TL;DR
- Annika Koser is a central Pennsylvania artist painting photorealistic sprint car racing in acrylic.
- She built a full-time career through commissions and print sales to motorsports fans nationwide.
- Her process is meticulous, layering detail to create paintings that read like photographs.
- High-quality printing helps her preserve fine detail and meet customer expectations at scale.
Meet Annika Koser
Annika Koser is an artist based in central Pennsylvania, home to dozens of dirt tracks that inspire her photorealistic motorsports paintings. Working primarily in acrylic, Annika builds her work through careful layering and detail, aiming to “trick the viewer” into thinking they’re looking at a photograph.
Largely self-taught, Annika began painting sprint cars after returning from a year at Lock Haven University while still figuring out her path. As she shared her work online, it quickly reached sprint car fans across the country. Within a couple of years, commissions and steady print sales grew enough for her to go full-time.
Her work has found homes in three countries and forty-two states, and she’s especially proud to have prints sold through the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum gift shop, with several pieces displayed in the museum as well.
A photo of Annika's workspace.
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Achievements and Exhibitions
Annika’s work has been featured in publications including Dirt Empire Magazine, Voyage Ohio Magazine, and Area Auto Racing News. She’s also been featured on Open Red Podcast and FloRacing.
Her work has been displayed locally at East End Coffee Co through the end of July, and she’s sold work at major events including the Knoxville Nationals in Knoxville, Iowa and the Tuscarora 50 in Port Royal, Pennsylvania.
Annika Koser in front of sponsorship sign.
The Interview
Can you tell us a bit about your journey as an artist? What sparked your interest in art?
I always loved to draw as a kid and all the way through school, and I took three years of drawing classes during high school. I didn’t see it as a feasible career and worked several part-time jobs, painting just as a hobby while I tried to figure out what direction to take.
I’d share my paintings online and people started asking if they were for sale or if they could commission different pieces. Then they began asking for prints if the original was already sold. That grew into a side hustle and eventually a career.
Who are your biggest artistic influences, and how have they shaped your work?
David Johnson was the earliest influence for me when I started painting more photorealistic racecars. His focus is Formula 1 while mine is dirt track racing, sprint cars specifically. The amount of detail he packs into his paintings is incredible and pushed me to aim for that same level of realism.
Sam Bass, the iconic NASCAR artist, is also a big influence. His range and ability to be minimal with details while still making a piece feel complete is something I really admire. When I’m in the mood for something more relaxed than photorealism, his work is where I look for inspiration.
Wing Dance - Annika Koser
Could you describe your creative process? How do you typically begin a new piece?
I have a very barbaric way of getting the photo onto the canvas. I print the photo the same size as the canvas, poke holes at reference points, then poke my pencil through the holes to mark the canvas and connect the dots from there. There has to be a more efficient way, but this is cheap and gets the job done.
To start, I outline the car and tape it off, then do the background first. Next I shade the car, add sponsors, and finish with the wheels. It’s a simple base coat, usually two coats of more accurate shading until the paint fills in nicely, then the small details to finish it off.
What are some key tools or materials you use in your work and why are they important to you?
For the most part I paint the entire thing using the same two brushes, a Princeton Velvetouch round 3/0 and a Winsor & Newton round 1. Not exclusively, but most of the time. I use them religiously because I can trust them to get smooth lines and incredibly skinny lines if needed. That accuracy is really important to me.
For paint I use inexpensive craft paint like Craftsmart and FolkArt most of the time, but if I’m looking for specific shades I’ll use Liquitex Basics acrylic as well.
Kahne - Annika Koser
Can you share a particularly memorable moment in your artistic career?
Before I even painted my first sprint car, I was at the biggest race of the year in Knoxville, Iowa, and there was an artist named Bobby Moore live painting in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum. I watched him and told a friend, “I’m going to do that someday.”
Four years later, people encouraged me to sell prints through the museum gift shop. I contacted the museum coordinator, showed him my work, and offered wholesale prints. He bought prints of four different paintings. When I hand delivered them at the same race years later, I met Bobby again. He told me he’d seen my work online and was a fan. It was a full circle moment.
What advice would you give to artists trying to gain more exposure for their work?
Be generous with sharing other artists’ work because most of the time they’ll return the favor. Donating to local charity auctions can help too, within limits. And finding vendor events in your area has been the biggest help for getting my name out there.
Gravel - Annika Koser
How do you stay motivated and inspired to continue creating new work?
Spending time at the race track and being around the cars is a huge motivator. Watching a good race makes me really excited to paint. But walking around the city and seeing murals, or going to vendor shows and seeing other artists’ work is always good inspiration too.
If you could change one thing about the art industry, what would it be?
I really wish digital art and AI weren’t taking over to the extent that they are. You can’t beat something that’s done by hand in a physical form, and I wish people would lean on that more than they do digital art.
Knoxville Nationals 2022 - Annika Koser
What upcoming projects are you excited about?
Lately I’ve been accepting more commissions instead of choosing the subject matter myself and hoping someone buys it once it’s finished. My next few are very personal to the client and include family cars from the 1970s and 80s. That range is always interesting, and customers get extra excited to see something so personal painted by hand.
Printing with The Stackhouse
How has working with The Stackhouse Printery impacted your work or opened new opportunities for you?
The Stackhouse set the standard for my prints and the quality that my customers expect from me. They’ve helped me represent myself in a really great way and make it possible to give my customers the best product possible. I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on prints and how people can’t believe how much detail is in them for being reproductions.
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Find Annika Koser
Instagram/X: @annikakoser_art
Facebook: Annika Koser Art
Website: annikakoserart.com
Email: annikakoserart@gmail.com
