organized and he is so organized. He allows me to get so much done, um, in my art career because he's extremely supportive and, uh, yeah, but downtime, I dunno if I know what that is.

Jeff . 

Can you tell us a little bit about how did you get started? Are you classically trained or did you just kind of train yourself? You 

know, for the longest time I thought, okay, well maybe I need to go to art school, but you know, my background in school is marketing. And I think in today's day and age, being an artist, marketing is just important or a business degree or business background is just as important for artists today because it's not just picking up a brush and painting anymore.

it is picking up a brush and making content and doing social media and reaching out to your clients and your customers and staying connected. Um, and it has. It's helped the art industry so much be more connected and I'm so thrilled that you and Dave were doing this podcast. Thank you this again, how amazing for us to reach people all over the world.

Um, I'm still amazed and surprised that my brushes have taken me as far as Taiwan for many years in Germany and England and Spain. And, um, You know, I I've just done some great things, um, all over the country and my husband was military. We moved. And so, you know, it's, it's really, really nice to be able to connect on this level, um, and share my passion and what I love to do, which has always been to create.

So, 

so what, like, let's take us way back when you're in high school, you're in college. Were you just a natural artist or is it something that you kind of grew into?  

well, I always, honestly, I always thought I'd go into fashion. I was always a close horse. Um, I'd spend all the money on the outfit and my sister, my older sister would spend all the money on the shoes  and so I would buy the outfit and then I would ski squeeze.

My bigger foot into her small shoe , but I didn't like it so much when she squeezed her bigger thighs into my pants.  so anyway, but I, um, you know, I always loved color and design and fabric and patterns and my parents. My dad was in the Marine for 31 years. Um, I am from a military background. And so when we moved or when we went places, my mom always just had the prettiest, tchotchkes and ceramics, and they would do 'em together and paint.

And, um, our house was just always decorated with every season imaginable. And, um, I always loved that, but I would say probably, maybe like a, a light bulb moment for me was sixth grade. Mrs. Mason, my art teacher just made me feel like I could create and do anything. And I remember like one of my favorite memories was we did murals on a sheet that was hung on a wall because we couldn't paint the walls at the school.

Um, and I just, I always, from that moment on felt like I could create or paint or learn how to paint and create anything. Um, so self-taught, for the most part, I've watched a lot of artists along the way have been mentored by many and, um, you know, just kind of took little pieces and parts. And that's one thing I love to tell my students is when I teach you, my goal is to always give you like maybe five or 10 or more things that you can take away from that lesson.

And incorporate into what you already do, because I think that's how you become a much better artist is learning so many different things. And , I remember some of my friends call me a little schizophrenic with what I did like you like to do this, and you do that. And you have your hand in this and you have your hand in that.

But at the end of the day, I feel like it just makes you a more well rounded. Artist. Um, and I stick to the things that I love, but I also dabble in the things that scare me first off, like watercolor, not my medium of choice. Um, but I've done color, pencil and clay. And, um, you name it. I pretty much have done it.

So, 

so you don't stick in any one genre, you, you, you, you do oils, you do acrylics, you do watercolors, you do pastels. You do all of the. 

So I started with acrylics. Actually. I started with ceramic paints. Then I started with acrylics fabric paint and, and again, being from a military background, I married someone in the air force.

My dad was a Marine. Um, and so we moved all over. We met and married in Japan. Um, and just a little quick tidbit on that. We met April 28th. We legally got married July 30th of the same year  I knew the minute I met him. Um, wow. And yes, fast, but, you know, three years traveling and having fun and then having kids three years later.

Um, but we moved, we were blessed to live in Iceland. And while in Iceland, um, well let's back up a little while I was in Japan. I painted Japanese warrior shirts on fabric, uh t-shirts and tote bags and things like that. It was my way, art was my way to meet. And become connected with the community that I was in the military community.

So I sold things at gift shops. I sold things at the USO. We moved to Iceland and I did Viking warriors on plates and mugs. And, um, things like that. Squadrons, you know, the flight, my husband was a flyer for the air force for 22 years. So all the different squadrons I would take like their logo and put it on ornaments and different things.

I loved copying, um, like people's China patterns and making unique dishes. So every single place we've moved from Japan to, to Iceland, to England, um, and all over. It's always been my, kind of like my in, let me do a craft fair, I'll meet people. Um, and it's pretty much been word of mouth, which has been amazing.

