Meet Lindsay Townsend | Artist and Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lindsay Townsend and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lindsay, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?
I want my daughter to grow up happy and healthy. As a parent, I think it’s important to allow children to pursue their strengths and dreams. That said, my husband and I are committed to showing our daughter that our household is an equal partnership and that we both contribute to our home in the best ways we know. We allow our daughter to explore her interests and ideas. We encourage her imagination and participate when she asks us to. We want her to look back and say, “My parents were there and they supported me in everything I did.”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a photo based artist. Most of my work is digital, either taken with my iPhone or with my DSLR. All of it is then imported into Lightroom and/or Photoshop and manipulated in some way. Recently, I find myself attracted to the juxtaposition of old and new, therefore my artwork is a composite of new images combined with older, mostly found images from family. While my art, I feel, is organic and always growing, I find that I always come back to a traditional style. My art has changed significantly over the last ten years. At that point, I was exposed to several different styles and artists, who I learned many new things from. My career as an art teacher did not begin easily. I struggled to find work after graduate school in 2008. While I was able to bounce around and take odd jobs every once in a while, I didn’t seriously consider teaching as a career until 2011 when I took a job as an adjunct professor at Houston Community College. After a couple of years, I sought a teacher certification, after which everything fell into place. It’s almost like I was meant to become an art teacher.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When friends come to visit, it’s always very low key. We eat well, hang out, and generally find a good patio, whether it’s my backyard or a cool bar. My husband is a wonderful cook, whose skills only got better during Covid lockdown. We would absolutely have a good meal at home with delicious food and great wine! We would definitely spend a day checking out the Menil with a stop at Bistro Menil for lunch. After, we’d hop over to the MFAH to check out the new Kinder building. We live in the Heights, which is a great launching spot for all of Houston’s favorites. We love walking to Better Luck Tomorrow to hang out and enjoy their patio. We also love Coltivare, when we want something a little nicer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my husband, Jonathan. He’s been my greatest supporter, a tough critic, and encouraged me to pursue everything that has crossed my path. I would not have the confidence to put my artwork out there nor would I be as successful in my career if he weren’t here.

Website: www.lindsaytowns.com

Instagram: @lindsaytownsendphoto

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-reed-townsend-b775b680/

Image Credits
All images are my own, taken and edited by me.