We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Curbie Toles a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Curbie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I have yet to be able to maintain a living as a full time artist. But that is a dream that I am currently pursuing. In doing so, I’ve observed and learned from other artist who are currently living as fulltime artist. The major steps are building meaningful connections with people. Networking, taking every opportunity to promote yourself and showcase your art work. There is no certain way to speeding uo the steps other then doing what I’ve just mentioned. Catching the eye of someone or a museum to sponsor you takes time. As there are other artist who are chasing the same dream, the key is to not get discouraged. Continue to believe in yourself, have faith, practice and profect your craft. I believe if your are doing that, on top of making yourself available, the notoriety will come.

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.

Art has always been apart of me as a child, I was just a drawer. One who carried a Sketch book around and drew what came to mind. Before social media and everyone had cellphones. You had to draw cartoons and things from memory, which I think helped sharpen my artistic mind as a child. But as I continue to grow older I kinda got away from it around highschool/college. In the previous 10 years I was a correctional officer, due to the high levels of stress from work I needed and outlet, something to help relieve me of mental stress. So I was encouraged to pick an old habbit up by someone I confided in. In doing so I just got curious to see if I could actually paint something because I found it fascinating. So one day I think back in 2016 I saw a picture I liked and I wondered if I could paint it from memory. So I randomly bought a bunch of art supplies, without an actual clue of what I needed. To my surprise I actually pulled it off, and I was so ecstatic at the point I still remember what that feeling felt like. I had friends that encouraged me snd I would paint things from them here and there. The more I painted the better I got. But the one thing that help me keep going was having the positive supporting cast of friends ghat didn’t lie to and would critic me in a positive way that helped me get better and stay encouraged. But even then it was just a hobby, and to anyone who already knows me understands it wasn’t until one of my best friends Tanisha Pughsley passed away due to domestic violence .that I really decided to go public and out myself out there yo the world as an artist because I was very shy at first about my work. Her story is one I never get tired if telling because of how impactful she was to me, and others. An without her, art would still probably be just a hobbu rather then a dream that I am pursuing. Ove rthese past few years I’ve disciplined my self in perfecting my craft by doing one thing at a time. Original I was just good at animation style painting and I’m self taught. So the more practice I had with just doing animation instead of forcing myself to venture to other styles without actually knowing what I was doing. The better I got, the more I learned by making mistakes, or just stumbling upon different techniques by accident. I would watch and listen to to her artist and things they had to share with me or just ideas in general on what they thought I should try next. The more I did that thr better I got, the large the pictures I started go paint. Until eventually I started painting murals. I continuously went up a level just by disciplining myself nit to do more then what I was capable of, just because the opportunity presented itself or just wanted to give it a try and end uo creating something thay wasn’t pleasant to the eye. I’ve had to refer other artist jsut because someone wanted me to do a style I wasn’t ready for yet, u hated it but I was honest with myself. Because the images you create is your brand, and you don’t want to out a negative taste on that by given people a bad product. Simply because you didn’t want to pass the business up when knowing your couldn’t handle it. An I can’t stress that enough as I’ve been approached by clients who’ve asked em to fix a picture because someone painted something in a style they didn’t like. An they didn’t want to be rude because some artist are very sensitive. So they rather just have another artist fix it. So I pray that my work is never put in that situation, which is why I’m very detailed with and careful with my work. Thr things I’m most proud of, is every piece I paint I fill like is better then the last. The next piece is always the best piece. Even when I psint murals. I’m at such an AWE of myself. Because it is still something of my wildest dream I never saw myself doing. I think the one thing that sets me apart from other artist, is the time I spend on developing my craft. Out of all the artist I’m connected with now, I paint on a daily basis, whether it’s after/before work, on my off days, any free time. My creative meter never stops running and its like a itch I just habe to sketch. I’m very detailed in my work that also seperates my snd makes my style very noticeable, that people can actually tell what’s my craft without my signature being on it. So the main thing I would want potential clients and followers to know is that anything done by me for their enjoyment, 100% of my attention and skill will go into it. To create the next best piece.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think in today’s society could best support artist is by understanding how much time and it goes into actually painting or creating something. So understanding that an artist price is coming from how many hours and days it took to create something. In todays economy where everything seems yo be price gouged. You have some artist like myself who are understands that art is a luxury market and willing to negotiate prices, but not the point that their belittling their efforts that went into that craft. An you do have some artist who’s prices are their prices and their not budging, and that’s ok. I think more people need to understand that, that is ok snd shouldn’t get upset with the creator or feel negatively towards them. Because when it comes to art you don’t know many times someone tries to lowball an artist/creator. But when it comes to a market of people there are none other then artist/creators who know the value of their worth.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The goal that I am trying to reach that drives my creative flow. Is becoming an fulltime artist funded by an museum or sponsored by an organization. So that I could really focus on my craft 24/7, and being able to financial sustain a life just by creating. Meeting artist that art able to do that, listening to their story. Hearing how they got started, got noticed and being encouraged to keep grinding. Is very enriching to my soul and let’s a fire in me. To know that it is achievable, that I have the talent, so I strive to become even better, promote myself better. Grasp every opportunity and make the best of it. So I’m always at every art event or painting live at every showcase that am asked. Because you never know where you will get noticed or if your already on someones radar and their watching your grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ideasforcreativear.wixsite.com/mysite
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ideasforcreativeart
• Facebook: Curbie Toles
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@ideasforcreativeart

Image Credits

N/A