#PowerArtists Interview with Maritime Painter, Annie Strack

Welcome to the first #PowerArtists interview. Last week, FineArtTips.com announced the first 10 #PowerArtists. This ongoing series is dedicated to acknowledging individuals for their excellence in the Arts and Social Media. This week I am proud to introduce one of the most influential artists on Twitter, the multi talented go-getter, Annie Strack – a true #PowerArtist.

“PowerArtists are the social media ‘rockstars’ of the art world! Not only are they talented creatives, but they understand how to harness the power of social media and use it to promote their art careers. #PowerArtists are inspiring and freely share their knowledge with others.”

Annie Strack is an artist, teacher, and writer. She is the author of The Artists Guide to Business & Marketing, feature writer and contributing editor for Professional Artist Magazine, and host of the television and video series Painting Seascapes in Watercolor. She’s earned the prestigious honor of Signature Membership in 5 national and international societies and she’s an Official Authorized Artist for the USCG. Her artworks have won hundreds of awards and are in over 1,000 public, corporate, and private collections worldwide. She is the guest author of the popular article, Create a Niche Market for Your Art in a Sea of Artists.

1. Describe a typical day in the life of a #PowerArtist.

I keep a ‘to-do’ list on my desk, so it’s the first thing I see in the morning when I start working, and it stays in my face and nags me all day. Unfortunately it never seems to get any shorter, as every time I cross off a task I think or 2 or 3 more new things to add to it.
Like many artists, my income is made up of several revenue streams. I sell original paintings, prints, DVDs, books, write articles for art magazines, and teach classes and workshops. These are a lot of diverse tasks to manage and track, so my work days are scheduled around events and deadlines.
Yesterday I updated my blogs and worked on articles, today I’m writing and sending out new workshop proposals, tomorrow I’m writing and sending press releases and shipping DVDs, and then this weekend I’m painting in the studio, photographing, writing, and blogging again.

BVI Dinghies, Annie Strack

2. Give an example of how you use social media to promote your art career.

Most of my social media friends are artists, patrons, and other people and businesses in the creative industries, and these are the people that share mutual interests with me. Social media enables me to send out instant updates for my new workshops, classes, exhibits, writings, and artworks, and gain immediate feedback. It also allows me to keep up to date with the latest information regarding art news, events, and opportunities.

3. If you could meet any artist: past, present, or future, who would it be and why?

I’d like to meet everyone, famous or not. I enjoy meeting and hanging out with all artists, regardless of style, medium, or skill level. Networking with my peers provides me with motivation and inspiration, and I enjoy the camaraderie of fellow artists.

4. If your art could be displayed anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

It’s nice to have my paintings in museums and public collections, but I get the most satisfaction when I hear back from individual collectors how much they enjoy my work in their homes.

5. What sage advice would you give an artist who is just starting out in his/her career?

The definition of art career is different for everyone. Each artist must determine their own individual career objectives before they can begin steps to achieve them. Every artist has different ideas regarding what constitutes success, and you have to use your own goals as the yardstick to measure your success.

6. As a #PowerArtist, what do you do to ‘give back’ or ‘pay it forward’ to your community.

I share everything that I know, whether it be through my workshops, magazine articles, blogs, or social media. When I learn something new that is helpful to my career, I tell everyone about it. Empowering artists with information and tools to advance their careers helps everyone in our business, and improves our creative industry as a whole.
Way back when I was an art student, my teachers were encouraging, but at the same time they warned against seeking a career in the arts. They would often remind students that there are few career opportunities for fine artists, and that there is little possibility for steady income. For decades afterward, I never gave the idea of pursuing an art career another thought, although I never stopped painting.

Because of this, I am dedicated to sharing my skills to help emerging artists realize their own potential, and I endeavor to help other artists improve their skills. Since 2005 I’ve been a feature writer and contributing editor for Professional Artist Magazine, the premier business magazine for professional visual artists. I love writing for the magazine, and I love it when readers write to tell me that the advice or information in my articles have made an impact on their careers. It makes me feel like I’m making a difference in the art world by helping other artists to acquire skills to improve their lives.
Another way I try to contribute is through teaching several painting workshops each year and through my DVDs and painting show on TV. Through my painting lessons, I share the information and techniques that artists need to improve their work and create better paintings. I also try to inspire emerging artists through my lectures, seminars, and book on art business and marketing, and provide them with the tools they need to follow their dreams and aspirations.
To help everyone gain access to these resources, I broadcast my instructional videos on Public Access television stations across the country and post smaller clips and videos on my blog, and I help art organizations write grants and acquire funding for workshops and other educational projects.

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I want to personally thank Annie for taking time from her busy day to share her story with us. I hope you all have learned a thing or two. To learn more about #PowerArtist, Annie Strack, please visit the links below:
website : http://AnnieStrackArt.com
blog: http://AnnieStrack.blogspot.com
twitter: http://twitter.com/AnnieStrack
facebook: http://facebook.com/AnnieStrack