We were lucky to catch up with Bryan Stacy recently and have shared our conversation below.

Bryan , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Earning a full-time living by creating art is not easy. It takes a lot of dedication and extremely hard work. I have personally found that selling paintings is less consistent, so make most of the ends meet through tattooing. I have been tattooing since 2010. I started my own shop in 2012. Although I was able to make a good living, owning a shop was not why I got into tattooing. I tattoo because I love it. You have to be truly committed to this life in order for it to work out as a career choice!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have been making art for as long as I can remember. Used to get in Trouble for doodling when I was in high school. I received my BFA from Guilford college in 2009. Attended my first festival and live painted in 2009 and opened my tattoo shop in 2012. The shop was called Anvil & Ink and we were open for 10 years. I closed the doors in 2022 and now work as an independent contractor at a local tattoo parlor here in Wilmington, North Carolina.

You can find me the vending up and down the East Coast at various concerts experiences, festivals, open markets, and Disc Golf related events throughout the year. I also make murals all across the country in locations like Hawaii, Alaska, New York, Texas, and Florida just to name a few. I contribute my work to a number of charitable organizations that work to raise awareness about Mental Health (Nami & Maps) provide support/funding for the less fortunate (United Way) and help protect the accessibility our beaches here in the Carolinas (Ocean Cure)

In my spare time I make digital work for various companies, bands, enterprises in order to generate yet another revenue stream. Usually for pin designs or logos for merchandise. By having multiple art enterprises, working simultaneously I am able to make ends meet. Without these multiple sources, it wouldn’t be possible, and I would be yet another starving artist! Kidding, but I do not care for that archetype and I hope that we do away with that idea in time. Artists are valuable contributors to society and should be compensated for their work within their lifetime!

I believe that there is a correlation between creativity and mental health and everyone should explore a creative outlet themselves. I am an open book and I love to share my experience with up younger artists in order to help them quickly level-up! Make art Everyday!

Here to inspire, not to retire….

You can find my work on Instagram @bryanstacyart

Online at www.bryanstacy. Art

On Facebook at @Bryan Stacy Art

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In 2012, I was painting a mural on a scaffolding for Art Basel in Miami and due to a malfunction. The scaffolding collapsed with me on it. When I fell into the street, my elbow was shattered. I was taken to the ER by the MTN 94 paint sponsor in his BMW. I found out the seriousness of my injury and after getting multiple x-rays and I was rushed into emergency surgery. They were able to save my arm, although I was in the hospital for 5 days, was unable to finish my mural, and missed Art Basel entirely.

I had two follow up surgeries after the one in Miami, and after a long to spout of physical therapy, I regained almost 100% function of my elbow. Went back to Art Basel the next year, painted the very same wall! Even painted some of my piece with my left hand. While I was painting this artwork I met Revok. NW 23rd and Miami Ave.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I think NFTs are interesting but never seem to generate any capitol for the artist. It’s difficult to find legitimate collectors now and the industry isn’t credible. Just my humble opinion.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bryanstacy.art
• Instagram: @bryanstacyart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bryan.stacyart

Image Credits
Bryan Stacy