Um, when we moved back from England, moved to Nebraska and I would always give te my sons, our. Let's see now they are 26, 27, 28 years old.  15 months to the day. Um, I was very organized. Um, after that, because before that I was not so organized, but I, um, you know, with three small kids had to kind of fit in my creative time and, um, and then also moving around with the military, but it was, it was really a great way to connect with other people, either in the gift shops or at the fairs.

Um, and so it, it just was always. I don't know. It's hard to explain. I get such joy out of seeing people see my creations. Um, and so when we lived in Nebraska, I gave, you know, some flower pots that were painted and before I left the party, everybody ordered them.  um, then I would do teacher gifts for my children's teachers.

And again everyone's like, oh my gosh, I want that. So when we lived in Nebraska from March to may, I did over. 1500 flower pots painted from four inch to 12 to 14 inch. Wow. All word of mouth. And let me just say, without saying that I took my entire family, myself, my husband, my three boys to Disney world  for a week before we move back to England.

So, um, art has always been my way to connect with people. Um, and with recent events, it's been a fantastic way to connect with people. And again, podcasts like yours that connect us. Um, and people all over the world that love to create and paint and whatever your medium is, has just been such a blessing.

So it, it sounds like the things that inspire you are the things that are immediately around you as you moved around with, in, in your military 

life. Absolutely great, great point. Because again, when I lived in Japan, you know, you have to know your market. And so my market in Japan was. Trinket souvenirs things that, you know, Americans could buy that would represent what, you know, their tour was in Japan.

Um, so I did that. We moved, moved to Iceland. Again, it was different scenes, waterfalls, iconic moments, um, in the country that I could translate into, you know, an art piece or a ceramic piece. Moving to England was easy because of course you've got so many iconic, um, you know, the, the, uh, double Decker bus and the phone booth and, you know, big Ben, um, you know, those things were easy.

So I made hundreds of thousands of beautiful ornaments that people still will message me today and say, I still hang your ornaments on my, you know, tree, or I still have your flower pot on my front porch. Um, and as an artist and a creator, but just even just as a person, it's so encouraging to know that they still are touched by my art and it's worldwide.

I mean, how incredible is that? Oh, 

that's I, I mean, that just, it's kind of a heady thing. Isn't it? . So, what do you say to our audience out there? Because, because you've had a, a, a really interesting varied background and what happens when you get discouraged? I hear that a lot from artists where it's just, you know, I just, I just not sure what to do.

There's that blank canvas or blank piece of paper. I just I'm afraid to start. What do you, what do you tell them? 

Um, so let me just say that if any artist ever says that they don't have a dry period or a discouraging period or a frustrating period in creating. Maybe they need to reexamine it because it happens to all of us.

Um, and we all navigate it. I think probably to a similar degree, some, you know, in different ways, my thing, and what I always encourage is do a little something, do a little something that day. If you wake up and you're not in the mood of create, and you're not in the mood of paint or you're, you know, take your brush out and base coat a surface, you know, take your palette, knife and base coat a journal page.

With gesso so something, a little creative, but at the same time, stepping away and giving yourself time to be inspired also helps with that creative rut, um, or, you know, maybe dip in your, your, whatever you're doing. So go to a park and walk, go to a garden center. I mean, Lowe's home Depot. If we're allowed to give those names out, you know, go to those stores, go to their garden section, take pictures of flowers from all different angles.

Flowers are one of my favorite things to paint. Um, but if it's landscapes, guess what? Go to a state park. Go to. Anywhere in your local area that will inspire you to want to come back to your brushes, your paint, your pastels, your chalk, your color, pencil, whatever the case may be. Um, but I think downtime is also super important.

And I have found , especially over the last two years that I don't give myself enough downtime. I'm kind of have been referred to as angener Energizer bunny that keeps going, going, going, but at the same time, you've gotta refuel that tank. You have to refuel that inspiration. Now with that, there's a trap.

There are a lot of places you can go to online. There is a lot of inspiration that you can find on, uh, Pinterest and other sources. What I find for myself personally is when I do that, that I tend to over log my brain and the ideas. And it keeps me from progress. It keeps me from creating. So sometimes I will set the timer.

I'll give myself five minutes. Okay. Go on Pinterest. And just look, see if something like jumps out, catches your interest. But as a designer, my fear of that too, is I don't wanna look at something, create something and it'd be heavily. Like looking like somebody else's. So I'm very careful about where I look and get my inspiration.

