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

Alright, Alexander thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I have been drawing since I was a little kid. Throughout middle and high school, I would take any art classes I could for the easy A, but I ended up learning quite a bit from them. I would say the majority of my art education, though, has come from my experience as a studio art major in college and independent exploration of my interests. I think one thing I could’ve done to speed up my learning process would be to better utilize the resources around me. I would say that not being open to seeking out resources earlier in my art career also stood as my biggest obstacle. I was hindering myself for not being more accepting of every possible learning experience.

The most essential skills I have learned are probably the basics to drawing and painting along with how to navigate the business side of the art world. I still have plenty of learning and practice to do in all of these skills, but having a solid foundation opens up so many new possibilities.

Alexander , 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 am a visual artist; more specifically, I am an illustrator and muralist. I am currently working towards a BFA in Studio Art in Nashville alongside the freelance work that I do. I grew up reading comics and watching cartoons, so now they give me a sense of nostalgia and joy (as I imagine they are intended to). I want the work that I create to reflect the same, playing with whimsical, fun characters and themes like imagination. My work varies vastly in scale from small illustrations barely taking up a page to murals taking up entire walls. I intend for all my work to be as accessible as possible in the form of murals, products, and originals. The more my art is out there, the more likely it is to have an impact. If what I am doing makes even one person’s day better, than the work and hours invested is worth it.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is seeing the reaction of people viewing my work. Whether it be someone looking at a piece in a gallery, walking by a mural, or seeing a post on social media, the smile that creeps up on their face is such a fulfilling part of what I do. The feeling of finishing work on a piece is great, but the audience reaction is what truly completes the art that I create. Every time, it reminds me that the hours and hours I sink into projects are all worth it because it made someone else’s day just a little bit better, even if just for a second.

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

Become an active member in the communities revolving around artists and the arts. There are so many different ways of going about this. You can buy art, follow an artists page, engage with their content, participate in events or activities, etc. With today’s technology, it has never been easier to find and support artists and the creative ecosystem. Becoming an active member allows you to show your support and appreciation of the time and energy that artists put into their art and community.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amvisual.art/