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

Hi Lauren, how do you think EQ and IQ affect happiness and success?
You need both EQ and IQ. Neither on its own is sufficient. To have vision, you have to have intelligence, but to communicate with people and connect, you have to have emotional intelligence. The ability to connect with others, especially in your chosen field is essential if you are to succeed. Everyone knows that person who is highly intelligent, but unable to communicate with others. While that person may succeed, he/she will never be fully accepted among colleagues. This also applies to relationships outside of work. You need to have a certain amount of intelligence to communicate with people, but you also have to have empathy to understand where they are and to put yourself in their place. Happiness is made up of many things, but intelligence and emotional intelligence are critical factors in personal happiness, as well as professional success.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an artist by choice. I was trained as a lawyer and have been in more traditional business operations throughout my adult life. I still am heavily involved in my work, but I now have time to dedicate to my first love, art. I came into art late in life and am still working my way through this field. It has been exciting to see myself grow as an artist as I have gotten a better grasp of the media and have sharpened my skills. For me, the most exciting part is being able to translate my impression of a subject through contemporary realism. I was a David Hockney fan from the time I was a teen, seeing his paintings at the Tate in London. I loved his frank portrayal of people, ordinary people in every day settings. Settings that were familiar to me. I find the ordinary extraordinary. It’s the secret behind the eyes of the person you are painting or otherwise rendering in an ordinary setting which is interesting to me. Every picture tells a story and I came to art after years of writing. So for me, the painting has to tell a story. Stories are everywhere. Just to sit and look at a person is a tale. The interesting part is that people dissimulate. There is always more than what rests on the surface. My goal is to capture the real essence of the person I am painting or drawing in my work. I have learned through my life that you can balance what you have to do with what you love. You just need to find time for it. I did not understand that for a very long time. It also adds enormous happiness to your life to carve out time every day, if possible, to do something you truly love. I also know that you can’t turn a blind eye to the reality of things that must get done. Some artists negate that part of life. If you are to survive economically, you have to educate yourself so you understand precisely what is going on. Otherwise, you will always be at the mercy of someone else. It’s all balance. For me, art is the primary means of connection with others. It’s also the primary means of connection with myself. As I evolve as an artist, I evolve as a person. I get to know myself better with each piece.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am from Coconut Grove, an area historically known for eccentric people and beautiful surroundings. I would invite my friend for a bike ride along the shady streets of the area, ending the tour in the village. Lunch would be at The Bazaar Project. They have a wonderful beet and farro salad. Their cappuccino is also delicious. We would visit the This n; That Shop which has so many wonderful second hand finds run by the Plymouth Congregational Church. But I wouldn’t just stay in the area, I would probably take them up to see the Norton in West Palm Beach. They’ve had some terrific exhibits. To Key Biscayne for a walk in Cape Florida. To Joe’s in Miami Beach for stone crab. Also to Fairchild Tropical Garden to see the gardens and the butterflies. I’m not a club goer, but I know my best friend isn’t either. For someone who is, I would definitely point them toward South Beach.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate my shoutout to my sister, Cris Coll. I would not be the person that I am today without her support, guidance, love and encouragement. She is my strength and I love her to death.

Website: Www.305art.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coll_miami/
Linkedin: Lauren Coll
Twitter: @lcollstudio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lcollstudio/