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

Hi Genie, what do you attribute your success to?
Being successful as an artist takes a tremendous amount of discipline to create, create, create, on weekends, on late nights, on Christmas Eve until you start seeing the financial steadiness. I wanted to follow a dream but needed to produce something that would pay my mortgage. We are living in a time where social media makes your artwork available for people all over the world to see. The outreach is huge- I had to take advantage of that too and I am so thankful for a loyal following of people who want to spend their hard earned money on my creations. I am proud of how far I’ve come as an artist and it motivates me on days when I feel drained or stuck. I’ve refined my style, I’m being discovered, and I’m reaching new clients. I’ve been able to contribute to some amazing charities and organizations. I have to keep going!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My pet portrait style is very unique to me. I am fascinated by the connection between people and their pets and explore that with my artwork. Each animal has an imaginative personality for me to interpret from brush to canvas. My favorite part of the whole process is hearing the reaction to the painting. Though I work primarily from photos, realism is not something I’m trying to achieve. I love to use colors that are bright and happy and I try to capture what it is that people love about their pets.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
Some of my favorite things to do in Houston are walk Memorial Park, visit the Museum of Fine Arts, find a hole in the wall to karaoke, eat and drink our way through the Heights and Eado, and head down to the bay for a little time at the beach.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family has always supported me in my dream to own a small business. I am so thankful for all of my friends and family and how much support they have shown me along my journey to become a successful artist. I think small businesses are what make a gigantic city like Houston feel like a community. Small businesses bring more creativity, problem-solving, innovation, diversity, passion, and flavor to every city. The amount of appreciation for these businesses brings people closer. My business makes me feel more connected than any other job I’ve had. Houston is an incredible place to try out your dream job.

Website: www.geniemack.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/genie_mack

Image Credits
All photos taken by Genie Mack, all artwork Genie Mack

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