We were lucky to catch up with Theresa Franke recently and have shared our conversation below.

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.

From fish to my favorite mermaids, you’ll find unique painted visions of coastal beauty. My name is Theresa Franke, and I paint colorful, watery worlds in oils on canvas.

I’ve always known I wanted to be an artist. In grade school I was the kid who always had a million doodles in the edges of my paperwork. Coloring books were boring, I wanted blank paper for all my own illustrations, and I continued that route all the way to art school at the ACA College of Design in Cincinnati Ohio.

After over twenty years as a Graphic Designer and Photographer in the corporate/marketing side of the art world, I was finally ready to do my own work. Sure, as a designer, it is ‘mine’ – but it is a collaboration of ideas from clients to in-house managers, other designs needed to be used, and a very specific message that needed to be shared…. As a painter, the message is all mine, the choices are all mine and the very soul of the piece is all mine. But it was risky, scary even. Would anyone even buy my paintings? Can you actually paint what you want and make some sort of career out of it? I do still need to eat ;-)

With the support of my husband and family, I set it all aside, and began to paint. All the images waiting in my head were coming out. I have been painting in oils now for about three years. Every year I see my work maturing, my skills improving, my paintings get more detailed, more controlled.

Now I‘m painting and selling beautiful oil paintings. I have this wonderful small business of my own, and I’m growing little by little into more galleries and more shows. I also have an amazing new jewelry collaboration with local metalsmith and jewelry designer Doug D’souza!  It’s like a snowball, the more you roll forward, the bigger it all gets.

Most importantly, I am proud that I took that first step away from graphic design and towards my own path. It’s actually hard to believe sometimes, I am painting my own paintings and I am selling them. I’m creating wearable art in jewelry form with my fabulous partner, I’m making a career out of the images in my head. The images in my soul. I found my style, and it’s by creating what I love, in my way, on my terms. It was VERY scary – putting your soul out there for people to see – and judge.

I tell other artists, the ones who are not as far along as me, to do it. Take the risk. You can always go back. I tell them as much as I can… take that first scary baby step. I found the artist community to be welcoming. We are all putting our souls out there, that’s why all art is beautiful, subjective, interesting and needed.

In such a tumultuous world, I’m pleased to just add this little bit of goodness.

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

The best – the very best part – and rather unexpected part – is my connection with others through my paintings. I’m meeting new people every day. From gallery owners and wonderful other artists to new business relationships. I have walk-up customers who find me selling at the Suntan Art Center’s Art Mart on the beach, and then they often turn into collectors and friends. I love this new network.

Every day my work brings someone a little bit of joy. It is humbling and amazing to me. Lovely customers reach out and tell me they bought a painting or a print – and they still absolutely love it. They go out of their way to tell me this. It’s literally the best part of what I’m doing. I’m creating a bit of joy, bringing a bit of beauty, into people’s lives.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

The best advice I can give to people regarding their social media is to be authentic. All our social media platforms are filled with ads, filled with crazy stuff, and we are all trying to get that spot in front of someone and be seen. So put your best images out there, your best videos etc. Let the audience grow organically. And it will happen.

Do not mix your business account with your personal account. You want to grow your business? Keep it all about your subject. Sure – add the small amount of “I’m human” in there, but even that should be business-related.

Also – learn your social media outlet. I’m mainly on Instagram, I too am figuring out how to be seen more efficiently – I use hashtags, I’m making little videos, I’m putting info on my story and in my posts, I tag people and products I love or are inspired by. I think you have to do all these things to really grow your presence. However, I’m staying organic and by doing this the “followers” I do get are real people and when they interact, I interact in return. I call them “Instagram friends” and – they are.

And lastly, don’t take it too seriously. “Likes” don’t equate to value or worth. It’s just marketing. It’s personal in many ways, but you can also manage ‘how much’. Take breaks from it, the world keeps turning.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theresafrankefineart.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/theresafranke.fineart