We are SO excited to officially introduce Alice Caudill to our Well + Wonder community! Alice is a self-taught artist from Murfreesboro, Tennessee who began painting at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as a creative outlet while being at home with her two little boys. Alice loves a mix of abstracts and florals and typically experiments with different mediums. She credits her main source of inspiration to interior design, and her passion is creating beautiful and meaningful pieces that are timeless when mixed in any range of decorating styles. Alice shares, "I truly believe that artwork is the heart and soul of every home." We couldn't agree more! Join us tomorrow at 11 am as we launch Alice and her debut body of work into the Well + Wonder collection but until then continue reading and learn a little bit more about this talented artist.
What is currently on your nightstand?
My glasses, a stack of design books and magazines I enjoy flipping through for inspiration, a glass of water, and ChapStick.
Who is your biggest influence as an artist and why?
My biggest influence as an artist would be all of the women in my family. My great grandmother was an antiques dealer, and all of her children, their children, and even their spouses, are creative in their own manner - from the way they make floral arrangements, decorate their homes, or the way they style themselves. They all surround themselves with elegance and beauty, and thus have played a significant role in shaping and inspiring me.
Tell us about your childhood. What is the most memorable moment as a young person?
My two sets of grandparents lived within walking distance from my childhood home. My maternal grandmother picked me up from school most days and I had the best group of neighborhood children to play with. We spent all summer and every day after school running in and out of my grandparents’ homes and would stay outside until our parents would call us in for dinner.
If you could only have one supply in your art studio, what would it be and why?
Probably another source of sound - music, an audiobook, or a Netflix show I am binging. I love to have something else I am immersed in - that way I am not overly focused on the painting itself. I feel that I paint more freely and loosely when I have another focus.
What is your favorite room in your house? Describe it.
We have a sunroom that is right off of our kitchen. It serves as a playroom for our boys and an extra living space for us. We spend so much of our time there. It is the best in the Fall when the weather starts to cool and football is on the television.
What is your biggest score online?
I love browsing Facebook Marketplace, Chairish, Firstdibs, and Live Auctioneers. Most of my favorite pieces in our home I have found online. Some of my favorites are our bamboo and rattan coffee table that sits in our living room and a yellow toile settee. The settee has become my favorite place to drink a cup of coffee on slow mornings.
What is the benefit of buying art through a collective? What do you recommend for those that are new to buying original art?
Buying art through a collective introduces you to an exciting variety of both new and established artists! Also, it is incredible to browse numerous talented artists all in one place and be able to find so many different sizes, styles, and price points for any budget.
If you have the entire day to spend in an art museum, which one and why?
Right after I graduated from college my mother allowed me to tag along with her to a work conference in New York City. While she was attending the conference, I explored the city and visited the MET. I was awed by the work of Van Gogh and seeing his most-well-known and loved pieces in person. Although I was not painting at the time, I left that trip feeling so inspired about the things I had seen and experienced in the city. I’d love another full, free day at the MET!
If you were a lipstick color, would you be red, pink, or clear and why?
Pink. A little bit of color is always a good thing.
I can never get on a plane without…
We are typically traveling with 5- and 3-year-old boys, so we need multiple activities, puzzles, and coloring books…and snacks. Lots of snacks.
How did you get into the world of art?
I am honestly still shocked to be here. Growing up, I was an athlete. I spent most of my time on a softball field and continued playing softball through college at the University of Kentucky. Therefore, I never had much time to explore my creativity or give it thought until Covid hit, and then I was spending all my time at home with two toddler boys. Realizing I needed a creative outlet, I picked up some paintbrushes and I haven’t been able to put them down since.
What do you do to relax?
I’ve always enjoyed reading and listening to audio books and podcasts, so while I paint, I am still listening to something. Also, I find a lot of pleasure in shuffling around the diverse contents in our home. Art and furniture are always emotionally moving, gratifying, relaxing! My husband never knows what he may come home to at the end of the day.
When do you get the biggest surge of inspiration?
The big surge comes after being surrounded by creative people. The past couple of years I have had the honor of participating in two shows each year, and I always come home with the intention of taking a break from painting but find myself being pulled towards an easel and brush with new ideas and a fresh perspective.
Prediction for the Color of 2024?
Farrow and Ball Citrona or Benjamin Moore Classic Brown
What is your idea of a date night? Dinner and a movie or dancing all night?
Definitely dinner and a movie - maybe even an early dinner.
Tell us about your favorite painting that you have created.
Some of my favorite work has been the last few pieces I created for the most recent Harding Show in Nashville. I wanted to keep pushing myself in a looser and more abstract direction with my florals and still life paintings. I came home from the show with a large piece and immediately handed it over to Tori Alexander, an incredibly talented designer in Nashville, who also has a gorgeous showroom. I knew she would find the perfect place for it in one of the many fabulous projects she was working on.
One piece of advice for buying original art?
I recommend buying what you love - not necessarily what matches or fits in a space perfectly. A tape measure is not needed. As long as you love it, you will find the perfect spot for it! Shuffle that art all around your home - it keeps things fun and interesting! Hang the art and enjoy it, stack it from floor to ceiling, you can never run out of wall space. Do not be afraid of nail holes!
