We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Phil Skrzekut. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Phil below.
Alright, Phil thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I had a mentor who helped me get started painting and provides me with support and advice. I watched a ton of painting videos, read a ton of articles, and practiced all the time.
I could have attended more workshops and painted from life to speed up my learning process.
Most important skills are composition, understanding values, and effective use of color.
Obstacles were having the time to participate in classes and workshops.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I have a typical painter story – I worked at an ad agency for over 20 years, when I started painting it immediately became a great passion, and I’ve wanted to do it full-time for while.
I got started when I was on vacation, doodling on the hotel stationery and I decided ‘that’s it, I’m going to plunge into painting’.
When I left my agency job, I thought that opening a gallery is the best place to keep painting and to sell my paintings.
I’m proud of the business I built at the agency and the progress I’m making in painting. The things I want people to know is that we put alot of ourselves into our paintings and try to bring original concepts to life. The gallery holds ‘traditional’ paintings but we want this to be a place where emerging artists can come paint and show their work.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I drew alot when I was a kid, when I went to college and started my corporate career I drew alot less and always missed it, like I was not complete without that creative outlet. I love coming up with new ideas to paint, and seeing a piece come to life is very rewarding for me.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My goal for my paintings and my gallery is to create quality, affordable work that moves people. I enjoy making people happy and/or emotional when they see a commissioned piece.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wag.art/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westernartgalleryco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westernartgalleryco
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/western-art-gallery/?viewAsMember=true
