We recently connected with Brian Kostar and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Brian thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Have you been 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? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
I made the decision to go full in May of 2022. I had worked in the restaurant industry for most of my life, so the decision was an apprehensive one at first to go full time as an artist. The thought of not having a steady paycheck was a little nerve racking.. Luckily I have a strong support system. When I started selling art pretty regularly in the early months of 2022, my wife encouraged and supported the decision for me to go full time into my art. It’s not a decision I would have ever floated on my own, she presented it to me and I fully embraced the opportunity. She was making good enough money to cover the bills in the meantime, so that allowed me to gain momentum in the art scene without having to have the weight & pressure of sales to keep my dream afloat.
It was definitely a challenge at first. I had no idea what I was doing, it was all new to me. All the money I made from sales I put back into supplies, equipment , and to cover fees for events. I quickly learned that I needed to find a quick way to have money coming in between original paintings. That’s when I first started dabbling in stickers, which is now one of the things that keeps the money coming in very regularly. They were a low cost investment that had a great return on it. It’s a long game, however those small dollar amounts added up quickly and now I have almost 50 different kinds. I definitely would have gotten onboard the sticker train sooner had i known what I know now.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m blessed to be what I’m doing for a living. It often feels like a dream, but then I have to remember that I’m simply living my dream and that this is my reality. My art is a love letter to my repressed inner child that was told “Don’t be so weird” , & to the state of Florida for widening my horizons on what life has to offer.
I’m an artist who likes to dabble in a little bit of everything, but my main medium of choice is acrylic paint. I’m known for bold lines & illustrative surreal designs. I like to incorporate weird mash-ups, puns/wordplay, & ironic imagery at times….I call my work “Art for the beautifully weird”.
Most of my subject matter is animals, oftentimes alligators & other FL wildlife. But my signature trademark to every piece I create is having a skull be present somewhere in the piece….sometimes it’s out in the forefront in the open, other times hidden in the details. Whatever the case, there will always be a skull present. Now, why is this? My response is it’s part of my beliefs that no matter who or where you are from, your age, race, religion, sexuality, or gender….we are all the same building blocks underneath & we will eventually return to that form at some time in our life. In that way, we are all
connected
I create original paintings and digital art, from which I’m able to make stickers, prints, shirts, & various other types of merchandise for people to enjoy & express themselves with. I want my work to be a form of escapism for the viewer in this world that’s overrun with negativity. I want it to be a source of joy, laughter and a distraction from the day to day that often weighs us down.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For myself, the most rewarding aspect of creating art is the connections I am able to have & create for others through my work. I meet so many interesting people and get to have genuine conversations via my work. It’s a beautiful feeling, and simultaneously a validating one as well. For such a long time I toned down my quirkiness for others, afraid both myself & my unique perspectives would be too much for others. I’m learning more and more through my work that I am not alone, I’m not the only one whose appreciates the fun and silly side of life. I’m not a lone weirdo lol.
Live painting at events allowed me to really open up, let down my guard and connect with people on a closer level. The process of painting live has been a game changer. I was always afraid of “what if someone sees me mess something up!?!” By getting over that fear , I allowed myself to be fully authentic and remind people that nobody is perfect. I also find that being genuine with my audience and people I meet kinda sells the work for itself, I never try to sell someone when they’re in my studio, I want them to tell me they want the piece.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My main concern & mission right now is honestly quality of life & living my dream, which is the driving force in my creative journey …now what do I mean by that?
I only started this journey full time in May of 2022, prior to that I was working in a restaurant job that paid the bills and I went back to out of necessity, comfort, & familiarity. I had tried to make art a viable side income years ago, but it wasn’t working out so I stayed in kitchens. In late May 2021 I was in a near fatal car accident that reminded me life can be over in an instant. My job at the time had no compassion about the accident, so I transferred to a new location and then ended up working in a small mom and pop bakery for a less stressful environment. By chance I saw an open call to an art show in Dec of 2021 , so I entered & got in. The show was in Jan of 2022, and from there the wheels were set in motion. At each one of these events & shows I would attend and enter, I would meet someone who should end up being a connection in the sacred timeline that led to where & who I was supposed to meet next. The whole journey honestly still feels so surreal.
So to answer , my biggest motivation is to never let this feeling fade away. I know now more than ever that time is the one thing you don’t get back. So I want to make as much of that time as comfortable as possible while still finding a low stress way to be financially stable. Art has been that outlet to do so, and as I do it more and more I’m learning how to make that happen easier.. I’ve learned the power of “No” when it comes to what’s important, the power that little word holds is incredible and vital to our wellbeing.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.kostarkustoms.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kostarkustoms/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077419391017&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCzzmGbp34jCiGrrK47M3WnA
- Other: Wholesale via Faire https://faire.com/direct/kostarkustoms
Image Credits
Photo by Jen Emm-photo of me painting