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

Alright, Bobby thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with 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?

The first dollar I ever earned from selling my art was the day I opened my gallery, April 28th, 2011. After years of seeking gallery representation for my work to no avail, I opened in the only place I could afford at the low point in the post 2008 recession while I was still teaching 4th grade full time. Opening a full-time space (even though it was on a temporary lease) was a massive risk to every penny my wife and I had saved up to that point (which wasn’t much). It was clear within the first couple of months I would at least be able to replace my teacher’s salary so I finished out the school year, resigned, and have been an artist / self-published gallery owner full time ever since.

I think the moral of the story is that taking a risk on something you truly believe in is the first of many grueling steps in creating a “successful” art career. I’ve sold millions of dollars of my art to Patrons on 5 continents, but I started with no clientele, no family money, no pedigree, no degree from a fancy art school. I’ve made a better living as an artist than I ever thought I could in any career, much less the art world. Making art was something I loved so much that I couldn’t not do it. I think if you are at that point, it would be a disservice to the world not to go for it.

Bobby , 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?

At one point in my career I would have said, “I am a (primarily) photographic artist working exclusively with medium and large-format film,” – and then a bunch of overly romantic crap about divine moments in nature and how hard it is to create the perfect photograph and such, haha). I think the biggest turning point in my career was when I realized that offering an authentic story that speaks to my local community – offering perspective that they may have never seen before – is perhaps the greatest thing I can offer.

In the Vegas photographic arts scene, it seems there is a new gallery on the Vegas Strip every month or so offering the same exact landscapes and architectural shots that we’ve seen countless times before. While those places are without a doubt beautiful, I got tired of seeing them, and honestly releasing more along the lines of that type of material at some point just felt really lazy.

So I started experimenting with my film cameras as tools for modern art using transparency printing processes on negative film and negative printing processes on slide film. Printing negatives instantly suited my aesthetic and love for a lot of the great abstract painters, and it allowed me to tell the story of my city in a manner that no-one had ever seen before.

Once I had permission to break out of the rut, it opened up infinite possibilities which has led to a body of work over 14 years that I feel proud of, a body of work that is constantly evolving and looks as though it were created by a multitude of different artists. The process of constant reinvention has led me to heights (literally) that at one time I never thought possible.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

My life changed for the better when I stopped trying desperately to be heard and started training to be someone worth listening to. I think being an artistic person is a rare gift, but for a long time I think I fell into a trap of believing that the world should understand my “genius.” lol. The reality is that nobody really cares. And that is one of the most freeing concepts I’ve learned in my 14 years. It helped me to understand that fame and attention are fleeting. They go as fast as they come, and what people are really attracted to long term is a life of substance and discipline.

As I looked at my own heroes, I realized that consistency day in and day out towards a specific goal were the common character traits that I truly admired. So I began setting a series of goals in my own life. No rhyme or reason other than if it sparked my interest, I would set a goal and then work each day to realize it.

I watched a documentary called “SOMM” about 4 people preparing for their Master Sommelier Exam, one of the hardest exams on earth. It stirred up something inside of me so I immediately set a goal to study every day and pass the Certified Sommelier Exam. I bought books, devoted a few hours daily to learning the wine world and 15 months later I sat for my Certified Exam and passed it. While it wasn’t necessarily my intention, it has opened up so many business opportunities and helped me build connections that I would have otherwise never made.

A more recent example is when I watched the documentary “Free Solo.” I was mesmerized at the fact that a human being could break through such mental and physical barriers to do what Alex Honnold did (climbing the 3000-foot face of El Capitan without a rope). So I immediately set a goal to join a rock climbing gym here in Vegas and start learning to climb. It was absolutely humiliating at first. I was weak, it felt impossible to climb even the easiest grades at the gym. It destroyed my skin on my hands on a weekly basis. Even after I started getting stronger in the gym, climbing outside for the first time was an entirely different level of fear and humiliation. Nothing can prepare you for your first time climbing on real rock. It’s way scarier, it feels exponentially harder, and it teaches you very quickly that you are nowhere near as strong as you think you are. I wanted to quit. The voices of doubt told me, “you’re just not cut out for this.” But instead of listening, I told myself this would be a lifelong journey and to try and get stronger one day at a time. Now, nearly 3 years later, I am climbing routes that at one time felt impossible. I’ve seen Red Rock in my backyard from heights that few people have or will ever experience. I’ve created an entire series of abstract and traditional works photographed while climbing, and it has become one of my best-selling bodies of work to date.

I’ve also been a lifelong musician. I remember seeing great musicians when I was younger and thinking, “oh they’ve just got a gift. I could never play like that.” I have since (in the last 10 years) reframed my mindset into viewing music as a language that I can spend a lifetime learning. I practice guitar or piano each day for roughly 30 minutes to an hour, with particular attention to learning new styles or songs. And bit by bit, the overall language – the theory, feel, phrasing, etc. – continues to make a little more sense to me.

I think that point is that inspiration is only a small part of carving your path. Discipline and consistency over very long periods of time are what will truly set you apart. So much of the world is so superficial and fake. So many trying to look the part without living it. There is something deep down in people that longs for authenticity, mastery. People are attracted to discipline.

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

See above answer on unlearning lessons.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bobbywheat.com
• Instagram: bobbywheatgallery
• Facebook: Bobby Wheat Gallery
• Youtube: bwheatgallery

Image Credits

All Images Copyright Bobby Wheat Gallery.