I would prefer to have fresh flowers, pictures of my own references, things like that to, to create from. So, but to answer your question in one sentence, just get started. Just 

do something. It doesn't matter if it's a squiggly line, just do something and let your brain. Go all over 

the place. Yes. Yeah. Put paint on that brush, swipe it across your pallet if you need to.

But again, that motion and that action releases something within you. That's like, oh, I was made to do this and then keep stroking. If you've got the energy, keep moving that paint, move on to a surface. Just get started and do it because the longer you don't, the easier it is to not do. 

Yeah, I, I, you are right.

So let's talk a, a little bit about the, the art supplies that you use. So you use, uh, what are your go to utensils that you use most often a brushes, pallet knives, acrylic paint. What, what makes you, you.  

well, like I said, a little while ago, I'm a little all over the place, but, um, and I think that just comes from my inquisitive nature of wanting to continue to learn and delve into different things.

But at the same time, you do need to hone what it is that you're good at and that what you, um, are the most passionate about my thing many years ago. Again, I, I was kind of on the track to do some art licensing. I thought, oh, it would be cool to have my pieces at, you know, these stores and, you know, see my artwork and, and did a lot of training and some classes and signed up for some courses with some very, um, wonderful artists.

But at the end of the day, I had to ask the question, am I more excited about seeing something that I'm doing in a store? Do I really, am I passionate about that? Is it a goal that I have to have something on a shelf? That's my artwork. And at the end of the day, that question was no. At the end of the day, the answer to that question was I wanna help others learn to create and paint.

And educate as much as I could. So that was the track I took. Um, I do have my favorite tools of the trade. My brushes from dynasty, which I think are the most fabulous brushes made. They are made here in Glendale, New York. I say here I'm in Georgia.  uh, but they are made in the us with some parts being made in Thailand.

I think that's important to know that they are the last brush manufacturer in the us, and they make brushes for many different industries. But if I don't like a brush or a brush, isn't working for me, I give them my feedback. I let them know same thing with the pain I use. I've been blessed and honored to work with deco art for the last.

Six years, um, and have, you know, done everything from product development, naming products, creating products, um, which was exciting. I've done that several times. And, um, and then working with other, um, you know, people within the company, traveling to trade shows, traveling to distributor shows and meeting the people that actually sell the product because I'm very passionate about it.

But at the same time, if I don't like it, I have no problem letting them. Because at the end of the day, they wanna make the best product. I wanna use the best product. So, you know, it's that great, um, communication and partnership that I've been very fortunate to be able to have. Um, and so, and then also work with my partner in crime, tracing a row sometimes with, you know, coming up with products and creating samples and, and just giving our feedback.

So I guess my title would be. Consultants for the company, um, brush specialists for dynasty. And I also work with Grumbacher chart pack, um, for my art journals, which I love to do. And, um, and then I love to use oils as well. I just have not painted with them. As much as I'd like, and I dabble still with color pencil, and  things like that.

But I, you know, my thing too is if you ever feel like you've made it and you are done learning, it's time to put the brushes up because we're never done learning and I'm not I'm, I'm like inquisitive little, you know, Middle schooler that loved Mrs. Mason that showed me how to create on a sheet. You know, this beautiful landscape.

I'm still that way to this day that, Ooh, I wonder what that can do. And instead of going and looking for the answer, I just do it. And if it works great, if not, you know, craft fail or, you know, paint, mix fail or whatever. But at the end of the day, I still gave it a shot and I still learned, so. I think branching out and doing other mediums also helps you with your primary medium.

So seeing how someone blends with color pencil might be different than how you would blend with paint, but at the end of the day, there's lessons in both that can help each other. So, 

uh, real quick on, on the dynasty brushes, is there a series of that brush that you like to use more than another. 

Well, um, I do love the black gold, which is their signature series.

Um, I love those. I'm very partial to those, but also the Mezza Luna, which is great for dry brushing and so many other techniques. Um, their stencil pro brushes bar, none are the best brushes on the market. And, um, so you know, those, those they're all great. But when I find that brush, I. Oh, my gosh, I love this.

And it helps me create better work and better art of course, that, you know, that's always gonna be my go to, 

and it, and it's, it's an issue of confidence. Isn't it. If you pick a brush up and you know, you're going do great work with it, you just go back to that brush all the time. Right? 

Absolutely. I, and that's a really good point because I do think that.

Many artists struggle with that, you know, that critique that self critiquing, especially cuz I am like the world's worst, but I do know when I have the right tools and the right products that I'm already set up. For success. I just have to bring what I know how to, you know, how to use them and what to do with them.

