Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Felicetti.

Hi Steven, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

I have always enjoyed creating art. I have been drawing and painting as a hobby for almost my entire life. I love to create from my own ideas and I get great satisfaction when I create something for others. Through my art I can touch the soul.
While I was serving in the military, I did many sketches, drawings, and paintings. I did portraits for people, I designed Unit T-Shirts and Commemorative Unit Coins for different military organizations I became a part of. I designed tattoos for soldiers and friends. I was tasked to do paintings and murals on the walls of conference rooms and in other spaces we operated in. While serving I also did some custom airbrush work on Harley’s for a short time as a side job, as well as a custom painting for a show car. No matter what setting I have been in, the desire and passion to create has always followed me. So after 24 years of serving my country in the US Army, it was now finally time for me to retire. After some consulting with family and a good bit of soul searching on my own, I decided it made sense to start a second career using my talents as an artist.
This decision lead me to create SJF Graphic Arts, llc. I use my business platform to share my work with the world. Customers can hire my artistic services for a commission as well as purchase pre-generated prints of my artwork from my website and other vendor platforms where I offer my prints.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Once I committed to opening a business where I would put my artistic talents up for hire, It was just a matter of getting started. On the administrative side I had very little knowledge about running my own business. I had taken a handful of college business courses throughout my Army career, but most of that had been long forgotten. In those first stages I convinced myself that just starting somewhere would eventually lead me to where I needed to be. So that is what I did, I jumped into it feet first and figured it out as I went. When I made mistakes, I would learn from them, correct my course and move on to the next task. I am still discovering new things every day that will make my operation more efficient and more effective.
Looking back at it now, I did have several advantages from my military experience that I was able to capitalize on. One of the many benefits of being a veteran would be the programs offered for retirees and soldiers transitioning out of the service. Early on I was able to attend some small business courses and seminars that were available. The knowledge I gained from that helped me to get my business up and running fairly quickly. Being an enlisted soldier and senior leader in the military gave me experience in areas like planning, effective communication, self discipline, establishing standards and setting goals. I knew how to manage time and resources effectively. I was able to establish an effective weekly battle rhythm for my business using a similar format for daily activities I was already familiar with. I had also acquired some sales skill while on recruiter duty for three years in Monticello, NY. This helped me to understand things like lead generation, and prospecting for customers and a little about marketing and sales. The network of people and organizations within the military that I had established over the years gave me a substantial amount of customer leads I could pull from. During my last few years before retirement I had done a some work with painting historical battle renderings, and other similar subject matter. So already I had a foot in the door for more work in this same arena. Once I was fully retired, as soon as I was up and running, I was coordinating with these sources for my next project.
Overall with some only minor shortfalls, I was able to sustain enough workflow in the first several years to establish my business as what I would consider to be a credible. After ten years in business I still have a long way to go, but I am confident I am on the right course.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

Currently I create my artwork on my Mac Computer using Adobe Photo Shop’s drawing and painting tools. This in conjunction with a Wacom professional artists tablet and stylus pen are all I need to sketch ideas, draw, or paint images, store and save my work as needed. I can generate any color, erase mistakes and spend as much time and effort as I need to on a subject without the concern of materials or a space to create in. I have been using this method to make art since around 2012. Over this time I have created a system and process that I works well for me. I use only a handful of the vast array of drawing tools the Adobe program offers and instead I rely mostly on my hand drawing skills and creative thinking to create my work. The program allows you to use utilizing layers which offer me the freedom to create and apply images with any level of detail and content in nearly any style and for almost any purpose. The things I like most about working with this form is cost for upkeep for your tools is next to zero once you have purchased the necessary equipment. I don’t need to concern myself with supplies either, paint, pencils, brushes, canvas etc, and I don’t require a large space to operate or store my product. This makes creating any work very cost effective. I also outsource all my printing to a professional printing service, so I do not have to maintain printing equipment or packaging for larger items. However, the biggest benefit to me, is it allows me to really expand my mind as an artist and gives me the freedom to take bold steps in my process and generate my best work.
Over the course of the ten years I have been in business I have tackled a plethora of assignments. Ranging from something as simple as a t-shirt or tattoo design to being contracted on commission to create an illustration for Raytheon Inc. I have created a multitude of portraits of both people and pets; created logos and marketing material for businesses; I have done several prints and historical renderings for military units both past and present; I have illustrated to date three Children’s Books; created my own graphic novel soon to be published; and much, much more.
I think if there is an area I feel I specialize in it would be my ability to intuitively process the information that a customer shares with me and deliver a product that exceeds all of their expectations.
If there is one thing I wish to reflect in my work, it is the pride, devotion and effort I put into each and every assignment. No matter how big or small I am committed to making sure myself, and my customers are completely satisfied with the result before I add my signature. I have a proud ten year history of 100% customer satisfaction, as well as a five star rating on Google to help me back this claim.
My proudest work is the work that I have done that could have a significant impact on someones life. It could be a painting I was hired to do to help a family recover from the tragic loss of their premature child. I created a portrait that showed their family united in a setting and moment that would not otherwise have been possible to capture. I was also commissioned to do a historical rendering of a battle scene from Vietnam, where a young Captain Tedesco was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on that day. He had described the events that took place to me in great detail and it was my task to re-create that battle scene in a an illustration. Once the work was finished a formal ceremony and print signing was conducted with the now Retired Colonel Tedesco, myself as the artist and some of the surviving members of the unit. on the anniversary of that event. My artwork was used as a way to help honor them for their valiant effort and also to honor their fallen comrades. I was once hired to do an Illustration of a house in New Jersey that was utilized to raise a family. It was given as a gift to an appreciative son’s parents, now retired and living in Florida. My work hangs on the wall of their new home and generates fond memories from their past. I was hired by a customer to do a portrait from his wedding day. It was then given to his wife for a first year anniversary present. It now adorns their home, and can serve as a constant reminder of their special day and help strengthen the commitment that they made to each other in times of duress. These are just a few examples of the work I am most proud of. I have donated close to $10K from my business proceeds to various organizations that support our disabled veterans and surviving family members since starting my business in 2015. This is a practice I plan to continue.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?

I use the internet often to get inspiration, if I need to educate myself on a particular subject, or to get subject material for a project I am working on. I am in the process of creating my Youtube channel. I have been viewing different YouTube channels to help develop my own ideas for content. This is a uncharted territory for me only in the beginning stages. I have not posted any content yet for viewing, but it is something we can all look forward to in the near future. On my channel I plan to share much of my personal journey as freelance illustrator. My hope is it will be interesting content for viewers and something we can all learn and grow from. .

Contact Info:

• Website: sjfgraphicarts@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenfelicetti/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjf.graphicarts/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-felicetti-74820027/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SJFGraphicArts
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SJFGraphicArts