Meet Jeanne Rietzke | Artist and Writer

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

Hi Jeanne, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
I have been a fine artist for over 30 years. Unless you are a fine artist, you don’t realize how expensive creating, selling, and marketing art has become. Everything has become a burden on the artist, from the tube of paint to reproductions of originals to websites to entry fees and commissions. I have calculated that creating, marketing, and selling one large painting can cost $1000.00. My large pieces sell for $1650.00. If commissions are involved (thirty to fifty percent), I don’t make any money. People need to understand this when looking at art.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Over my thirty-plus years as an artist, my art has changed. I started with simple watercolors of marine life. I remember artists always asking me how I kept my colors so vibrant. I don’t mix my colors on a palette. If I mix them at all, I mix them on the paper. It was never the traditional way to use watercolor. That aspect has remained in my work, but my skills have improved over the years, and art supplies have changed as well. My work has a realistic edge and an abstract soul. My colors are still vibrant, but my subject matter can be anything that catches my eye. Patterns have become a theme recently as well. I have always worked from my photographs and prefer to paint in the studio.
Being an artist is not easy. It’s expensive, full of rejection, and a daily creative struggle. I have song lyrics that get me through all the bumps in the road: “And the walls that won’t come down, we can decorate or climb or find some way to get around. ‘Cause I’m still on your side. From the bottom of my heart.” Mac MacAnally and Jimmy Buffett wrote those lyrics. Their music has gotten me through a lot of rough times. The song is called “Coast of Carolina” and was the sequal to the mega hit “Come Monday”. Another great song is “Love and Luck” by Jimmy Buffett. And yes, I carry gris-gris with me wherever I go.
My art is color, pattern, nature, and details. My medium is anything water-based. When you look at my art, you get a glimpse of how I saw the world at that moment.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Wilmington, North Carolina. We have three excellent beaches, a historic downtown, a foodie culture, a vibrant nightlife, and some of the best vistas on the North Carolina coast. In a week, you could hit every area of the county and really enjoy yourself.
Day 1 – Historic Downtown – shop for local art, eat at RX Chicken and Oysters for local food, walk the river, tour the Battleship North Carolina. Restaurants not to miss: breakfast I recommend The Dixie Grill, lunch The Copper Penny, and dinner at RX.
Day 2—Wrightsville Beach—This beach has the best waves for surfing and crystal blue water. The town of Wrightsville has its own amazing food and shopping. I’m a huge fan of Tower 7 Baja Grill, Poe’s Tavern, and Oceanic.
Day 3—Mayfaire Area—This part of Wilmington is where most people live and work. Mayfaire Town Center features over 90 shops and restaurants. The Forum is across the street and is a destination for local boutiques, health and beauty stores, and more dining. Follow Eastwood Road back towards Wrightsville Beach, and you will discover Lumina Station—another pocket of local businesses, boutiques, and incredible dining. My favorites in this area are Coquina Fish Bar in Mayfaire, The Bento Box in The Forum, and Brasserie Du Soleil in Lumina Station.
Day 4 and 5 – Carolina and Kure Beach, also known as Pleasure Island – Carolina Beach is reminiscent of beaches back in the mid-1900s. There is a formal boardwalk, arcades, restaurants, live music, fireworks (in the summer), and a very walkable town. Kure Beach has a smaller town center with a pier for fishing. Kure also has Ft. Fisher, a Confederate Fort from the Civil War, and the NC Aquarium at Ft. Fisher. The aquarium is one of the most visited attractions in North Carolina. I recommend Nollies at Carolina Beach, El Cazador at Carolina Beach, Havana’s at Carolina Beach, and Jack Mackerels Island Grill at Kure Beach.
Day 6—Rest by my pool all day, then head out for fun nightlife. I am a member of the City Club of Wilmington, a private dining club that I highly recommend to locals. It’s located in the historic de Rosset House, which is on a hill for a spectacular view of the Cape Fear River and sunsets. After dinner, you are one block from Front Street and Water Street, with an endless array of bars and nightclubs. My recent favorite is Tempo 33, located on the top floor of 33 South Front Street. It’s a piano bar and lounge similar to places I love in Manhattan and Paris.
Just a note for the reader, I am gluten free, so all restaurants mentioned are gluten free friendly.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Artists are famous for having “imposter syndrome.” Until you create a business with your art (or writing), are you an artist? My father, William McIntosh III, was an entrepreneur, and he believed that anyone could be successful as long as they ran their passion as a business. He was skeptical about art but ensured I ran it like a business. He helped me sell my first painting by hanging my art in his offices. He became my biggest fan and critic. When I was in college (shoutout to the University of South Carolina, Columbia), I was mentored by Harry Hansen. He was a very successful artist and professor. He also taught me that art was a business and helped me hone my skills and win my first award. He was the first adult to tell me I was talented and should be a professional. I’ve lost both of these great men to dementia over the years. I no longer suffer from imposter syndrome, and I have incredible people in my life who give me support and encouragement. However, I will say that I might not be the person I am today without my father and Harry.

Website: https://jeanne-rietzke.pixels.com

Instagram: @painted_by_hand_ilm

Linkedin: Jeanne McIntosh Rietzke

Facebook: Painted By Hand

Other: Threads and all platforms have a page for my children’s books: Caroline, The Painted Turtle.

Image Credits
All images taken by Jeanne Rietzke