Here is a blog/interview that I wrote originally featured on www.fineartviews.com  Future Interviews will be posted on www.fineartviews.com  featuring: Clark Hulings, Tony Pro, Karen Vance, Albert Handell, and others. If you haven't signed up for Clint Watson's FAVs newsletter, I strongly encourage you to do so. You won't be disappointed.

I'm posting here again today in order to encourage those of you are actively entering juried competitions.
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I've known Kathy for 5 years. She is a fellow Putney Painter (an invitational small group which meets and works under the direction of Richard Schmid and Nancy Guzik). While Kathy's work is outstanding and gaining national recognition, her career hasn't always been this lucrative. However, she has diligently applied herself through periods of praise as well as discouragement. Ultimately, her hard work has handsomely paid off. 

What follows is a series of responses to my questions about her career and artistic development. My hope is that readers of this blog will be encouraged, yet informed about how much time it takes to build national recognition and a professional body of work.

LWS: What events helped to advance your career?

KA: First and foremost, working with Richard and Nancy for 8 years has helped my work mature to the level it's at now. By studying, and often laughing with them, I've not only learned to skillfully apply paint to canvas, but to also SEE and understand my subject. Secondly, putting my work out there by entering national competitions, participating in juried plein air events, and showing in galleries, my name is starting to take hold among collectors on a national level. I can confidently advise: , If your work is good enough and circulated enough, you'll eventually get noticed.
 
LWS: During times of struggle or disappointment, how did you propel yourself forward?

KA: Struggling seems to go hand in hand with growing as a painter. Seeking the solutions to my problems has propelled me to the next level, be it taking a workshop with someone I respect, then working on what I've learned until the answer becomes clear. One caution: Avoid becoming a workshop addict; sometimes too much knowledge from too many sources can be confusing.

My work has been rejected from many shows, and when that happens, I'm depressed at first, but then I take a critical look at the submitted painting. Sometimes I can determine what may have influenced the juror to turn it down.  On the other hand, when my work was recently rejected from a show, my immediate response was, "What's wrong with them?" But I then realized that often, it is common for an artist's work to stagnate for periods of time, and then it suddenly jumps to the next level. I can't let one rejection damper my enthusiasm and commitment to succeed.

LWS: Is there anything you've done that you would avoid if you had the chance to do it over?

KA: Absolutely Nothing! I believe that everything you work at along the way will return to you - even if it takes decades. Years ago, when my kids were in high school plays, I volunteered to paint backdrops for those productions - which led to a lucrative mural painting business. As a result, I became less apprehensive about painting large. All the while, I was training my artistic eye and gaining experience -- this eventually led me back to my easel, only this time, as a full time artist.

I never pass up a new experience, going to an art event or meeting people in the art world. Doing this has led to fruitful connections, and many times, lasting relationships -- food for my soul.

LWS: Is there anything you wish you had done but didn't?

KA: I wish I had the knowledge I have now at a younger age.

LWS: What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

KA: Study, Study, Study... Draw, Draw, Draw... Practice, Practice, Practice...
Enter competitions. Although you may invite rejection at the beginning, you'll build backbone, and rejections only make you look more critically at your work, and therefore force you to work harder.

LWS: Any Other Helpful Recommendations for artists?

KA: Be critical and honest with your work. Look at paintings you love in books, museums and online -- figure out what you love about them. Then carry these things into your own work.

When approaching galleries, present yourself as a Professional. Submit images and paperwork on time, frame your work with the best frames you can afford, respect the gallery's requests, deliver the goods you promised, and finally... be nice to work with. Of course, none of this advice will be very useful if you don't submit your very best work!

Kathy Anderson will be participating in Wendt Gallery's Winter Exhibition, Jan 15th- Feb 16th, as well as a one person show at the National Arts Club in New York City spring 2009.
View Kathy's work at: www.kathyandersonstudio.com/

Selected Exhibitions:

Women Artists of the West – Guest Artist

Butler Museum Annual National Juried Exhibit

Telluride Plein Air, Telluride, CO – Invited 3 consecutive years

Settlers West Invitational – Tucson, AZ

Richard Schmid Invitational Fine Art Auction

Arts for the Parks – Top 100 National Touring Show

National Arts Club – Solo Exhibition, Exhibiting Artist Member Shows

Hudson Valley Art Association

Allied Artists of America

Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Show – Signature Member

Munger Chadwick Art Show – Tucson, AZ

Nomades del Arte – Plein Air Invitational, Santa Fe, NM

Affiliations:

National Arts Club – Exhibiting Artist Member

Connecticut Watercolor Society – Signature Member

Putney Painters, Putney Vermont – Charter Member

Oil Painters of America

Publications:

International Artist Magazine – 4 time competition finalist

International Artist – “How did you paint that?” series – included in 4 books

International Artist – Feature Article – December/January ‘06/07 issue

American Artist Magazine – Feature Article

Art and Antiques Magazine