The life of an artist typically isn’t an easy one, which is why so many choose to pursue their art as an avocation rather than a vocation. But St. Louis painter Ted Collier is one of the lucky ones; he found a way to pursue his dreams and establish a viable career as a St. Louis artist, following a post-college career in the business world.
“After college, I went into commercial real estate,” Collier recalls. “I was successful and enjoyed it, but it was not my passion.”
When Collier met his future wife, Katie Lee, in 2011, she encouraged him to pursue a professional career as an artist, and it was just the push he needed. “I’ve always painted, but I became full-time and devoted about five years ago, and each year I paint more as demand and my passion for painting grow.”
Collier spends anywhere from four to 15 hours a day painting in his studio. His favorite medium by far is acrylic on canvas, and his preferred style is abstract, although he says he “also paints the occasional figurative piece.” In fact, though, Collier is versatile and able to work in many different styles, which is fortunate, since he is easily bored.
“If I had to liken my painting style to one artist, it would have to be Gerhard Richter, who I admire immensely and who also moves from style to style,” he says. “The one core fascination throughout my work seems to be with how lines, shapes and color interact and create different feelings and reactions from the viewer. People ask me why I title so few of my pieces, and I always tell them that I don’t want to influence or bias someone else’s interpretation.”
Although Collier doesn’t have a trademark style per se, there is an element that appears throughout his body of work. “The one thing I revisit frequently is the circle or what some call ‘the donut,’” he says. “People seem to love them, and I can never keep them in stock.”
Collier finds inspiration for his paintings just about everywhere, but is especially inspired when fishing for smallmouth bass on a river in Bourbon, Missouri, or fly fishing a tiny stream in Colorado for wild trout. “There are so many colors and patterns in nature that provide the ultimate in pure inspiration,” he says.
He also is inspired by his private clients, who commission special pieces for their home or business. At the start of the process, he always visits with the client onsite to see the space in which his art will be hung, as it influences his direction in terms of style, color palette and approach. “So far, it’s been an absolute joy to design and paint commissions for my clients,” Collier says. “I feel like I’m the luckiest guy in the world to be able to do this professionally with such success. There’s nothing in the world that makes me happier than people enjoying and appreciating my work.”
Well, almost nothing. What makes him happiest is the life he’s built with Katie, which now includes a successful restaurant business. Collier is an owner and equal partner in the 3,000-square-foot Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria on Manchester Road in Rock Hill, which opened in 2013 and now employs some 50 people.
“We work really well together,” Collier says of their business relationship. “We understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and stay out of each other’s way, allowing the other person to do what they’re good at. We trust each other and love each other very much.”
And as it turns out, the restaurant business they share has become yet another creative outlet for Collier, who crafted much of the furniture, built the bar and also the patio, which features an herb and vegetable garden. In addition, his paintings line the walls of the restaurant, along with those of other local artists, including his mother-in-law Belinda Lee, Julie Malone and Jeremy Rabus.
Collier’s current work can also be seen at TedCollierArt.com and through private showings at his studio, which is located next door to ArtMart on Hanley Road. The building, which is owned by ArtMart owner Keith Baizer, is an artist co-op of sorts and houses the studios of St. Louis artists Howard Jones, Ahzad Bogosian, William Neukomm, Donya Allison, Dan Broadfield and Firmin Puricelli.
“One of my favorite aspects of St. Louis right now has to be the creative renaissance that the city is enjoying – the vibrant fine art, the music scene, and also the culinary upswing of amazing restaurants,” Collier says. “I’m a proud St. Louisan to the core. #STL.”