I happened to be watching youtube and came across this youtube video from Sunday Morning on Ken Perenyi. Go figure I found it happens to be a relation of my husband. Second cousin on his mother’s side.
Here is the link to the video Sunday Morning Ken Perenyi
I was interested in the fact that he is such a skilled painter, and had turned his art forgery career into a legitimate business. His paintings are beautiful, and it takes a highly skilled individual to recreate something like that. Plus also make it look like it has been around for ages. The nice thing about anyone that is working currently there is a lot more documentation about what they do. You can even email them to find out more details.
Here is a link to his website. KenPerenyi.com
Below is an interview conducted via email regarding my questions about his art career. I appreciate he took the time to answer them.
I grew up in New Jersey in a town just by the George Washington Bridge. From my earliest years I wanted to live and work in the city across the bridge. As a kid I spent a great deal of the time going over the bridge a just wandering around the streets of Manhattan. I love cities and was a born urbanite. My life growing up there was the greatest gift my parents gave me. I love art ,literature, good movies, I shun all materialism, and lead an ascetic life style.
In 1967 I was 17 years old. I had a chance meeting with an artist and his art world friends who leased a crumbling old mansion perched on the palisades cliffs right near the GW bridge. The artist and his friends were from downtown NYC. The house became my new hangout and I tagged along with my new friends to museums , galleries , art shows and also visiting artists studios in the city. I became fascinated with the paintings I saw , especially in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and believed I understood the way the pictures were painted. I grasped how paint was cleverly and skillfully arranged in order to create the Images the artist desired. In an effort to fit in better with my new friends and be more like one of them I asked the artist Tom Daly for some paints and brushes and discovered a hidden talent for oil painting. And having no other skill to support myself, I worked very hard to make it a career.
Period paintings. Mostly 18th and 19th century works.
I have a beautiful old waterfront house . A dream studio for any artist. After breakfast I turn my attention to the current work in progress. Later I search through research material deciding what I will plan next. My work is continual. My whole life has been dedicated to perfecting my techniques in various schools of painting. I eat very light. I watch classic and foreign movies at night.
I very much enjoy the work of James E. Buttersworth, America’s greatest 19th century marine painter. I learned his technique to perfection and create entirely new paintings he would have painted himself. I also love the work of Francisco Guardi , 18th century Venetian view painter. Another who’s technique I have mastered. I also love the work of Martin Johnson Heade, and the British equestrian painter James Seymour. All of which I’ve faked and sold in major auction houses in New York and London.
I’m always motivated because I found my great passion in life and can’t wait to start another exciting work. The development of talent is infinite. The more I paint, even after 50 years , the more I learn.
I’m still very much an active art forger. That is my love in life. However today my works are sold as such and it’s totally legal to do so. I create what I consider the most deceptive fakes in the world. Authentic in every way. I guess the publication of my memoir Caveat Emptor that chronicles over 30 years of fooling the experts and laughing my way to the bank, has brought me to the attention of collectors and art lovers all over the world. A website displays various works I offer for sale.
I have little to do with the contemporary art world. To me it has descended into absurdity. Full of stupid gimmicks, political statements and moronic creations they accept as art.
They view examples of my work on my website and contact me. I provide detailed images, front and back, and also others I might have that are similar. Clients are welcome to visit here to view paintings but mostly all my customers are in other states and the images suffice. Paintings are shipped via UPS upon receipt of check. High class fakes are not cheap. They are complicated constructions that require a very specialized skill not to mention artistic mastery. They are only cheap in relation to the genuine article.
I should have been more of a social opportunist.
1) money buys happiness.
2) A fulfilling life is impossible without achievement.
3) find your passion in life.
This is an interview with my former boss, Susan Smith. She was so kind enough to answer my questions about marketing for artists. Marketing and Sales seem like such a foreign concept for artists. Susan was kind enough to answer my questions on the topic. She has years of experience in marketing.
Nancy Miller: Can you tell us about yourself?
Susan Smith: I am the former Director of Marketing for Scuba Diving magazine and was also the Marketing Director at WCIV-TV in Charleston, South Carolina.
NM: Are there any essential things an illustrator might need in order to market themselves? Nowadays, it seems like you have social media accounts even more than a web site.
Susan: I would say that today everything you mention here is important. A web site these days for an artist might be like a business card for a product sales rep. It is just a small piece of the marketing puzzle but a necessary one even if only serving as an introduction for you and your work.
Social media is the most probably and often the most effective marketing vehicle today, in terms of reaching the general public. (If you are talking about trying to reach retailers who might carry your licensed products, that is a different question.)
I’m going to assume for now that you are not talking about running paid-for ads on these social networks, but instead setting up accounts for your business and posting to the public.
I would select one or two to focus on, because if you are inactive on one of your social media sites, then it serves no purpose. You need to post often, I’d say at least 2 times a week, and continually invite people to Like or Follow your page because otherwise, no one is seeing your posts.
NM: Are there any good resources online for understanding marketing online or sales?
Susan: The link below will give you some great info on Social Media Marketing. Remember, you are talking about marketing or posting right now, not actually running paid ads on the social media channels. While the link is from a company that can help you with your social media marketing, have no fear, there is also a ton of useful information in here and there are no strings attached.
https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-marketing-strategy/
NM: What types of social media would you consider the best platforms for artists? Most people say Instagram but are there any others that you recommend?
