Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrienne Getka.
Hi, Adrienne; thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been painting my whole life, but I started selling my art in 2009. I started by asking local businesses if I could sell my pieces in their shops and participate in markets. After seeing success in those areas, my confidence grew, and it fueled me to create more & more. I started selling my pieces in the retail shop I worked in then, which was totally against the rules, but my pieces began selling regularly! Eventually, I quit that job after 10 years and became a full-time artist. It was a risk, and I had no idea what I was doing. I’d like to sell art online and see what happens. And what happened is after about a year of struggling and feeling lost, my business, Pretty Rude, took off! All it took was a few big sales, which snowballed from there. Now, I have steady sales and constant commissions. So, that risk I took in 2018 paid off!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far, would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has been a challenging road, and it has never been smooth. That first year, I decided to be a full-time artist. I was still trying to find my “look.” I’ve been painting pop art-style paintings with completely random subjects in every painting. While my paintings were all very colorful & whimsical, it was still very all over the place. One day, I got a commission for a New Orleans-style scene, and the finished product came out so nice I wanted to paint more. It’s those New Orleans pieces that gave me the boost I needed. I stayed true to my colorful, pop art style but incorporated shotgun houses, cemeteries, & skeletons. For the last 3 years, those paintings have sold the most. Although my New Orleans paintings have helped Pretty Rude become what it is, there are always struggles. When I want to paint my weird pieces freely, like in the past, it’s harder to return to that part of my creativity. And like in any business, there are busy periods and slower periods. During those slower sales times, I am still learning to be patient and remind myself that it’s all part of the process.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in and am known for my New Orleans-inspired paintings. They are colorful pieces that depict the unique homes & iconic cemeteries that capture the whimsical spirit of the city. Many artists paint New Orleans, but what sets my paintings apart from the others are my skeletons. Instead of painting people, I paint skeletons out and about in the city. Sometimes, they’re in a second line, playing instruments in the brass band, dancing in the cemetery, and throwing beads off balconies. Most of my commissions come from others who love the city and want their favorite bar painted in my style, with themselves depicted as skeletons having a drink. The requests I get are always entertaining. The majority of my sales come from Instagram. I could easily show my paintings in every post, but I like for my audience to get to know me. So, instead of constantly coming across as a salesperson, I take time to show & tell who I am and my likes & dislikes and also help to inspire others. With my retail background, I’m used to making personal sales, so I’ve carried that over to my online sales.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was always creative; one of my earliest memories was painting on an easel before age 5. I still remember how that particular paint smelled. Music was always my savior, specifically punk & alternative rock, and that helped fuel my individuality. Pop culture, going to rock shows, & traveling definitely helped shape the creative person I am. My younger self would be proud that I chose an artistic path.
Pricing:
- $50-$500
Contact Info:
- Website: www.prettyrude.com
- Instagram: @pretty_rude_art
