We recently connected with Barry Perez and have shared our conversation below.

Barry, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

When I graduated with my Bachelors of Fine Art I began working at the City of Carrollton. For years I did both—I participated in art shows to sell my work in the Dallas area while I worked at the City. After a while I began to feel more comfortable selling my work in shows around Dallas and around the state. I had been talking with other artists that I met, and I got some insight as to where best to try to sell my work. And I began to feel the strong desire to get out, to travel around the country. There was no a-ha moment for me really. I just felt that it was time to make the cut, so I did. Albuquerque New Mexico was the first show I did out of state. From there I travelled to New York, Florida Montana and many, many places in between.

Doing the circuit of art festivals, I got to know artists that I saw regularly. We would have dinner then compare notes as to where we’d run into each other again. Occasionally I would travel with other artists, especially when driving long distances. The heyday of the 90’s and early 2000’s were a whirlwind. I would do 36 shows a year, which meant traveling, getting back into the studio for a few days before heading out again. It was a thrilling.

Then things began to change. For one thing, the internet elbowed its way into the art festival scene, which brought with it a callous regard for the artists. Shows I had done for 25 years began to reject my applications. There were no longer people in charge to talk with; it was a panel of people (not artists) who made the decisions. All the relationships I had made with the promoters dried up as those positions were relegated to submission websites.

Almost as important, though, was the fact of life. I wasn’t getting younger and traveling around the country 36 out of 52 weeks in a year became, not only exhausting, but unfeasible. A person’s health will always need more attention as they age, and health insurance gained an appeal.

I now work at a community college—not as a teacher, as staff. (I have taught, and though it is fulfilling, it leaves me very little creative energy for my own work.) This low-level job allows for a steady income and health insurance, and it leaves me time and energy to work on my art as well. Also I have the ability to work with human beings on a daily basis, which was lacking when I was in the studio or traveling so much.

I do find myself longing for the road, though. For the freedom to be a full-time creative. I spend more time now working with galleries (both online and brick-and-mortar), and with people who have collected my work for years. The only art festival I do any more is in a small town in East Texas. It’s run by artists and for artists. There, it’s like a home-coming every year, an opportunity to catch up with people I’ve been meeting on the road for decades.

Do I want to leave my job again? Sometimes. I enjoy the people I work with, and the benefits are nice. But I do miss working full time as an artist—the adrenaline rush and the traveling. But the reality is that the art world is not the same as it was before, and one way or another we have to adapt to it.

Barry, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Barry Perez, I have a Bachelors of Fine Art with a focus on metal, but I have been doing this since high school. I make jewelry, My work is more than jewelry and it’s not something that just anybody would wear. A piece of my jewelry is a small sculpture that you can wear. I focus on texture and have been working at add a three-dimension aspect to my pieces.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect for me is seeing my work come alive. A piece will resonate with one person more than another, and I never lie to a customer as to what I think. (I only offer an opinion if asked, for the most part.) It is satisfying to know that when I leave this earth, my work will carry my name and people will still be able to enjoy it.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

As a business owner one is taught that you have to make the customer happy. However, as an artist I had to learn that my own creativity has to come first, and the right people will appreciate it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://barryperez.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barry_perez/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barry.perez.jewelry.art