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

Hi Bradley, thanks for joining us today. 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?

One day in the summer of 2018, I was wandering the book section at a local thrift store. While casually passing an isle, a book caught my eye, stopped me dead in my tracks and put me in reverse. When I backed up to look at this book, it had no real eye-catching qualities artistically. However, it did have big bold letters that read “Just jump, the net will appear”. I stood there looking at this cover for a moment or so. I didn’t even pick the book up, I didn’t need to. See, at this time, I was ’employed’ at Jimmy John’s sub shop. The weekend before this book incident, I spent working a festival with a brand-new friend of mine, David. At this festival, I helped him printing shirts live with hand-carved woodcuts for folks. This was my first experience with woodcut printmaking and I was instantly in love with the process. David accepted my offer to help him work every festival for the rest of the summer. During this hugely pivotal time, I was consciously looking for a message from the Universe that I should go all in with my art. I felt that book told me everything I needed to know. I never spent one more day making sandwiches.

I finished out that summer with David and had already carved a good handful of my own first woodcuts to throw on the table and let people choose for their shirt. I spent that following winter carving and building up designs for next summer. You can bet I was ready to hit the scene with David for year TWO. I’m insanely grateful and full of love for my guy, David. He accepted me and my art like it was his own. I’ll forever owe him for that. By the end of year two, David and I had decided to move in together in Marquette, Michigan. Working as a dual art force like the world had never seen before. Marquette is a beautiful place in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where we had recently done some events. From there, our creative forces became known as “Jebu”. Jebu was the branding we started, named after both of our VW vans (yes, we both had one), Jobu and Ebby were the names. Naturally, Jebu was born.

Blairwich has been my handle on social media for many years. So, after, a few years of Jebu, David and I mutually branched off into our own works again. Though we still work events together to this day. I now work full-time under the Blairwich name.

Bradley, 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?

I’m a 39 year old, full-time artist specializing in woodcut printmaking. I was always initially an illustrator throughout my life. I spent some time at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Attending towards an illustration degree, I never finished and still don’t regret that decision. Drawing has always felt natural to me and I could never get enough of it. I struggled in school and even failed most art classes I had. Not due to smarts or ability, mostly lack of interest. I couldn’t make myself want to be in school and spent many years as the new kid who sat in back of the class doodling or sleeping.

After that over-share, I picked up woodcut printmaking in 2018 and never looked back. As an illustrator, the woodcut medium felt very close to my passion. It’s all about design and it’s so raw and organic. It’s rugged and it’s messy. It’s satisfying and it’s ANCIENT. I love it.

Once I also found the passion for video making, it was ON. A friend convinced me to post my videos on tiktok and they went viral right away. I was hooked and loved how many people actually liked to see the process. I get great satisfaction from making videos and showing all the “behind the scenes” rawness involved.

Since 2021 I’ve been carving a tarot card deck from scratch. I now have 21 of those cards finished. Many many commission jobs and events have spread out my tarot process greatly. But sharing my cards has brought so much to my life and career. They’re very personal for people and feel very personal for me now as well. Aside from that project, I have completed a different deck off 55 hand-carved cards, called “werewolf in the dark”.

Printing clothing has been my sweet spot since the beginning. I’ve had the big dog, Billy Strings performing in my printed pants for many shows. Small companies all over Michigan have commissioned me to create their shirt designs. I have shipped so many shirts and printed items all over the world. Tarot collectors from Germany, to Australia, to Canada. I have designs on professional skateboards, carved several bands album covers and been featured in multiple books/articles.

In a time when AI generated content is dawning, I will remain, pencil and gouge in hand. Ready to serve those who still appreciate a handmade piece.

How did you build your audience on social media?

365,000 followers on tiktok, 142,000 on Instagram. The second video I ever posted in 2020 got 20,000 views its first night. It wasn’t a particularly well-made video. But it showed something. Something raw and real. Two guys in a basement, printing shirts. That got me started in the social media game. I’ve never been one to chase algorithms or post during certain days or times. It’s too hard and makes an artist’s brain hurt. I make videos when I have a piece worthy of sharing. I have crawled my way up from the bottom with less effort than probably anyone.. I appreciate how much people love my art and the process I show. But I have never let the social media take control over the art. I owe nothing to anyone and would still do everything I do, even if no one saw it and I never made a penny. It’s 100% passion and I think that’s why it continues to work for me the way it does.

Focus on your craft, not the followers. Build your presence organically and push on. It’s not about getting a million followers overnight; it’s about building a digital gallery or legacy. Share something you care about.

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?

Creatives and non-creatives, I’m not too fond of the sound of that. I don’t believe there is such thing as a “non-creative”, it’s only simply untapped. We are all naturally creative beings. But to answer the question, for someone who has “tapped” into the creative side of life and went ALL THE WAY, there is no other way. I will make art till I’m buried in the ground. I can’t be anything else. I can’t look at anything without imagining how I would draw or paint it. I see beauty everywhere. I’ve found peace and endless comfort making art full-time. I thank God for my abilities and praise my skills.

For most of my life, it has been unacceptable to be an artist for a living. Working in factories, shops and restaurants, I’ve been everyone. I’ve seen humans at their core. I’ve been everything I’ve never wanted to be and more. Aligning with a reality where it’s cool to be an artist and where we’re actually looked up to, is all I’ve ever wanted. The times have changed and so have I. My core has always cried out to let me create. I think most people have this somewhere inside of them. We’re scared to fail, and we’re scared of being laughed at. But if it’s anywhere in there, then I tell you this, just jump, the net will appear.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.blairwich.com
• Instagram: @blairwich.project
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BlairwichB
• Other: TikTok: @blairwich