Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cody Hanes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Cody, appreciate you 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 love being an artist! My primary income comes from drawing for people.
Fresh out of art school I had no idea how I was going to make ends meet, so I took a job as a caricature artist on the boardwalk. To be honest, I had never wanted to be a caricature artist in my life. When I was a kid, I would walk past them in the mall with no interest whatsover. So you could definitely say that, although I’ve always been an artist, I was never interested in caricatures as an art form before taking this job.
Starting out, it was just a way to make money. But I liked the freedom of working the hours I wanted. At a certain point, I started taking it more seriously, following the old stoic principle of “whatever you’re doing, give it your best.” Fast forward a few years, and I actually started to like doing it since I had gotten better, and created a style that I appreciated more.
I think the best way to think about earning a living as an artist is to ask yourself what people want. I was able to transition into a full time self-employed artist when I started focusing on the client’s needs and listening to their feedback. Find a niche, and something that people want, but not enough people do.
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?
I’m Cody and I draw cartoons of people! I also paint and teach my own Paint and Sips.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One thing that art school, and young artists in general seem to say a lot, is that “you must always charge a good amount for your work.” While that is true, it’s a lesson I had to unlearn in the beginning, because when you’re starting out, as annoying as it is to work for those people who want to pay you “by giving you exposure”, or “work you can use for your portfolio”, you really do need to have some samples, examples, and know-how to get started in something. And it’s always been easier to start on the cheap end.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Many have heard of the book “How To Steal Like An Artist”. Despite the possibly controversial-sounding title, it is a must read for people who want to make a living as an artist. Mainly, it dispels the false idea that artists should “come up with their ideas out of thin air”. Even the greatest artists had to have inspiration and reference.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/codyscaricatures