Artist Diaries // Joy McMillan

Did you know we highlight a local artist each month in our Midtown location? Dacia Parker of Parker Lane Art & Design Studio curates & carefully displays the art for us! We are so grateful 🙂

Writer, Speaker, Poet, Artist, Enneagram Enthusiastic, Graphic Designer & Professional Encourager… Joy McMillan is a woman of many talents and gifts! Bringing Joy to everyone she meets, her smile & warmth fills a room with radiance & peace. Whether you have just met Joy or have known her for years, you get a quick sense of belonging and rest easy in her presence. She has a gentle way of making others feel at home. Her art inspires, her words encourage and her desire is to remind us we are free to live with purpose & joy.

Where are you from?

Merrill (originally South Africa)

We all feel awkward at times… can you tell us about a time you felt particularly awkward & out of place?

I often feel awkward when I’m in a formal setting with other leaders and business owners. I typically feel out of place and unqualified to be there. This is always made more uncomfortable by trying to consolidate what I do, into a short, concise response to, “I’m bank manager, what do you do?”.

RD- Ha! I so relate to this! What do you do anyways? lol

When did you first fall in love with Art and why?

I’ve loved playing with color and creating beautiful things for as long as I can remember. My family is very artistic and creative, so it flowed naturally and was a celebrated part of being human.

Who is your favorite artist?

I love Morgan Harper Nichols – her use of abstract strokes, muted tones and meaningful words gets me every time!

RD- Yes! Her poetry and art is breathtaking!

What is your favorite thing to create?

I actually think these pen drawings with watercolor may have become my fast favorite!

Tell us about the emotions you feel when creating?

When I manage to silence my inner-critic (that likes to tweak and perfect things ad nauseam)…I feel pure peace and delight. It’s like free therapy!

RD- that inner critic sure can be hard to silence as an artist….

What breaks your heart? What things would you like to make better in the world?

How easily people believe lies about themselves and their identity, and then seeing them build broken lives up around those distorted views and beliefs. I long to see people identify those lies, break free from the bondage of shame, and live fully alive as the freedom-fighting, purpose-filled humans they were created to be.

RD-yes…. all of those things!

How has art helped you to process pain, joy, & sorrow?

Being creative is a deeply cathartic practice. While I wish I turned to it sooner, I do love how it helps me flesh out – and flush out – what I’m processing. I usually weave words handlettered into my work, so those often communicate what I’m working through in the creation process.

Do you think art can change the world?

Yes, it has the ability to transform lives & make our world a more beautiful place

In what ways has creative expression helped you learn new things?

I have always been a restrained, self-conscious, rule-follower. True art has few rules, so tapping into my creativity has been a deeply liberating, almost rebellious act. And I love it for that!

RD- one of my favorite things and the most challenging part of creating is the absence of rules… ah!

Do you have any advice you could give to a person trying their hand at art & desiring to explore their creative side?

Just do it. Dabble in all the things. Get messy, experiment, and ‘fail’ a lot. Put on some soul-stirring music, and play! Watch what emerges – on your paper/canvas, and in your soul. Then lean in deeper. Follow the joy, dig into the ache, listen to what dances before you. This is a journey, and it’s waiting for you to begin!

RD- perfectly said!!!

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“Just do it. Dabble in all the things. Get messy, experiment, and ‘fail’ a lot. Put on some soul-stirring music, and play! Watch what emerges – on your paper/canvas, and in your soul. Then lean in deeper. Follow the joy, dig into the ache, listen to what dances before you. This is a journey, and it’s waiting for you to begin!”