Why It’s Important to Learn a Trade, According to a Pro Painter

Mark Kobriger has a certain nostalgia for the smell of paint thinner. It reminds him of his grandfather’s basement.

His grandfather painted warships in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin during World War II, then ran his own painting business after the war. Though Kobriger says he doesn’t really remember his grandfather that well — he passed away when he was eight — that basement smell stuck with him.

So did a piece of advice from his father, who emphasized learning a trade.

“It’s important to have something to fall back on whether you work on cars or you work on houses,” says Kobriger. “You never know when you need that kind of experience, and I’ve fallen back on my painting through my whole life.”

Now a professional painter, Kobriger runs his own business. He lives in Door County, Wisconsin with his wife and five kids.

Learning to Be a Pro Painter

Kobriger got a summer job painting at age 16. However, after months of mostly grunt work like scraping ceilings, it wasn’t something he wanted to pursue.

But a couple of years later, he moved to Colorado for a seasonal gig at a ski resort. In the off-season, he worked at a bank. When a pro painter offered him a job, he jumped at the chance. He realized he could paint in the summer and work for the ski industry in the winter, so that’s what Kobriger did for the next seven years.

As a painter, Kobriger learned how to improve his craft and bid on jobs. He also began making environmentally sustainable choices like using VOC free paint, a new product at the time that put the health of his clients and coworkers first.

Building a Reputation

When Kobriger later moved to Madison, Wisconsin and started his own business, those values were key to his success. With positive word of mouth, his business grew quickly.

“I take pride in being able to accomplish tasks,” says Kobriger. “I take pride in taking responsibility for my actions and taking responsibility in general so that people know that they can count on me.” While balancing work, family and his other interests, Kobriger says, “I will probably paint the rest of my life and run a business.”

He plans to encourage his children to learn a trade, just like his dad encouraged him. It can be a career or something to fall back on. “Make lawn furniture,” he says. “Do something that you enjoy doing that you could make money doing.”

Meanwhile, the legacy of basements and paint thinner lives on, reminding Kobriger of family and love.

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