We were lucky to catch up with Kathy Weiss recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kathy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I was born into a creative family with father a commercial artist and mother a painter and sculptor so creative expression was always nurtured. I grew up on a 100 acre farm in upstate NY. We spent most of our time out doors and enjoying the beautiful fields, trees and wildlife.

I loved art early on and frequently sketched in pencil and various other media. Dad would look at my work and offer suggestions on how it could be improved. Although I wanted to major in Fine Arts, my parents strongly advised a more rounded career path and so I took their advice and earned a BS in Marketing. I married, had two daughters and worked full time in the family marketing agency. I took up art again as an empty nester. Art education continued with a combination of YouTube, paid instruction and workshops by accomplished artists.

It was essential to me to relearn the basics of color theory, form, value and composition, I explored a variety of media including pencil, oil pastel, watercolor, acrylic and oil and also substrates: paper, wood, and canvas. I think it’s important to learn how each reacts and how to properly blend and layer.

I was eager to learn as quickly as I could. It became clear that time to grow and know yourself are critical. The best work is created when it means something more than just paint on canvas. Through various mind mapping sessions, I uncovered my SELF. I have a great love of nature, wildlife, water and how light and shadow play the lead role in making our world beautiful. I began creating pieces that help me communicate this love.

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 began my marketing career, as an intern, working summers for the family business in all areas. This continued through college. As a commuter, I collapsed as many classes into the mornings as feasible and worked at the agency in afternoons and all breaks. Because I had worked in all areas from project management, photo assistant, art management, copy content support, market research, public relations and client relations, I developed a strong foundation and after considerable time. I am now executive vice president and co owner of the agency.

My rounded approach, combined with organizational and time management skills has been applied to my art career. I have spent many hours learning the basic skills of color theory, composition, value and form. I run my art business the same way as my marketing  business with proper record keeping, sales tax collection, inventory management etc. This discipline combined with sound communications skills mean that commissions will be handled professionally with documentation, progress points, costs and timelines clearly delineated.

I learned that there is no “fast track” to success. Creating something of value will not happen quickly. That is the whole point. As Gladwell asserts, it will take 10,000 hours to be really good at something. I experiment A LOT and learn something new almost every day. With a firm foundation, I can allow the creativity to flow and then observe the “happy accidents”. I still make tons of mistakes and paint over lots of things that I realize later that I shouldn’t have. Art is tough. Its fiercely competitive and often it’s about being there at the right place at the right time. Often it’s an emotional roller coaster. I am thrilled to connect with a customer who truly loves a piece and buys it but then there are dry times when I wonder why I even try. Save the compliments. Save the rejections. They are all part of the journey.

I am very grateful for the followers and customers I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with. My journey continues. I hope that in 5 years  I will be vastly better than I am now.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I have learned that you cannot be someone you are not. And you certainly cannot be the person whose art you admire. In the past, I have watched many art demonstrations on YouTube and as a beginner, I learned their technique and approach. I found that I had to UNLEARN some of what was taught to be able to add my interpretation and my personality to my art. Some of my most interesting pieces are those that broke some rules and took some chances with color choice or composition. Know the rules but explore or “unlearn” them to go in your own direction.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is to speak with another person who finds a connection with a piece that I have worked really long and hard on to create. I once had a person buy a number of my bird pieces that she used to create a memorial for her sister who loved birds. She was tearful when she told me how much they meant to her.  There is no better feeling!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kathyweissart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathyweissart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathyWeissArt
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-blass-weiss-52a0446/

Image Credits
Photography by Valerie Williams . (Excludes raccoon, and those that are just artwork)