So great quality brushes, great quality paint. Um, and again, you know, I, I primarily use the DECCO art Americana. My favorite are the DECCO art, um, fluid acrylics, which are transparent, highly pigmented. There's another brand on the market and they are neck and neck right up there matching, um, and just a great, great product to paint with, to create, with, to share.

Um, and so many people are blown away when I share it. They're just like, oh my gosh, I didn't realize that that paint did that.  um, and so I'm always not only trying to come up with ideas of what to. And teach, but I'm also surprising myself for every now and then with wow. That paint can do that. And then I can't wait to share it with other people so 

well, and, and speaking of sharing, uh, people can go to a lot of different places I believe to, to see you actually do this.

So you're on YouTube. You have your own webpage. Tell our, our, our audience where they can find you and how they can see what you do.  

awesome. So, um, I do have a Sandy ER, designs, Facebook page. Um, I have a YouTube channel and I try to do a couple of videos every month that are lessons, tutorials, um, content, so that you can go be inspired, watch, maybe paint along.

Um, I do my website, Santa ER, designs.com. As well, and I have to say, you know, before it was pretty much just tutorials and lesson packets brushes, maybe. Um, well, stencils of course, because, um, I know, you know, but I have a stencil line with tracing a row and, um, that was a great thing that kind of happened.

Some of my best ideas and collaborations have come from dreams. So I remember I woke up. And from a dream I was in at the creative painting convention in Vegas. Y'all were there, you and Dave and, and, um, I said to Tracy, after I said, you know what, I had this dream and I, I saw like M with a two above it.

And she was like, well, like M squared. And I'm like, yeah, I'm a Roman tier, you know, a whole stencil line. And so she was like, I love it. And so she said, well, let me send you a couple things. Where do you live? And I said, Byron, Georgia. And she said, my dad's name was Byron. And I thought, you know what? These , these are the things in my career that I make a mental note to remember.

It's meant to be, you know, it's, it just, I don't know. It just shows up differently like that. 

So, and creativity can come from any place you can come from a dream. You can, you can look at a cloud and see a particular animal or a tree and inspire something. Right? 

Absolutely. Absolutely. So, you know, as far as other social media, I'm on Instagram and Twitter, um, which I hardly ever tweet, but, um, and TikTok and other places.

So I'm connected. And I am always eager and ready to connect with new people. And of course the people that constantly come back and support me in my business. So 

I was looking on, on your website and I saw something about a membership group. What, what, what is that all about? 

Okay.  so when 2020 happened, Um, I had 23 trips that year.

Oh my goodness. I took three . So I went to Phoenix for Creativation I went to Germany for creative world and, um, I went to make it artsy PBS show, um, in Cleveland smack D in the middle of the summer, right in the middle of the pandemic. So we were, you know, social distanced, but, and very weird, but, um, you know, I just needed to connect differently because I missed traveling.

Um, I missed teaching in person. And I, and I love sharing my passion of all the different things that I know and love to do. So I thought what better way than to create a membership group. So I created a membership group where I can share more of myself, both personally, um, but then also more artistically.

And, you know, you can only do so much in an hour long, you know, video online or lesson online. And so, you know, with the zoom and other places, it was a great way for me to go, okay, I'm gonna start this group. Now I have to tell you, Jeff. I was like, okay, I hope 10 people sign up. And if 10 people sign up that wanna paint with me.

Fantastic. And so I have almost 200 people in my group right now that paint with me monthly. We paint, I go live into the group with them three, four times a month. I have, you know, techniques and tips and lessons, uh, themes. Challenges giveaways, but it's, it's a more intimate way for me to create in a private setting group with people that also wanna learn and create from me.

Um, and I, you know, going back to that confidence thing, I was a little like, oh, what if two people signed up? And my husband is always my biggest cheerleader and greatest advocate. And he. Those two people wanna learn from you. Those two, if two people sign up those two people wanna learn what you do and how you create your art.

So don't worry about a number, just worry about your reach. And so I don't get hung up on how many people join, how many people leave. To me at the end of the day is how many people wanna learn to become a better artist, learn how to create and do things the way that I'm sharing. 

And, and I've, I'm in, in another part of my life.

I'm a, I'm a trainer. And one of the thing I have always said that again, don't worry about who the number you're talking to. There's the rule of three. Everybody knows three people. And if they've enjoyed that experience, they're gonna go out and tell three people and so on and so on and so on. And, and that's what you said.

