Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Justin Keys . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Justin , appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I love being able to create and bring things to life. Ever since I started drawing at a young age, it has brought me a lot of joy to create for myself and others. It’s honestly crazy that I have a full-time job and a side business creating things. Some days, it doesn’t even feel like work because I become hyper-focused on whatever project I am working on and fall in love with what I create.

For years, I was in and out of work, relying solely on commissions. That really taught me the business side of creating, exposing me to many ups and downs. However, it was a fantastic opportunity to amplify my portfolio and grow my client base.

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?

My road to design and illustration was unique. Initially, I started drawing to impress girls, but I soon became more interested in the craft and improving my skills. I started out by drawing famous characters like Mickey Mouse and Buzz Lightyear, but eventually moved on to drawing human facial expressions. While I drew frequently during high school and early college, I knew I wanted to pursue a career that would allow me to fully utilize my skills. Despite dropping out of college, this setback gave me the time to assess my goals and ambitions. Eventually, I returned to school and decided to pursue graphic design as it was a creative field that had promising growth potential. Although I was initially intimidated by the Adobe programs and other software my classmates were adept in, I pushed through and eventually graduated with a design degree. However, I struggled to find work in my field, and took on jobs at print shops, call centers, and daycares. Despite this, I continued to grow my brand as an artist by participating in art shows and other events. Finally, in 2021, I landed my first job as a designer, which I still work at today. My side business as a designer and illustrator is also thriving.”

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

SHARE ART THAT YOU LIKE.

Increase funding and resources for the arts: One of the biggest ways society can support artists and creatives is by providing them with the resources they need to succeed. This can be in the form of grants, sponsorships, scholarships, or other types of financial support.

Encourage more collaborations and partnerships: By fostering more collaborations and partnerships between artists, creatives, and other organizations, society can help to build a more interconnected and thriving creative ecosystem.

Raise awareness and promote education about the importance of the arts: Society can do more to raise awareness and promote education about the crucial role that the arts play in our lives, our culture, and our economy. This can include increased funding for arts education, public art installations, and other initiatives aimed at spreading awareness about the value of the arts.

Create more opportunities for artists to showcase their work: By providing more opportunities for artists to showcase their work – whether through exhibitions, festivals, or other events – society can help to highlight the incredible talent and creativity that exists within our communities.

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

I want to clarify that I am not trying to expose anyone from my past, nor am I criticizing the field of design. However, it was conveyed to me by my teachers, classmates, and others that design may not be my “thing” due to my unique style and the struggles I experienced in grasping it. It took me several years to gain even a fraction of the confidence I have today in my design abilities. I am extremely proud of my accomplishments which have completely silenced the naysayers.

In particular, I had the opportunity to design the Visit Indy magazine in 2021. This achievement brought me to tears because I never believed I would have such an opportunity, as it was a very corporate project by nature.

Contact Info:

• Website: Keysthelegend.com
• Instagram: Keysthelegend_
• Linkedin: Linkedin.com/Justinkeys
• Twitter: Keysthelegend