Meet Grace Pramuk

We were lucky to catch up with Grace Pramuk recently and have shared our conversation below.

Grace, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

As someone who has fallen into years of feeling like the world is filled with great voids of darkness where all seems hopeless, I strive to find the moments and people in my life that give me hope for a brighter future. Those experiences of hope and light often feel especially difficult to find in today’s world, where the wellbeing of the environment is rapidly declining, where we have become desensitized to acts of violence we witness daily, and where the dehumanization of those who appear different from us has become increasingly normalized. I know firsthand how easy it is to be weighed down by these darknesses, to carry them with you each day until the weight feels as though it could crush you into a million pieces at any moment. I believe many of us are feeling that way right now. Rather than giving in to that weight, however, I try my best to recognize the good that still exists all around us, even when it is harder to see. This does not mean ignoring the world’s problems. Instead, it means intentionally looking for the people and actions in our lives that remind us a better future is possible.

For me, that means looking to my mom and her work serving communities in Guatemala that lack access to healthcare. It means looking to my friend Jazzy, who works relentlessly to advocate for immigrants who are denied a voice of their own. It means looking to my sister, who fights every day to exist openly and authentically as a trans woman.

While it is easy to fall into pessimism and despair, there is no room for meaningful change if we are too weighed down by hopelessness. My optimism comes from a deep conviction that the world needs more light shining within it. I see that light in the people around me, and it gives me faith that we can fight for a better future.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a visual artist, and I specialize in painting and drawing. Art has always been a huge part of who I am, and this year after graduating from Regis University, I have dove head first into launching my career as a professional artist. One of the aspects I value most about my work and artistic practice is my focus on themes of gender, racial, and environmental injustice. I use my art as a way to bear witness to the injustices present in our world, while also seeking hope and celebrating those who have been most impacted by them. The best way to see my work at the moment is through my website, www.gracepramuk.com. I also post exciting updates on social media platforms. If you want to follow along, my instagram is @gracepramukart, my tiktok is pramukg, and my facebook is grace.pramuk.3. I sell prints off my website, and if you are interested in purchasing an original or commissioning a piece, you can email me at [email protected].

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

One of my biggest pieces of advice is to ask for help and seek guidance while building your business. Starting a business is no easy feat. After graduating, I had no idea where to begin. While my education gave me a strong foundation in painting and drawing techniques, I lacked many of the business and marketing skills that are just as essential to sustaining a career in the arts.
With the guidance of my mentor, Angela Astle, executive producer and founder of the nonprofit Athena Project, I was encouraged to take a class with the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA). This class helped me understand the next steps of starting a business, including marketing myself on social media, registering as an LLC, and filing taxes as a business. I am also fortunate to have many artists in my life whom I can turn to for advice. Personal connections can be an invaluable resource, as are classes and services designed to help beginners get started.
I would also recommend staying open to experimentation as you build your business. You may not immediately know where your work will be most successful or where you will feel most aligned. As someone still in the first year of running my art business, I have been sharing my work across a variety of spaces to learn what feels like the best fit. I share my work on social media, in galleries, and plan to sell at art markets in the spring. Early on, it’s important not to limit yourself too quickly. By putting yourself out there in a variety of spaces, you can reach more people and better understand where you feel most confident sharing your work.
Lastly, I would encourage others to focus on building confidence in themselves and their business. If you are offering a product or service, you must believe in its value. Overcoming imposter syndrome is a real and ongoing challenge, and one I have been actively working through this year. Even something as simple as introducing myself as an artist felt difficult at first. People may make assumptions about you or your work without truly understanding it, but learning to stand confidently in your identity and calling is essential.
One practice that has helped me build this confidence is writing a newsletter, which I send to subscribers every other month. Writing it gives me space to reflect on what I’ve accomplished, and I’m often reminded that I’ve done far more than it feels like in the day-to-day moments. Celebrating your wins, both big and small, matters. When you genuinely love what you’re doing, that passion inevitably shows up in your business.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Managing my time effectively is one of my biggest challenges right now. Between working two part-time jobs, as a caretaker and as a server and bartender, and running my own business, it can be difficult to figure out how to best allocate my time. Ideally, I would have enough hours in the day to get eight hours of sleep, paint for four to five hours, walk my dog, manage marketing for my business, work a few hours in the evening, and still spend meaningful time with my loved ones.
However, in reality, I often run out of time to do everything, and I’ve had to learn to be okay with that. I remind myself that I am only one person, that I am not behind, and that I am doing the best I can. I may not always meet every art deadline I set for myself or post as consistently on social media as I would like, but that’s okay. Taking care of myself and those around me has to come first.
I would rather give up an hour of painting time a day to take my dog on a walk than keep us both from nature all day. Sacrifice goes both ways though. Sometimes I have to pass up on hanging out with friends in order to finish a painting that needs to be done. It’s all about finding balance between my business, my jobs, and my own personal time. It is certainly something I am still working on, but having people in my life who support my calling as an artist is the greatest blessing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gracepramuk.com
• Instagram: gracepramukart
• Facebook: grace.pramuk.3
• Other: To subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.gracepramuk.com/new-page-1