We were lucky to catch up with Cody Maple recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cody, appreciate you joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I often wonder what it would be like to have a different job—perhaps a forest ranger, pilot, or mountain guide. The cool thing about being a creative is that you can double up and do many things at once, especially if you’re self-employed. You don’t have to box yourself into being just a graphic designer or just a painter. It’s totally doable to work a few hours on a design gig, switch over to a few hours as an illustrator, and end your day with as a mountain guide while being outside. You can choose your own path. It’s all about your work ethic—and in this way, you can avoid burnout.

Being a creative allows you an amount of mental and physical freedom that is hard to beat. Even prior to COVID, artists and designers for the most part had the ability to work remotely and form their own schedules. That’s big if you’re like me and like to travel—you can work from anywhere, anytime. As long as you get your work done on time and do it well, you’re usually good to go.

Artists and designers also have the great honor of constructing the tangible and visual environments we live in. I once did a project where the concept was “Design is Everywhere.” We all see it, use it, eat it, taste it, and breath it. From food to cars to packaging to clothing and buildings—design and art really is everywhere. Without creatives and those with visual foresight, the world would be pretty boring.

Cody, 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?

Sure thing. My name is Cody and I am a designer, artist, and photographer—I kinda do a bit of everything. I’ve been around this stuff my entire life. My father was a photojournalist for some leading publications and I was surrounded by creatives from an early age. My mother is from whom I get my wit with words. I used to think I wanted to be a veterinarian or to get into international business. In high school I excelled at math and art and I competed in competitions in both subjects. I was pretty sure I was going to be an engineer or architect. As the years passed, I found that I was basically on my way to being a designer and photojournalist—essentially a combination of my dad’s talent with imagery and my mother’s wisdom with words.

When I graduated college, I was about to accept an internship with a German magazine when the Ringling College of Art and Design offered me a full-time job as staff designer. I accepted and would go on to work there for 6 years. I’m thankful to Ringling for giving me my beginning and for the knowledge I gained and connections I made. The faculty and students there really are among the best of the best. As much as I loved Florida, I love mountains more. I left and headed to the West Coast and landed in Portland—a mecca for design agencies and talent. I spent the following 6 years working for many clients and agencies—gaining a deep understanding of the business side of art and design. All along the way, I have done contract work for my own clients—some of which I have been working with for over 15 years.

Now I live in rural southern Oregon where it’s peaceful and beautiful. I continue to work as a designer, artist, and photographer—and a part time farmer! I am most proud of the way in which I have built my career. I spend my days getting work done, keeping clients happy, and moving projects and companies forward and upward. Once that is done, I get outside and make the most of the day.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the pride that goes into what you make. The stories behind the photos, the tears people shed watching your movies, the smiles and laughter of children who play with the toys you create, the people who make a positive change because of an ad you produced, the sports stars who proudly wear the jersey you designed, or the kid who goes “wow!” when his mom gives him an illustration you did of his favorite basketball player—these are some ways it pays to be a creative. And although you don’t do this for the money—you can do very well.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I got into the NFT game early and have also created my own. In order to understand what they are and how they work, you must first grasp the role that the digital universe (metaverse) has in shaping our future realities. We are already there. NFTs have the potential to become one of the ways we barter and interact with products. Owning an NFT is similar to owning an original piece of artwork or the original slide from which a photo print is made. Millions of people can say they have prints and reproductions—but only one person owns the original. NFTs allow you to tokenize anything and create unique ownership, which in turns becomes a form of usefulness—or utility. Many come with benefits that only you and a certain amount of people may have access to—which develops the concept of rarity—and thus value. If these sound like fancy buzzwords, it’s because they are. But, it pays to learn and be educated. NFTs are both very simple and very complex. You can turn anything into an NFT—it’s not just art or crazy images of apes.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.codymaple.com
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/codymaple
• Other: www.etsy.com/shop/codymaple