We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bill Hickey. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bill below.
Hi Bill, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
I had no formal art training prior to launching my art career. ( I don’t suggest anybody do what I did) I started making art in approximately 2015, getting to the breakeven point 6 months later. I started with image transfers after Banksy came to NYC to do his “better out than in” show. During that month long show, he had an old man selling his originals in Central Park for $60. Living in Brooklyn, I was never going to be in that area, but I had this sudden urge to have a Banksy. Therefore, for some strange reason, I thought I’d make my own. Image transfers can be tricky and they are no way as clean as stenciling. After several failed attempts, I got. clean one, hung it up on my wall and thought that was the end of my art career. However, as friends visited, they thought I scored an original. After teasing them for a minute, Then telling them I made it, several began to ask me to make them one of their favorites. Honestly, it felt so good to make something with my hands and give it as a gift. Then friends of friends began asking for ones too. I did a little research, and at that time, Banksy didn’t believe in copyright. So I made several pieces for money. About one year prior, I had sold the 2nd brick and mortar business I started. I was still trying to figure out my next move when the idea came to me, make art! What? what?!
I started making very small canvasses, 6×8, 8×10, 11×14, and the biggest was 12×16. Living in NYC, I had the advantage of taking my work to the streets, setting up a table, and hawking my wares. It was great. I got instant feedback, sometimes prices were too high, sometimes too low, and sometimes I couldn’t give away pieces! Very quickly I figured out a business model that worked for me.
The biggest milestone for sure was making the financial investment and taking the risk of renting an art studio. It was a game changer, hands down. It was great to get the work out of my kitchen, where I could only work on one or two things at a time and into the studio where I could work on several pieces simultaneously. I haven’t looked back since.
Another milestone was donating a piece for a fundraiser at a gallery in Soho. It was the very first time I sold a piece of art for over $1000. At that point, I had been selling on the street and Instagram, prices ranging from $50-$500. It really opened my eyes to a whole new world.
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?
Honestly, I got into art as a spur of the moment decision. However, once I considered it as a real possibility, I tried to understand the various business models within the industry. I make pop art / street art on canvas, paper, and wood. I will soon be releasing my first NFT at an upcoming art fair in the spring. I’m very excited about this.
Id have to say I am most proud of my original “Love Spray”. I wanted to make a pice that would outlast me, and be totally relevant in another time and place. he response has been overwhelmingly positive. I think I counted 22 Countries that has collectors who have purchase my work.
One of the main things I’d like people to know is that with a little luck and a lot of handwork, you can make anything happen that you truly believe in.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I would say the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is freedom. Freedom of expression, freedom from a job that I only felt rewarded through money. Actually, I was shocked to learn that I valued freedom more than money. Now, I’m no hippie, but it does take a certain amount of money to have freedom, especially in NYC. I came to this realization during a retreat to the South of France. I lived, worked, ate, and meditated with monks and nuns in Plum Village. It was during this time of reflection that I made this discovery about myself. Making money for the sake of money isn’t rewarding, cause there’s never enough, no matter how much I made, my ego wasn’t satisfied. Getting to the point of becoming a self employed artist certainly provided lots of rewards. It’s incredibly humbling still today, when people bring my work into their lives whether it’s hung in the home or office.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Well, as we know things are much different today on Instagram then they were years ago. I miss the days of chronological posts, no ads or commercials and very little spam. What I did at that time was continuously put work out in the streets, primarily in NYC, but in other cities too when I traveled. People would photograph, hashtag/tag me in it and it really helped build my audience. I also used to engage much more with my followers. Every other Sunday, I would auction off pieces to the highest bidders thru dm, I would do giveaways, I would put free art in the streets, etc.
Unfortunately, the way the algorithms are today, Instagram wants you engaging on the platform all day everyday. How the hell can I do that and get work done at the same time? So my advice would be anyone just starting to build a presence, you have to decide what it is you want and go all in if you want to grow your following. Somewhere along the way, I began to care less and less.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.artbyconsumer.com
- Instagram: @consumerart