Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Witzling
Hi Mark, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was on a trip to Italy when I saw some of the great works of art in Rome and Florence, often still in the very spaces where the artist intended the work to be and was fascinated, wondering, “what was the artist thinking when they came up with this idea?” Upon returning home I was encouraged to explore this fascination and began painting. That was over 25 years ago. Around 2010 I began migrating towards abstraction and nonrepresentational art and eventually fell in love with the techniques and effects of oil and cold wax painting. I am self-taught, although I loathe the term since I have learned from so many other artists. My college major was Economics and I have a Masters in Business Administration (MBA). This is not the typical education path for most artists. For many years I was in brand marketing with Gillette, M&M Mars, Purina, and Citibank. I enjoyed the necessary blend of quantitative business skills along with the creative side of marketing and working with the ad agencies. But my artistic interest continued to call to me, and in 2018 I left the corporate life and took on the role of Executive Director of Craft Alliance, a 50+ year old arts education nonprofit in St. Louis. In addition to the challenges and joys of leading this organization through a lot of change, including a complete relocation and revitalization in the midst of the pandemic, I was working closely with artists every day. It was where I needed to be. In mid-2023 I took the leap to retire from that role to pursue my art full-time. I am honored to have met artists from across the globe via two immersive art residencies in France, and now have my art in public and private collections from the US to Europe and Asia. I also continue to teach workshops both locally and in locations across the country.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I think most artists will tell you that the artistic path can be a struggle. And that’s true. But I also tend to view the world as a glass half full. The challenges are what make this artistic path fun and exciting. Are there tough days? Of course. It’s not all the romantic view of the artist at their easel painting when they are inspired, success comes from the personal commitment of stepping into the study every day and creating – even when not inspired.
Being in St. Louis is a blessing and a curse. I love our city, with all it’s challenges. As an artist, the community of creative talent is large, talented, and supportive. Like many things here the arts community is also fragmented. We are a city of neighborhoods and our arts community reflects that. We do not have a single arts district. We have several. This can be a good thing, but also makes reaching new local collectors more difficult because they are spread out on the nights of gallery openings.
The challenges of being a successful artist depend on your definition of success. There is success in the art itself and always pushing forward in my creative expression. There is also the success of business side and that takes time and effort, sometimes at the expense of time in the studio creating. Finding the balance that is right will be different for everyone. I think I’ve found the balance for myself, but it’s an everyday challenge.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve mentioned some of this in my response to the ‘tell me your story’ question.
I began my career working in brand marketing, initially on the shave creams business at Gillette (now part of P&G) and the other health & beauty brands, then M&M Mars working in their food division on rice products and then a small pet products business that owned the Tidy Cat brand which I managed several years. Launching new products has always been exciting, whether shave creams, shampoos, or pet products. There is plenty of opportunity to explore the creative side of marketing when working with art designers and agencies to create new packaging and advertising. For many years I would occasionally manage to discreetly drop something personal into a promotional campaign (sort like Hitchcock appearing in his films). An example, my kids names and a photo of my dog appear in a pet calendar that was promoted on the home page of AOL (remember AOL?) So, blending marketing strategy with impactful creative advertising and promotions is an important part of my experience. But the working role I enjoyed the most in my career was my last role, as Executive Director of Craft Alliance. Why? The answer in much too long to fully address here, but I was able to work closely and intensely with a group of talented artists and supporters who cared very deeply of the nonprofit and its mission. The work we did had direct impact on people who benefited from the power of exploring artistic creativity. When we relocated the organization to the Delmar Maker District of St. Louis in 2020, just as Covid was roaring forward, it was a major change. The passion of the community was phenomenal, and while it was the brick & mortar change that people saw it was really the enhanced commitment of the community to the mission of sharing the importance of craft that was so empowering and fulfilling to me.
Lastly, what sets me apart from others? I think it is an underlying philosophy which I have always carried. Simply stated, I believe in the idea the “there is strength in humility.” Whether in a leadership role in marketing, nonprofit leadership, or as artist, I am perceived as humble, but that doesn’t mean I am not also deeply committed and competitive. Being humble gives me strength and keeps me from being distracted. I hope.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
For anyone starting out to pursue a role as an artist, my advice is to keep in mind that there is no single path down this road. It may be that you can be a full time, successful artist from day 1. Or you may need to keep a full-time job while painting at night or early in the morning until you are ready to make the leap. Or you may wan to volunteer at an arts organization for a period of time. So, define your own path. As artists, we have opportunities to define our paths. Go define yours.
Pricing:
- My artork is available at www.markwitzlingart.com, and currently available locally at Green Door Art Gallery, Grafica, and Artisans In The Loop. I also create commissioned work on request.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.markwitzlingart.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/markwitzlingart
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/markwitzlingart