Susan: It all comes down to your audience and your product. Since art is a visual product, right away Instagram and Facebook make sense. There is a chart in the link above that shows you who the audience is on each of the social media channels. So you should know or decide who your target audience is and then look at that chart to see which social media that audience is using the most.
Also, here is a link to a good article about how artists can benefit from LinkedIn. It’s a good way to get your name out there in the “art world” plus it gives you access to industry-related groups. This could end up being the most important step you take.
https://www.lightspacetime.art/benefits-of-using-linkedin-for-professional-artists/
NM: Are there any sites one can use to measure how well one’s marketing efforts are working?
Susan: This is a bit more complicated. In the first article link I gave you, it talks about different ways to measure the effectiveness of your social media marketing. But let’s start out with some very basic information. You can sign up for Google Analytics which is simple to do—just click on the link below. You provide some basic information about you and your web site and they’ll provide you with a tracking code to paste (or have someone paste) onto the pages of your web site. Then Google will know when is visiting your web site and where they are coming from, i.e., if the clicked on your web site from a Facebook post or from an Instagram post. (So don’t forget to include your web site link at the bottom of all your posts!)
https://analytics.google.com/analytics/web/provision/?authuser=0#/provision
NM: I still hear that sending printed samples are a good idea. Especially in licensing. They love seeing mockups. Is there anything I could do to get my mockups to stand out?
Susan: I’m not sure I can answer this other than to say you need to pick products that best show off your artwork and the product at the same time. You need to think like the retailer—and they are just thinking, what’s going to sell? While your artwork is personal to you, it isn’t to them. So pick a product that is modern and sellable and also one on which your artwork will show up well.
In this episode 2.10 of My Creative Life, I have Alicia Young a children’s book illustrator, mural artist, and glitter painter. She was kind enough to be interviewed and share her process with me. Here is a little about her below:
Alicia loves being a Jesus follower and Texas girl. She attended art college in beautiful Connecticut, and received her BFA in Painting in 2009 from the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts. Alicia truly enjoys illustrating Childrens’ books, painting murals, and recently released her own two devotional books! She thanks the Lord for the gift of art and truly desires to spread joy and to bring God glory through each unique piece she creates!
To see more of Alicia’s work:
Listen to the episode on My Creative Life.
On this episode 2.07 I have Sylvia Strand, an artist based out of the Atlanta that does commission work. I happen to meet Sylvia while I was pursuing my Art Education Certificate at Armstrong Atlantic State University. Sylvia has great work and has created an art business so we caught up and discussed how she got it going.
To see more of Sylvia’s work visit her on or contact her to commission a piece.
Big Top Brush Strokes
Big To Brush Strokes Facebook
To listen to the podcast visit My Creative Life on anchor.fm.
Thanks for listening!
This episode I interviewed Pam Knight, artist based out of Boise, Idaho. Pam was a former art teacher, and transitioned into a full time artist. She creates this amazing assemblages. You can see more of her art work on these social media sites:
To listen to the podcast visit My Creative Life by Nancy Miller
Today I have my first guest from my Instagram feed, Jennifer Greive. I’ve been following her work for the past year. I came across her from some of the other lettering artists I follow. Her work is super cute, and profession! I feel very fortunate to have her on the podcast. Here is a little about Jennifer. She specializes in t-shirt design, logos, and branding. Her personal brand Fueled By Letters was born from her love for Typography and Hand Lettering. Jennifer started out at a very young age doing illustration which then lead to the world of Graphic Design. Anime got her into design. She attended Stark State College of Technology and The University of Akron receiving both an Associates and Bachelors degree in Graphic Design. Jennifer is available for commissioned work or visit her Etsy store to purchase a digital print.
To see more of Jennifer’s work visit:
Fueled by Lettters
Instagram @Jennifer.Greive
Etsy Fueled by Letters
Visit My Creative Life with Nancy Miller to listen!
Thanks for listening!
This episode I interviewed my writer friend Heather Tietz. I was lucky to illustrate her book Yes, Jesus Loves You. She is a talented writer, and a really nice person! Little about Heather below:
On this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking to Marsha Lott, a watercolor painter and art teacher. She has taught for over 30 years and has had her work in several galleries. She has traveled as far as Alaska to teach her fabulous watercolor techniques. I’m very fortunate to know her, and she is a generous soul with knowledge and kindness. She shared her extensive knowledge about getting into galleries and showing at festivals. Thank you for listening!
On Season 2 episode 2, I had the opportunity to interview Danielle Brannon, photographer, in the Statesboro area. She is the photographer for the Averitt Art Center in Statesboro, GA, and a freelance photographer. I met Danielle while teaching in Bulloch County. On top of her photography business, she is an art teacher. I got some great tips on the business of photography and how she balances it all. To see more of Danielle’s photography visit her Instragram @danielle.brannon.photography.
Thanks for listening!
This is Season 2 of My Creative Life. I’m interviewing my friend Whitney Earley, artist and art teacher based out of Ohio. She currently teaches high school. I met Whitney while I was teaching in Bulloch Co, and had loads of laughs with her while attending art teacher conferences and PD. This is here story about her creative life. You can see Whitney’s work on her instagram @whitneyearley.
Listen to the podcast at My Creative Life.
To see my illustration work visit www.nmillerillustration.comor on dribbble.
Instagram.com/nsmillerillustration
Nancy Miller Illustration YouTube
Mrs. Miller - Messy Art Teacher Blog 