Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rita Stern. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rita, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

As soon as I could hold a crayon I knew I wanted to be an artist. I did all sorts of crafty projects when I was young. But when it came to deciding what I’d do to earn a living I chose a practical career and became a teacher in NYC. I got my masters degree, which was mandatory, in Art Education. I incorporated lots of art while teaching and took satisfaction in that. The last 2 years of my career I taught in an art-integrated school in Washington Heights. It was fantastic at first. But I’d been teaching for 10 years at that point and the politics of the public school system coupled with the lack of parental interest was very discouraging. I also had a 3 hour ride on 3 trains from Brooklyn each day.
It was time for a change. I went back to school in Atlanta, GA for advertising. I loved the design aspect and the writing which accompanied ads, brochures, commercials, etc. At that time I decided to become an advertising copywriter. Not an easy transition in my 30’s. But I worked in the ad industry for 10 years. That seems to be my limit of interest.
I’ve had several careers since then… and made the decision to retire at 65. By that time I’d embarked on constructing paper mache cakes, which I sold. Then came my embroidery stage. I developed an item called Wish Pillows. Made of round-shaped felt about 3.5 inches in diameter. I embroidered all sorts of whimsical animals, flowers, fairies, etc on the front. And then attached a pocket onto the back, which held wishing directions. I sold hundreds of those.
When the Pandemic crushed the world I stopped creating anything. 💔
It took me about 2 months to pick up a pencil and start sketching. My drawings tend to be quirky and involve lots of details. I’ve sold a lot…but not as many as I’d like. Going to festivals has become labor intensive and expensive. So I only attend a holiday festival each year. My Etsy site is not something I enjoy keeping up to date. Therefore it’s my own lack of marketing which has created a large inventory I’m not selling. Motivation is also lacking lately…I work in spurts. And wait for the drive to create to return.

Rita, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I answered this question on the previous page. So I won’t repeat myself. I will say that I’ve marched to a different drummer all my life. I tend to be unusual in my pictures. I like to make the viewer smile, think and appreciate the effort that goes into each of my works. I call my Etsy site “Quirky Art For Quirky People.” I know I’m getting edgier with each work I create. And love my latest works.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

Up until now I’ve avoided anyone who offers to buy my work using NFTs. I’ve googled NFT and know it stands for Non Fungible Trades. But it seems like an investment you have to wait for until it matures or becomes a more common payment process.
I’ve asked lots of artists what they think about NFTs. So far the advice I’ve been given is stay away from them. Which I do.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Resilience is what you must have to be an artist. I believe you must follow your soul when creating a piece of art. You must make what pleases you. That doesn’t mean not to listen to valuable critiques; or take art classes; or try different mediums. Learning is a big part of the process. And surrounding yourself with others like yourself is important. But your art must come out of you. It must make you feel good.

Contact Info:

• Website: Etsy.com/shop/Ritasternart
• Instagram: Ritasternart
• Facebook: Ritasternart