Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Ritchie.
Hi Kate, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Originally from Salisbury, NC, I grew up on a horse farm lined with a creek and acres of woods. I was put in art classes when I was 5 years old where I made crafts in the ‘art room’ in the loft of the barn on my family’s property. I have been making art my whole life and enjoy learning and experimenting with new art techniques. While studying Studio Art at the College of Charleston from 2010-to 2014, I decided to not have a focus and instead took art classes in every medium the college offered.
Immediately out of college, I started working for an online art gallery called Charleston Artist Collective. I worked there for 5 years and helped grow the business from one online shop to 4 locations with brick and mortars across the southeast. I eventually became the Operations Manager who coordinated with 60+ artists from 4 locations, helped manage the gallery located in Mt. Pleasant, Sc, worked with clients, handled online sales, and managed the website.
In 2018, I began to feel pulled toward my own art practice again. I left Charleston Artist Collective to pursue my own career as a professional artist and was able to get a studio at Redux Contemporary Art Center during the summer of 2019. I started creating a body of work and began to get more involved with Redux in various ways. Now in 2022, I serve on the Redux Board, the Studio Artist Committee, lead a monthly group art critique and also teach private art lessons in addition to my own art practice.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have definitely been struggles along the way! I have tried representation with several art galleries before landing on one that feels like a good fit. I have tried various revenue streams like Patreon, live painting at events, selling prints in retail stores, and other avenues with some trials and tribulations. I think being an artist means you have to get creative not only in your work but also in how you run your business. There is a lot of trial and error and experimenting until things start to pan out.
I have also struggled a lot with imposter syndrome– something I think most creatives can relate to. There’s that little voice of doubt in my head that pops up periodically to make me question if what I am making is good or if people even care about it. But I always try to remind myself that the world is a beautiful place because of artists and creative people and there is certainly room for what I have to offer.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a mixed media artist primarily focusing on collage, abstract painting, resin, and some printmaking. My current work is multi-layered with an acrylic painting base, collaged imagery on top, and a resin finish on a wood panel. I really enjoy weaving the collage elements together with the acrylic paint to create a sense of seamlessness between the two. I draw inspiration from nature, color, pattern, and spiritual imagery. My work has been described as psychedelic and ethereal.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I love this question! When I first embarked on my career as an artist, I clung to the most tangible form of success which was art sales. But I quickly realized that measuring my success purely based on how many pieces of art I sold every month left me feeling pretty empty and burnt out. While I do think art sales are an important part of my business, I have grown to redefine the word “success”. Now I think success means connecting with people through my art, inspiring people with my work, collaborating with other artists, reaching new audiences, creating dialogue around artwork, and educating people about valuing art.
Contact Info:
- Email: kate@kateritchiestudio.com
- Website: https://www.kateritchiestudio.com/
- Instagram: @kateritchiestudio
Image Credits
Taylor Czerwinski
Joanne Nguyen
