From the Pocono Record

Andrei Protsouk marks 15 years as Stroudsburg's resident artist'If you are great, you will survive'

From his Stroudsburg studio, Andrei Protsouk sells his art to clients around the world.
David Kidwell/Pocono Record
By Melanie Vanderveer
Pocono Record Writer
August 23, 2010 Andrei Protsouk has been involved in art for as long as he can remember. A day doesn't go by without his creative side coming out to play. And with more than 20 years of art education behind him, he knows pretty much everything there is to know about the world of art.

The Stroudsburg resident wishes more art galleries would call Stroudsburg home, but is happy that the doors of his are still open to the public after 15 years of business.

Pocono Record: When did you become an artist?

Andrei Protsouk: I was 3 years old when I started. That's something special. My parents were artists. I went to a special high school for art, and finished with an art diploma. After that, I went to a special art school in the Ukraine for four years. I have 27 years of art education all together. I cannot live without art.

PR: Where does the inspiration come from for your work?

AP: Life. It's all life experience. You just paint about it. That's why the images are great.

PR: How different is your older work from your newer stuff?

AP: It's the same thing, but different structure because I grew up as an artist, so I went through different styles. I don't think about style anymore; I just do what I want. But maybe that will change in the future.

PR: How long have you lived in the Poconos?

AP: I've been here 18 years. I lived here more than anywhere else. I picked Stroudsburg because it is the closest place to New York City, and I do a lot of business there, and some big shows.

PR: How many pieces have you done over the years?

AP: I've done about 7,000 images — all different. I work every day. People come from New York to get some original oils of mine.

PR: Do you find art to be relaxing or more like work?

AP: It's not relaxing. It's work. But at the end of the day, there is a great satisfaction.

PR: What do you do in your time away from art?

AP: I like to cook and I do some gardening.

PR: Do you have a favorite piece of artwork?

AP: All of them are my favorite. The next one will be my favorite. You spend all your time and effort on them, and they are all very unique.

PR: How did the Delaware Water Gap Celebration of the Arts poster come about?

AP: I tried to always do a jazz collection. I have a lot of art about jazz. I sent a few ideas to the Delaware Water Gap Celebration of the Arts, and was picked.

PR: What can artists do during an economic downturn to really get people interested in their work?

AP: In hard economic times, the art is blooming. People put their money into great artists. That's why if you are great, you will survive.

PR: How do you feel to be one of the few galleries left in downtown Stroudsburg?

AP: I would like to see more art galleries in Stroudsburg. We opened here in 1995, and my doors are still open for the art collectors who fly over from different parts of the world to get some art.

PR: What's it like for you to have your son following in your footsteps with art?

AP: My son Dennis is helping me with the art creative process in shows in New York, Las Vegas, Florida and London, restoring and creating paintings.