Meet Kathleen Strukoff | La Chica Art — Modern Impressionist Oil Painter

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

Hi Kathleen, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Developing personal connections with potential customers and other artists. I work hard to get people to know, like and trust me because I think that makes a big impact on their decision to spend money on a discretionary item such as art. Luckly I love people and am endlessly interested in them!
In some cases, I have chosen to do something that might not be the best sales environment just to be able to make that personal connection with an audience. In a short period of time I have built a fairly well known brand in my local market. Fun and a constantly evolving creative experimentation is also part of the brand I have built.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have so much fun painting and people tell me that comes across in my work and they get a kick out of viewing it! Many people comment that my paintings convey emotions that evoke feelings in the viewer. My goal is to touch their creative souls and have them be an active participant when they view the painting…….something beyond technical proficiency.

I am also a fairly fearless painter who will take a large canvas out on location and go after it with gusto to capture the scene in fairly short period of time. Many other painters are amazed that I can do this even in a busy situation when people are talking to me and I am still painting. I love making the magic of a painting come alive before their eyes! Many viewers who see me painting live somewhere will comment “You are like Bob Ross” and then they describe to me how much they love him and how he made them love art. That feeling is a big part of my brand.

Part of my story is also to paint things in remote areas that might be forgotten, abandoned or on the verge of a disappearing way of life. Some quotes from fans that explains those feelings: “There is so much expression in your art. I feel like I can taste the moment behind each piece and they often take me down memory lane. I also see a touch of whimsy that brings joy into my life. The colors and movement have a great impact on the viewer. ” Ronna

“I think your desert scenes really resonate with me– particularly those featuring abandoned places and spaces Many people could take in those views and think that there’s a lack of something to look at, but there’s an unspoken history: the land itself tells a story and so do the structures that have been left behind, even if we can’t hear the words. ” Brittany

“Your paintings capture that one moment in time and space that is important to so many. The place that connects so many to dreams, hopes and desires.” Joe

The process of creating art is a joy that comes easy for me and I am quite prolific. Selling art that people don’t HAVE to have is never easy. For many years, I had a corporate job and that helped take the financial pressure off my art business. I have learned that you can never predict what will resonate with people and art is VERY personal….you never know what painting will connect emotioinally with its intended buyer. You have to have the long view because there is a lot of rejection. You also have to paint what excites you and ignore some of the trends when you see that maybe another style of art seems more popular.

About 7 months ago, I decided to partner with two other artists to open up a gallery/working studio together. I knew that they are the type of people I can share a business with but that is always a gamble AND it is a risk to spend the money on a space, reach concensus on all decisions including how we spend money for things such as marketing, etc. There are definitely pluses and minuses to a solo vs a joint business venture and I try to focus on the overall picture.

I have taken leadership roles in various art organizations and ventures. That has given me visibility and built more relationships for me with other artists but it is definitely a balance to make sure I don’t do that at the expense of my own art practice and business.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting me in Palm Springs here is some of the itinerary:

* Go to the Palm Springs Vintage Market
* Go on the tram to the top of the mountain to do a hike and get a birds eye view of the Palm Springs area
* A spin through Joshua Tree to see those crazy prehistoric looking trees and stop at some of the funky shops and restaurants
* The Palm Springs Art Museum
* A couple of art walks in the amazing art districts
* An outdoor concert at Mon Petit Mojave in the high desert
* A walking or biking tour of the amazing architecture in the fabulous neighborhoods
* Lots of float time in the pool
* Speakeasy and other intimate bars such as The Evening Citizen and Bar Cecil.
* Live music at many of the local venues including the Palm Springs Cultural Center
* Eat at many of the locally-owned places: Sol Y Sombra, The Del Rey, Copleys, etc.
* A tour of the Frey II House area above the Art Museum

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My hubby, Rudy Strukoff, who usually goes along with my hairbrain creative ideas (most of which work out!), Angeline Hayley of Island Tribe clothing brand who invited me to pop up in her showroom for my first art show in the Palm Springs area, Chris Mobley and Mary Wexler who were supportive cheerleaders when I first starting showing my Palm Springs paintings in their store: Just Modern; Palm Springs Vintage Market entrepreneur, Mindy King for being one of my early Palm Springs supports, all of the amazingly supportive artists in the art communities that I have been part of during my art career, the fabulous marketing advice from the team at Art Store Fronts. My two gallery partners: Ernesto Ramirez and Erich Meager!
All of my wonderful collectors and some special fans who are mega-collectors of my work.

Website: https://www.kathleenstrukoff.com

Instagram: @lachicaart

Facebook: kathleenstrukoff

Youtube: @kathleenstrukoff7407

Image Credits
NA