We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ben Moss a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ben, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?
Being a full-time artist is something I probably should have done much sooner. The need for stability in income (especially having a family) has always taken precedence, at least up until the pandemic.
COVID sort of forced my hand in that regard, to be honest. After working as a graphic designer for over 20 years, I had just recently started work as a public school art teacher. It was an itinerant position, meaning I was teaching in about 8 schools per week.
With the pandemic, I had to weigh the likelihood of contracting COVID (with an already existing immune disorder). After considering my realistic options in that situation, I decided to finally go full-time.
I would have preferred having a safety net for that leap, but it’s working out so far. Sometimes by the skin of my teeth, but it’s working.
If I had known that it was doable, I would have done it ages ago!
Ben, 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’m a painter, illustrator, street artist, and muralist. Pretty much everything I do has its origin in comics. The work of Jack Kirby in particular seized my imagination and has guided my creativity since I was a child. Dungeons and Dragons, skateboard culture, punk rock, and politics are all points along the timeline of my stylistic evolution.
I was always going to be an artist, but these things shaped what kind of artist.
I’m of the opinion that the world can always use a little more RAD.
What this means for collectors and clients is that they get a very specific tone and feel from what I produce. I’m absolutely not the artist you go to for a still life or a mural of a landscape.
My strength is in the crusty, gnarly, crudely human side of things. For clients who want something raw, bold, brash, and colorful (and maybe humorous), I fit the bill.
I think I am proudest of that stylistic difference. That’s a creative identity that is real and natural to me. I’d hate to be inauthentic simply in order to make a living.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
There seem to be a couple of common misconceptions regarding creative work that I have encountered (and wish would go away);
1. Just because an artist doesn’t have their tools in hand, doing the physical labor of art…. doesn’t mean that they aren’t working. At least 50% (probably more) of creative process is the ideation; the thinking and mental problem-solving that has to come before the physical work can begin. Or at least before it can begin *well*.
There seems to be a hangup about that, which I honestly believe has to do with the relentless-grind ethic of capitalism.
2. Related to the capitalism issue i’s the valuation of creative work relative to how much the artist enjoys doing it. I have encountered those who have the idea that if you enjoy the work you do, you shouldn’t be paid as well.
Creative work is STILL work. If anyone could do it, then creatives wouldn’t have clients.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)
I am very optimistic about NFTs as a potential new avenue for creatives to make a living and gain audience.
Since Ethereum had its merge, the environmental concerns are greatly diminished, so I see no reason why artists shouldn’t at least give it a shot.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mrploid.com
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