Meet Misty Kelischek | Fine-Art Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Misty Kelischek and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Misty, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
If I’m going to be completely honest, it started out as a way to get some tax benefits from a side hustle. It didn’t stay that way for long though. As soon as it started growing, I realized that I would love to be a full-time artist. I just never knew it was possible. It wasn’t until I asked for mentoring from some friends who were making it work did I realize how lucrative it could be.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I work in oil paints in a self-proclaimed “magical realism” style. I honestly don’t know where my aesthetic comes from. It’s part Old-World chiaroscuro with gilding and part “put a bird on it”.

I think the most difficult thing about incorporating my aesthetic into a business plan is that it it will never appeal to the masses. It’s also been hard placing value on my work because there’s nothing out there to compare it to. The lack of familiarity to an audience is responsible for slower growth in sales than what other artists may experience. Often, customers need to be shown examples of how to use art in their decorating practice. They get stuck or feel overwhelmed with a style they’ve never seen before.
I don’t let that worry me or get tempted to take my work in a more “marketable” direction. I don’t need everyone to love me, I just need to love myself and let the work resonate with the right people. Another artist said recently “there is something incredibly seductive about feeling known”. I think that’s what keeps me perfectly content with the rate of which I am expanding. Feeling a sweet, deep connection with a collector is as satisfying as the payment I receive.
I want to be completely transparent. I did not magically transition into a successful artist overnight without the help of a second job or family money.
The fact is, I still have a full-time job as a teacher at a community college. The job allows me to have decent chunks of paid time off. It is in those times away from work that I am my most fruitful. I usually try to get a painting done every day. I’m also careful to schedule art fairs around our semester breaks. I say this because I don’t want anyone to feel like they aren’t a real artist if they have to have an additional source of income. Nothing could be further from the truth and we have to stop beating ourselves up for that.
I feel confident that there will come a time that art will be my full-time employment. I’m in no rush so long as I’m enjoying the process.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
9:00am – spend the morning at home savoring coffee with homemade biscuits and gravy. 10:00am-head over to Piedmont Park for dogwood festival. Summer comes early to Atlanta. This may be the first chance of the year to slip into a summer skirt and spend the day in the sunshine. This is the perfect combination of gentle exercise, viewing new art, meeting other makers and supporting my artist’s community.
12:00pm – treat yourself to some festival food.
2:00pm – Nap time! One of the biggest luxuries as an adult
6:00pm – early dinner at St Cecilia’s. Share a bottle of wine and plates of the most amazing GF pasta.
8:00pm – home to relax

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Lauren deSerres https://www.laurendeserres.com/

Website: www.ilovemisty.com

Instagram: @misty_kelischek_artist