Teil Duncan Henley: ‘I Have Learned to Not Be Afraid of Trying Something New’

With October marking National Women's Small Business Month, National Book Month and International Artist Day (October 25) what better subject to feature than Teil Duncan Henley? As a successful artist and author, Duncan Henley shares thoughts about her beginnings, how motherhood accentuated her creativity and much more.

How did early life influence your career as an artist, author and entrepreneur?
Teil Duncan Henley: My mom and dad first noticed my interest in art around age 9. I am fortunate they stewarded my interest by placing me in various art lessons outside of school throughout childhood. I never considered art as a career path until the summer after my freshman year at Auburn. My grandmother suggested I create a collection of paintings, and she would host a showing in her home. The show was a great success, which introduced me to the idea of working toward an art career.

How did your career as an artist begin?
Duncan Henley: After college, I moved to Charleston and needed to fend for myself right away. I didn’t see painting as a source of income at that time because it was the height of the economic crash, and I simply didn’t know how to market myself. It wasn’t until I visited a Columbus friend in Charleston who started a career as a professional artist that I was convinced I had a chance at the artist route. I took out a loan, got a studio, took on a few commissions and painted all day, every day, until I found my “voice.” so to speak.

How did you make the transition from art and creation to the business world? And when you reflect on your journey, what were some of the high points?
Duncan Henley: I think I was in the right place at the right time. Just as I was honing in my work and finding my painting style, the blogging world and social media platforms were taking off, and it was effortless and organic the way my art took to these outlets.

My first year of painting full time was a very experimental year, and I created a lot of bad paintings, but every now and then I created one that got me excited. It was a time mostly filled with doubt of the direction I was taking. Right amid this, local chef Jamie Keating hired me to create the artwork for his new restaurant in Columbus. This was an extremely encouraging milestone that gave me the courage and confidence I needed to continue on this path.

How did those successes make you feel?
Duncan Henley: With each passing year, my mentality grew from being dictated on the success of the painting I made that day, whether it was a good painting or just plain bad. As time went on and I sharpened my skills and grew in my technical approach, my confidence grew. If I didn't love the painting I made, I was less discouraged because I knew that perseverance and courage to try different approaches would always pull me out of a creative funk.

What have you learned from mistakes you may have made?
Duncan Henley: I have learned to not be afraid of trying something new. You can get really “tight” as an artist if you especially like one part of the painting, and you’re unwilling to paint over it for the sake of discovering something new. So, in short, don’t be afraid and loosen up!

After becoming a wife and mother, how did your career evolve?
Duncan Henley: I became more creative, and I actually started exploding with more ideas! I honestly don’t know how, maybe it was hormones? Motherhood just taps into so many new parts of your brain, so maybe it opened up new, creative pathways for me. I paint much less now because my time is devoted to my children, so I have become much more efficient in the studio.

Did you have any role models when you were first starting out?
Duncan Henley: Lulie Wallace was my biggest role model when I started navigating the art world. She is one year older than I am and had a few years of a head start on me as a professional artist. She really carved her own path in marketing herself and opening up new art-related business endeavors. Lulie quickly welcomed me into her life, happily sharing any business advice, as well as artistic critique. Her influence has been invaluable!

When it comes to women starting their own businesses, what advice would you give them?
Duncan Henley: My advice is to find a mentor, become well versed in one specific aspect, rather than mediocre at many things, and look for affirmation from people you trust to shoot you straight on the path you should take.

Which book was more fun to write, “The Color Teil” or “Ordinary Love?”
Duncan Henley: My friend Morgan Barber is actually the author of “Ordinary Love,” and it was a privilege to bring life to her words through illustrating the book! “The Color Teil” shows a fun insight to my art career, so I enjoyed traveling through time and reliving my story as I wrote it.

What are some gems readers can find in “The Color Teil” and “Ordinary Love?”
Duncan Henley: “The Color Teil” displays the different series of my work over the years in each chapter, which is fun to see. It shows the contrast and stages of early work in the span of my twenties when I was really developing myself as an artist.

“Ordinary Love” is a sweet story based on a true Mother Theresa figure in Auburn, Alabama. I was drawn to the story as it highlights attributes of true and good characters for children to model, who are quite “ordinary,” yet if pursued, create extraordinary people.