Conversations with Katie Peterson Andary

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Peterson Andary

Hi Katie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I always thought I did enough creative work in my 9-5 to “scratch my creative itch”.
However, when I pivoted to work-from-home during COVID, I started thinking more carefully about what I wasn’t getting from my full-time marketing roles. So, The Painted K. was born!

Though I have enjoyed making art for most of my life, I took my first oil painting class in 2016 and fell in love with the medium. I loved how the paint blended and created depth on the canvas, seemingly by itself at times. When you find your niche, you know!

Over the past few years, I have been taking on small and large painting projects for my friends and family to stay creative and connected with the medium. Choosing my projects and making art for others in specific styles, sizes, and color schemes is a blessing. This is not mass-production and I don’t want it to be. I want to create art that serves me and others – a balance that would be difficult (not impossible) to achieve if I pursued it as a full-time job.

This year, I’ve been getting more involved in community events after a busy season of wedding planning, (that scratched the creative itch in other ways!) It’s been so exciting to share my art with a larger audience!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Some struggle, but mostly fun!

The first year after I published my website I found an art show in Lansing I thought would be perfect to enter. It was a new gallery, and they were putting on a seasonal show with an open call for local artists- that’s me!

I created a piece for the gallery, wrote an artist’s statement, and sent it in.
They gave me a prompt, honest rejection, (along with the message that I could try again next year).

Though it’s not what I wanted or expected, two years later, the piece I created for that gallery was sold to a customer who shares it with every client who walks into his office, (thanks Mark!). It has also inspired a mixed-media project I’m currently working on. So yeah, this obstacle has a silver lining, but it still sucked!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I started sharing my paintings and taking commissioned requests because I couldn’t find my style and I wanted to see what others liked about my work. Because of this, I experiment with subject matter, color, size, and even medium. Each new request helps me learn and improve – and I love being challenged with new ideas and styles. This ends up setting me apart from artists who have found a more specific niche.

I also love seeing my paintings “belong”. It makes me so happy to see a piece of art I’ve made in a place that fits it perfectly, cause that’s my whole thing! Something custom, unique, and exactly what the commissioner wants to look at every day.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
We have a four-year-old Corgi named Pepperoncini (Pepper) who is probably smarter than some of the people I know!

I also teach Tabata classes at the Westside YMCA!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thepaintedk.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_painted_k/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kpaintedthe