Meet Rivka Krinsky | Artist

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

Hi Rivka, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I have been working as a painter for about ten years now. When I first started, I had just graduated college and I was single. I had all the time in the world to focus on myself and develop my creativity. Social media was barely a factor. Instagram was non existent. I would occasionally upload pictures to Facebook for friends to see but my work wasn’t affected by outside opinions or that internal pressure to post constantly. Fast forward to today, I am married with 3 small (hectic) children and social media is my main tool for exposure and sales. For me, the balance has changed from being able to paint whenever inspiration struck, with no real outside factors, to today when I must maintain focus during my few work hours, whether I’m inspired or not. My day ends as soon I leave to pick up the kids at school. It’s difficult to stop in middle of a creative burst and it’s even more difficult to ignore the work messages on Instagram when I need to be focused on my family. I’ve come to realize, that for me, the most important thing is to be fully present in whichever mode I’m in. Whether I’m in artist mode or mommy mode, I try to appreciate the beautiful moments that come with each.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an oil painter with a focus on portraiture. My work has an expressionist quality with heavy textures and vibrant color. I am drawn to Judaic themes and I strive to connect with my viewer on a soulful, emotional level. I have a Hasidic background and went to an Ultra-Orthodox, Chabad girl’s school growing up. I didn’t have a chance to explore fine art in school but I was always drawn to creative expression and I was very involved in the performing arts. My parents were amongst the few in my class who encouraged college. I discovered an incredible passion for painting when I stumbled into an elective art class (thank G-d!) and eventually decide to major in Fine Art. It felt like discovering a superpower. I would spend endless hours (and sometimes nights) in the studio developing my skill. It took years to build my confidence. I credit my husband, for encouraging me to place a high value on my paintings, (we actually met because of one of my paintings) and not be scared to turn away potential commissions that wouldn’t be worth my time financially or creatively. Over the years, my work has increased significantly in price, and my commissions have become significantly larger. I’ve learned to trust in my skills, and not be afraid to say no. I’ve also learned that if you value yourself, others will value you just as much, if not more.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I recently moved to Miami from LA, and my best friend was the one who encouraged us to move. She’s the one who showed us all the spots! A few highlights would include checking out Wynwood Walls with a brunch stop at Zak the Baker, and perhaps a Cielitos artisan ice pop as well. I would definitely hit up a pool at the Setai or the One Hotel, grab some cocktails and beach it. A trip to Miami would not be complete without a boat ride and some tubing or jet skiing. I would recommend Vizcaya for a gorgeous, historical day trip. Another favorite museum with some fantastic contemporary art is the Bass. Early evenings are great for walking or biking the boardwalk. Later on, I’d get some dinner at one of the many kosher restaurants and then catch the live music at the Faena. If you’re with little ones, then definitely hit up the Frost Science Museum as well as the splashpad at the gorgeous South Pointe Park.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents and my husband have always been my biggest supporters, encouraging the path I’ve chosen and pushing me to take my career more seriously and value myself.

Website: rivkakrinsky.com

Instagram: rivkakrinsky

Image Credits
Chelsey Croucher for one photo