You've grown by word of mouth because you're passionate and you're good at what you do 

well, well, thank you. But I do think, you know, that connection with people and making them. No, or start to believe if they're not believing yet that they, they do have a creative side. Um, I believe everyone can learn to paint.

It's just a matter of making it a commitment and. Continuing to grow and reach, you know, different mediums, different styles, but then connecting with the one that really touches your heart and your soul. Um, and I have to say as much as I love to paint the connection and the teaching. Connects to my heart and soul.

It's, 

it's interesting. You, you said you thought you might wanna get your product out at the retail store and that, and, but all of a sudden, uh, and, and very much like me, you get in front of a group of people and the joy you get from seeing them go from when it first started to when they finish is astounding.

it is, it is. And I remember when I, when we lived overseas, um, well, before we moved back to England, we were living in Nebraska and I had seen a lady on TV and I thought, well, that looks really interesting. And wow, she does that so fast. Um, and of course it was Donna Dewberry. She was on PBS. And I thought, I think I could do that.

So I tried to incorporate some of the things. And so we moved to England back to Georgia. Cause my husband's a Georgia boy and he was gonna retire from the air force. So he said, you should go get like certified to teach. And I'm like, I am not teaching. I mean, it might not sound like it , but there was a time I was very shy, you know, I would walk into a room and I would be standing by my friend, like do not leave my side.

I do not know anyone in this room. Um, But after doing the certifications and things like that, I thought, okay, well, maybe I could teach. And so it brought me out of my shell. Um, I'm still an, I would say an introvert extrovert, but like you mentioned, when you get up in front of that crowd and you're talking about something that you're passionate about, that you love, that you love to share and that, you know, could impact their lives as much as it's impacted yours.

It just kind of flies off your tongue and there are many times I do it and then I, I get done. And I'm like, where did that come from?  you know, where, where was all that stored? Um, because as I'm trying to think of what I'm gonna say or what I'm gonna share or how I'm gonna teach a lot of that planning, I just get so in my head, whereas when I allow it just to come out from my soul to let them know.

What I'm doing, it just translates so much better. And to me comes across more honest and genuine because I've always said I will never share a product, a brush, a paint, anything that I firmly do not believe in. And 

you're just being authentic and, and, and people feel that don't, they.  

I think, well, and I think they can tell when you're not.

Yeah. Um, and so I, my thing in this industry, my biggest thing is my integrity. And that's something I'll never sell. That's something I would never compromise. Um, and I think that's huge in this industry. You know, I am a firm believer with. What I use, what I share, what I teach. Um, and I have the confidence in those things.

And I want those people to feel the confidence with that said, I'm also a firm believer that if it's not the right paint and it's not the right brush, or it's not the right product for you, then guess what? Maybe your creative journey needs to look somewhere for something that is. Um, because there's no need in stifling, your creativity and that vibe and what you wanna do if it's not the right fit.

So I have found the right fit. I'm loyal to them. They're very loyal to me. And, um, Like I said, I have no problem letting them know if I don't agree with something, if I don't feel like something's right. Or, or even if I see that there's an issue with something. Um, and you know, and then it's kind of talked about and looked at, and if it can be worked out great, if not, it might be the user error, which usually is the case.

that's 

right. So, well, you've talked about it. Creative journey. And I went on your website and I thought, well, I let me see how easy it is to follow her along in one of her videos. And I happened to pick a video where you showed how to. Do a tree in the snow and I have to tell our audience, um, she takes you step by step.

Uh, you can stop it. There is, this is an easy thing to do when she shows you how to do it. So I highly encourage our audience to go and find her on her YouTube page. And that's sandymctierdesigns.com and spell out McTier for our, for our audience. 

So it is M little c capital T I E R. Good Scottish 

good Scottish name.

So Sandy, this, this time has just flown by. I, I, it feels like we just started talking two seconds ago.  

I know I could just talk to you for hours. Well, 

thank you so much for joining us and, and our audience. And, uh, we would love to have you come back and maybe you can talk a little bit more in depth about different styles that you do and techniques, and, you know, really get, uh, do more of a deep dive into, uh, how you do what you.

I would 

absolutely love it. Thank you, 

Sandy. Again, thank you very much. You've been listening to the art supply insiders. Check back with us often as we talk about the world of art and craft supplies. If you'd like to hear more of these podcasts, please hit the subscribe button. And we would appreciate if you tell a friend, if you'd like to show your support, please do consider joining our Patreon campaign.

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