Daily Inspiration: Meet Pete Sack

Today we’d like to introduce you to Pete Sack.

Hi Pete, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I moved out to NC from the Seattle area in 1994 to attend East Carolina University. I graduated there with a BFA in Painting and moved to the triangle in 1998, during this time, I balanced day jobs and art for 17 years. During that time, I had a number of studios in Raleigh, from Litmus to Artspace to Anchor light.

Having a day job allowed me to create the work that I wanted to make, which leaned heavily into figurative pieces. A day job let me fail and experiment for years until I built a style that I was happy with, or at least showed me a direction that I should pursue creatively. This slow burn also allowed me to be consistent in my practice, to work at my own pace, and not rush things.

In 2015, I was hired by SAS Institute to be one of their resident artists. During my time there, I created 150+ paintings for their permanent collection, with a wide range of styles. From oil landscapes to large acrylic abstracts, they gave me a wide birth in what I was able to create.

In early 2021, I left SAS to venture out and create my own art practice. I moved into a studio off Hargett St. in downtown Raleigh, where I currently enjoy the sounds of the city while I paint.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road is still being paved, so it’s hard to answer this directly. I chose a path of having other jobs to cover the cost of living expenses. This also allowed me to create the works that I wanted to create and not compromise.

This approach worked for me, and truth be told, the majority of artists starting out work this way. It wasn’t until I was in my mid 40’s that I had the confidence to go it alone. The pandemic also gave me a new perspective into what is important to me (which seems to have hit a lot of people in a similar fashion) and how I want to live out the rest of my life.

As far as struggles, being an introvert is one I see looming as a potential hurdle I need to clear. Creating artwork means putting yourself out there in a way that is foreign to almost every aspect of life. But as with anything new, it’s just a matter of trial and error, to build up muscle memory of sorts until failure isn’t anything to be feared.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
One thing that sets me apart from other artists in the range of works I’m able to create. Whether it’s a watercolor portrait, large acrylic abstract, or oil landscape, they all interest me. During my time as one of SAS’s resident artists, I was afforded the time and materials to explore all sorts of motifs and genres. With that opportunity, I was able to play around and discover techniques I never knew I had.
Something I’ve always strived for was to not be stagnant in my work. So, working in a variety of styles keeps things fresh for me, and invariably each piece informs the next piece, whether it’s an abstract or not.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.petesack.com
• Instagram: petesackart