We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Andrew Pahmiyer . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Andrew below.

Hi Andrew , thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

Many times as a person in the creative field its easy to find yourself questioning wether or not what you’re doing is right. During my second year as a student at a school of art I was seriously wondering if I would be able to truly make a career off my artistic abilities. I had an in depth personal conversation with a professor about switching to a major that would make me more money and just doing illustration on the side. Long story short, he had told me that there can be no such thing as a plan A and a plan B in a creative field. He told me if I truly love what I’m doing it’s not work, and if I am truly passionate about what I am doing, it will be done right, and the money will come. He then told me that no matter the profession, that money will come and money will go and that my world should not revolve around money. For one to truly feel fulfilled in life, is for someone to enjoy what they do everyday and continue doing it. After this talk I have had little doubts and I have worked very hard for where I am now.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am still currently a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design studying Illustratorion, but I have done many commissions outside of school. I would say SCAD has definitely helped me by giving me a push into becoming more of a professional. After my first year of college I was hired to do Murals in Waco Texas for Devolved alongside Cade Kegerreis. That was my first job in a creative industry and I had learned many aspects of business within the creative field. After that I started making more of a name for myself and was getting commissioned to do artwork for people. So far I have done many paintings for people. This past summer I had started to get a better feel for how to engage with clients and really help them bring their ideas to life through art. I would say I am a very versatile artist that can work in different mediums and tackle almost and problem that comes my way. My passion is to focus on work that allows my creativity to flow and make stylized choices, especially with portraits. As of right now I am in love with the process of doing paintings, and especially for clients. Being able to connect to another human being through the means of my creations is what brings me joy and fulfillment.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

It’s easy for a person in a non creative career to assume I, as an artist will not make and money and I will be suffering forever. This is in fact not true. Many times the average person does not realize that they are constantly consuming entertainment and artwork made by us creatives. For example the average person doesn’t think twice about all the work and different types of people it would take to make a film or a TV show. An average person wouldn’t know that there is a job for an illustrator within the process of making most films. Yet the average person is constantly consuming these types of entertainment while we are getting paid. So it’s okay if someone asks a question like “well how will you ever make money?” because as a professional in your field you will know the truth to what you’re doing and you will be able to confidently explain how the process works and the very fact that everyone consumes work done by creatives.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

My favorite aspect of being an artist would definitely have to be the ability to inspire others and change their perspective. It is such a great feeling to have a random person message me saying that my work has inspired them to take being an artist more seriously, or that I have shown them it really is possible to be successful as an artist.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @andrewpahmiyer
• Other: Email for clients to reach me: [email protected]