Artist Spotlight – Adleyn Scott

Life is a series of self-discoveries, each twist in the path leading to new possibilities. Local artist Adleyn Scott discovered her love for creating art after retirement, and hasn’t let the narrative of time keep her from fully immersing herself in her newfound passion.

Adleyn Scott wasn’t always an artist. Or, at least, she didn’t always know she was. For 21 years she taught elementary school, and, with a masters degree in piano and organ, used her music skills playing at church events and weddings on the side.

After many years, Adleyn experienced a traumatic event, which led to her searching for a creative outlet for her pain. “I needed something to decorate the wall of grief,” she explains.

Adleyn took an interest in art, something she hadn’t paid much attention to before. “I didn’t think I could be an artist, but I could still enjoy it,” Adleyn recalls, telling herself, “If I can hold a pencil, I can draw something.”

Adleyn began exploring art tutorials on YouTube, reading books about art techniques, and practicing on her own. She took a fundamental drawing class first, using only pencil and paper to practice, before adding in new materials and colors. Her background in music proved to be valuable as she learned art. “You’re not going to play an instrument well the first time,” Adleyn says. She knew learning to draw and paint would take time, too.

As Adleyn navigated the world of grief, she found that art was therapeutic, opening up a safe place in which she could immerse herself. “It takes you back to a time when that’s all you had to worry about – shapes and colors,” Adleyn recalls, explaining how art made her feel like a child again. “Art can be very calming and rewarding. It helps because when you’re painting, you’re only focusing on the art.”

With the belief that people should be lifelong learners, Adleyn didn’t think twice about her age as she curiously let herself be led down the path life had opened up for her. In her early 60s, she began reaching out to other artists, connecting in art groups, and fully immersing herself in the world of brushes, paints, and canvas, even exploring new modalities such as finger painting. “It opened up a whole new world for me,” she remembers.

As a lifelong musician, Adleyn had learned important lessons about mastering a skill. “All it takes is perseverance,” she says. “If you really want to do it, you have to put in the practice, just like with the piano.” She believes that anyone can learn a new skill at any age if they want to. “How bad do you want to learn,” Adleyn says with a smile. “A lot of it has to do with passion. You have to keep trying, have to love the process. And, you have to start at the beginning.”

What Adleyn found in the world of art was an opportunity to discover a new part of herself. She began to see the world with new eyes, recalling, “I saw things that had been around me my whole life in a new way.” Adleyn also began diving deeper into learning about the subjects of her art – trees, pansies, whatever she was focusing on painting at the moment. Seeking out new people to meet and places to go to learn about art, Adleyn made new friends at workshops, through social media, and at the art shows she participates in. She now serves as the Vice President of the Columbus Artists’ Guild, which brings artists together for fellowship and learning.

“It’s a blessing in your life you weren’t counting on,” Adleyn explains. “It keeps you busy, brings new friends, new places to go. It’s a journey.”

Today, Adleyn has made a name for herself as a skilled artist, her brightly-colored paintings in an impressionist style adding beauty to the walls of the world around her. Curious, explorative, and free, Adleyn loves to try new things in her work. She admires other artists, and is always open to learning from them. Her style is all about color and light, and she often paints beautiful floral arrangements reminiscent of Van Gogh. One of her trademark offerings is watercolor inspirational bookmarks, breathtakingly beautiful and yet simple and approachable. She has recently begun experimenting with painting on denim jackets, and has enjoyed exploring finger painting as well.

For Adleyn, making art is a mindset. “So what if you paint something that isn’t good,” she laughs. “You have to be willing to fail as you learn something new.” Her journey through grief and art have taught her that each season might have a different shape, but it’s all adding color and movement to the tapestry telling the story of her life.

Adleyn’s art can be viewed in various places around town and on the internet. She has a display in the Bo Bartlett center that will be up until August 15. In October, she will participate in an exhibit at the Columbus Library along with 120 other artists.

Adleyn’s one goal as an artist is to keep learning new skills. She hopes to inspire others to try their hand at art, and she teaches privately in her home studio for anyone interested in learning. Her art can be viewed and purchased on her Facebook page @Adleynsart.

By Natalie Downey