We recently connected with Kerry Vosler and have shared our conversation below.

Kerry, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Being a creative has been very rewarding. I learned early that I loved singing and art. My personality craves constant challenges so being a visual artist provides daily problem solving. You never stop learning as an artist so this keeps everything interesting. Every painting has a beginning, a middle and an end. So its like working on a limited project. Every painting has different challenges so it is never boring. I prefer working for myself and holding myself accountable.

Teaching and sharing knowledge and skill is extremely rewarding. Our Vosler Young Artists’ Studio provides a haven of learning for the artist who needs a more serious program of instruction and consistency. Many of our students start from a young age and graduate from high school with a competent portfolio, experience with live models and hundreds of hours of drawing and painting. This puts them securely ahead of their peers when they transition to ateliers or universities.

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.

Actually I started training to be a graphic artist and trained the old fashioned way by learning to do hand lettering, album covers, etc… This was back in the 80’s when computers were just coming into the art world. When I found out that I would be using canned imagery I decided to change to portraits. Someone brought baby photos to me and asked me to create a posthumous portrait. It was heart wrenching but I learned how a portrait could bring comfort to a grieving family.

After that I studied with Daniel Greene and other great painters to learn the craft of drawing and painting. Portraits by commission have always been fascinating for me and I meet interesting people from all walks of life. But I did not stop there I attended the Cape Cod School of Art and learned to paint out doors. Now I love painting people in their natural environments like my most recent work of a gentleman who works at the shrimp dock in Tampa. He is posed on the dock with the St. Augustine trawlers in the distance in the late afternoon.

My adult students and young artists all get to see my works in progress and often I will talk about the various aspects of the painting and specific issues I may be problem solving at the time. It does get easier with more experience but I never stop trying to improve every aspect of my work.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In these times I cannot stress enough the importance of nurturing relationships with other artists and a bigger community of artists, organizations like the Portrait Society of America. And local community organizations like your chambers and art leagues.

In 2022 our school had grown so I hired another instructor, Elizabeth Jenness-Burge. A career artist with amazing experience and a joy for teaching like myself. Her and I work well together and she had also contributed to our school many times in the past with her experience. A former student and graduate of the Angel Academy of Art in Italy, Yeats Ihrig, was also still contributing to our summer curriculum and teaching. He had become an amazing emerging artist with a wealth of skill and knowledge to share. As an Art Renewal Center Approved Atelier it is necessary to always have classically trained instructors to maintain our certification.

In October of 2023 I was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer and embarked on a year of chemotherapy and most recently, surgery. With the help of these aforementioned artists’, organizations and friends in general I was able to keep the school open with very little impact to our students. Today I have had a successful response to a year of treatment and am working full time again. Don’t ever try to do a business in isolation you never know when you will be faced with an unexpected illness or challenge. Save as much money as possible in the good times to get you through the challenging times like the pandemic and unexpected moves.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

The best way to support artists is to purchase their works of art. Then become a patron of the arts by supporting artists, organizations that support artists.

Artists do not get paid until they sell their art. Even when they work on commission the final fee is not due until the work is complete. This is true for all creatives including sculptors.

Attend art openings and open private studios. There are wonderful organizations that help artists on hard times as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: kerryvosler.com
• Instagram: Kerry Vosler Artist
• Linkedin: Kerry Vosler
• Twitter: Kerry Vosler@KerryVosler
• Youtube: @KerryVosler2670

Image Credits
Kerry Vosler Kerry Vosler, Painting of Sabrina, Oil Kerry Vosler Instructing student