Christine Mazglad – An Interview

A truly whole brain thinker, Christine Mazglad spent 31 years working in Finance and Marketing and became the first female Finance Director of any General Motors Car Division where she utilized creativity daily to help support new programs and/or market initiatives from a financial and marketing perspective.

As a child, Christine was consciously introduced to new experiences by her parents. This included movies, plays, concerts, and art. She learned to play the organ and was later a vocalist in high school. Her parents, who were life-long learners, instilled the belief in her that she could be anything she wanted to be if she was willing to work for it and encouraged her to try new things.

Christine’s love and appreciation for art caused her to gravitate toward abstract pieces that could communicate a feeling and compliment her home. After retiring, she finally had the time to explore producing art. Her initial class at Center for Creative Studies in Detroit (where many car designers study) was intimidating but satisfying. She learned that she needed to start with some basics

After moving to Henderson, Nevada, she had a business idea for Door Art given all the open concept homes with many windows and minimal wall space so she enrolled in three UNLV classes with Gabbie Hirsch in oil and portraiture. Christine began producing some pieces and received numerous commissions from friends and family. Finding the classroom environment with other artists very inspiring, she continues to paint twice weekly (an independent study group directed by Gabbie and an abstract class led by Jan Schaeffer).

In 2013, she joined City Lights Artists’ Co-op. This 501c3 non-profit whose mission is to support local art and art education provided an opportunity to use her business skills once again. She has served as Treasurer and been an active Board Member since joining. Christine believes, “The co-op is a great way to interact with other artists and find out about opportunities to display your art. I have art hanging at Las Vegas City Hall, Henderson City Hall and several small local venues.”

Take a look. I believe you will love her art. I am one of her biggest fans.

Where did you grow up?

Metropolitan Detroit, MI on an island, Grosse Ile, at the mouth of Lake Erie

How long have you been painting?

I retired in 2004 and took an art class but found fellow students had a huge jump on me – I didn’t even know how to clean a brush. After moving to Henderson and taking classes at UNLV, I haven’t stopped.

Did you always want to be an artist?

No, but I always appreciated creativity and creative people. Prior to that class at Center for Creative Studies, it must have been 1st grade when I last picked up a brush. I was much more the left-brained analytic. Music exercised my right brain creative needs.

What inspires you?

Inspiration can come from almost anywhere. It might be attending local Art Fairs or visiting galleries or simply admiring the view. While I rarely paint landscapes; mountains, water, beautiful sunsets set a mood to create. The goal is virtually always to paint something beautiful knowing that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I love challenges. I might be inspired by where an owner wants to place a piece of artwork. Inspiration can come from something as simple as admiring a frame and wanting to create something beautiful to fill it.

Who inspires you?

Certainly painting with other artists is a genuine inspiration. The instructors I’ve worked with inspire me to keep trying new things (paints, colors, mediums, etc.) The support of family and friends is an inspiration all by itself.

When did you first know you had talent?

Life in the corporate world means that many people participate in decisions and the results or your work can take days or weeks or years to see any results. Early on, home projects like wallpaper or rearranging a room provided instant feedback, instant gratification and a more beautiful living environment. I was lucky enough to design my own home and have my husband build it. Spatial relations was not an issue nor envisioning a project. Retirement brought the luxury of having the time to explore new avenues like painting so despite being intimidated by the work of my art classmates in 2005, I was pleasantly surprised at both the process and the outcome.

Did you get a formal education in art?

No formal education in art except the classes I mentioned beginning after retirement. That lack has played a key role in how I feel about my work and how it measures up to others. It’s only in recent years when I’ve been able to sell artwork to total strangers that I’ve gained a measure of confidence as to how others see my work.

Why do you prefer abstracts over realism?

I’ve been blessed with many skills which have translated to successes in many areas. The key element in those successes was being willing to see things differently. Abstracts challenge the artist to see beyond what is right in front of them. It forces one to imagine what will achieve the best results through choice of color, materials, combinations of those and much more. Abstracts can oftentimes convey emotion more effectively than realism.

What makes a painting great instead of average?

I’m sure everyone would have a different response to that question. A great painting will capture you and make you want to look at it time and again. It might result in a smile every time you look at it or surprise you over and over. A great painting will resonate with something inside you, it should reassure you.

Of all your works, do you have a favorite?

My favorites change. The current one is Living Large. I love the scale of this large piece, the way the colors and shapes interact and the way it ‘fits’ into my room. I see something different each time I look at it.

You seem to be a life-long learner…always studying, practicing, attending classes. Why is that?

The older I get, the more I realize I have to learn. (I was much smarter in my teens!@*&!) Somewhere along the way, I learned that I don’t have all the answers and that there are many ways to get to a desired result. It’s fun seeing how others approach an issue or a subject. The practical answer to that question is that attending classes not only provides that inspiration I mentioned earlier, it forces me to keep thinking about my next project (subject matter, medium, etc.). It’s easy to get distracted with daily life; classes enforce a discipline to keep producing, thinking, imagining new things!

Where can someone view your art?

My work may be viewed online at www.mazartdesign.com or at the City Lights Art Gallery in Henderson, NV. Some of my work may also be found on the City Lights website: citylightsartgallery.com

If someone would like to purchase one of your paintings, how can they contact you?

Email me at DoorArtByMaz@aol.com or call 702.466.5953.

Thank you, Christine, for sharing your art and your story. You are one of those rare people who uses both sides of your brain to create an exciting and balanced lifestyle. You are truly an inspiration!

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2019 issue of CHOICES Magazine