We were lucky to catch up with David Ives recently and have shared our conversation below.

David, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

This risk I want to share relates to putting myself ‘out there’ by applying to an exhibition that would cost me one month’s salary to register if accepted.

The previous year in 2022, I applied and got accepted to exhibit at IDS Vancouver, a well known Interior Design Show. Being accepted was a real compliment and I thought long and hard about paying the fee to secure myself a booth.

However I was reluctant for three reasons;

First, Confidence. I was still finding my style as an artist and battling with believing if I was even an artist at all (having come from a design background).

Second, Material. I had been busy experimenting with making art from reclaimed materials and while I had started to produce some cool stuff, I only had a few pieces I was really happy with… definitely not enough to fill a 20ft booth myself though!

Third, Finances. I was just about managing to juggle making art, while making enough money through my sign company to get by. This show would mean blowing a whole month’s rent in one go.

The combination of these challenges led me to withdraw from IDS 2022. In hindsight, it was definitely the right decision at the time.

Fast forward to 2023 and I received an email from the curator of IDS asking if I was interested in exhibiting this year. I did feel more ready this time around for a few reasons…

At the end of 2022 I was struggling as an artist and ready to ‘throw in the towel’ when I had the chance to donate a piece to a fund raiser auction. To my amazement there was a bidding war over my piece and it sold for 3 times what I was expecting! This was a huge confidence boost.

Also I had managed to land an amazing opportunity to make 2 commission pieces for Adidas Originals. This was a huge boost and forced me to ‘up my game’ and really find my style. This job also provided some extra funds for me to be able to invest in the IDS booth.

Things all seemed to be coming together, but I still needed one final push. I decided to reach out to two artists who had exhibited in previous years to draw upon their experiences. They both confirmed that it was well worth the investment. This was the final nudge I needed to take the risk and get myself registered!

Exhibiting at IDS was a great experience! Receiving so much great feedback was a real confidence boost for me and made me ‘feel’ more like an artist. IDS also gave me a deadline of when I needed to have work ready for. I decided to make an all new 3 piece collection exclusively for the show called ‘Jireh’ which means ‘provides’ in Hebrew; fitting for this body of work which was heavily influenced by the reclaimed materials that Vancouver had provided me to work with in this season.

I made over 100 connections with people in the design industry and while I haven’t made back my initial financial investment yet, I’m confident that it will only be a matter of time before I start to see the fruit from IDS.

In summary, this whole journey of taking calculated risks has taught me that “Nothing ventured nothing gained’ is so true. As artists and creatives, we need to keep pushing doors, taking risks and putting ourselves out there… good things will rarely fall into our laps and even the risks that may not feel like they have paid off at the time, are opportunities for us to learn, reflect, adapt and then get back out there. Whatever challenge you are going through right now, remember there is light at the end of the tunnel!

David, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a Vancouver-based mixed media artist and designer with a focus on sustainable art. I enjoy working with clients and companies to produce commissions with a high level of customization to fit exactly with their brand. Rising to the challenge of Vancouver’s bold Zero Waste 2040 Strategic Plan, I’m seeking to do my part to make a difference in his community and beyond.

I am proud to live and work on the unceded Musqueam, Squamish & Tsleil-Waututh territories and am passionate about showcasing the natural beauty of locally sourced reclaimed materials.

Every imperfection; mark, crease, crack, hole; is a scar and reminder of the journey these materials have been on. I seek to celebrate these materials and their journey by elevating them into abstract art, adding a new visual chapter to their unique story.

Born and raised in England, I moved to Vancouver with my young family in 2014 for a new adventure and haven’t looked back!

Loving art and design from a young age, I gained a degree in 3D design at Brighton University. I trained as a school counsellor before moving into teaching Design at High School. I believe using your hands is good for your head and heart and my long-term vision is to cultivate a space where people can come and reflect on their mental wellness through repurposing reclaimed materials into meaningful artwork.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I think finding community is key for artists to feel supported as it can be so lonely and isolated. I have personally found community and support firstly through my church Trinity Central Vancouver and also through Creative Mornings Vancouver. Creative Mornings is a free breakfast lecture series on creativity & the world’s largest face-to-face creative community, gathering in 235 cities across 68 countries!

As we get more connected as creatives, we don’t just benefit ourselves, but are able to be a support to others; this is where the communities can become a thriving ecosystem of mental and emotional support, as well as opportunities to collaborate together on projects.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I believe that everyone is creative. I have a deep in-built drive to create.

Creating work of beauty out of broken and unwanted materials is a specific goal of mine. I believe that the imperfections and weathering of broken and reclaimed materials are the very features that make them beautiful and give them a unique story to tell. I am also motivated by the positive impact that this kind of art can have on both environmental and mental health.

I hope that when people see my art, they are reminded that our lives, though imperfect, are still beautiful. I hope they feel inspired to reflect on their own challenges and experiences, seeing them through a lens of hope and understanding the unique contribution, they alone, have to make in the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.davidives.ca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidivesart/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/david-ives-art

Image Credits
Jer Crowle