We recently connected with David Eichenberger and have shared our conversation below.

David, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

In high school I drew a portrait of a friends little sister to give to there mom as present. Other people found out about it and offered me money to draw there parents/pets/ girlfriend and it grew from there I ended up saving enough for my first car, a 500 dollar Plymouth reliant k car.

David, 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?

hello my name is David Eichenberger. I am an illustrator, but Im not just an illustrator. Im also painter, a muralist and print maker. I just say illustrator because that’s what’s my degree is in and I don’t what to take up to much of peoples time explaining everything that I do, because its a lot. I’ve collected lots of hats so to say in the pursuit of making money off of art. I graduated from savannah collage of art and design with a bfa in illustration and began pursuing my degree shortly after. at first there wasn’t a lot of illustration work coming my was so I started out painting and when people started taking notice of my work people began asking if I did commissioned work which led to illustration work and murals. There has been some speed bumps along the way and am currently not working as a full time illustrator, but that hasn’t stoped me from pursuing my goals of creating art for clients and my self.

I really enjoy working with clients who are open to new ideas communicating with them can be a lot of fun. if they are open to riffing the process we can creat really powerful and meaningful work. I also like working with clients who have clear parameters and a vision. They can be more difficult to work with but in the long run more rewarding.

I am most proud of my most resent work. For the past ten years I have be designing posters for a local fundraiser called The Great Cover Up. iIts a fun event where several local bands cover famous bands. It usually last for three days and the really exciting part is you don’t know who the bands will be covering until they start playing. This has been a huge part of my life and being apart of something that brings people together with music and raises money for a charity is incredibly fulfilling. I look forward to it every year.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

the resource of keeping connections with people you went to college with and or staying in touch with past clients. I’ve had more opportunities with work and fun projects with people I’ve stayed in touch with. Sometimes a simple hello can go along way.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Im in mid pivot right now. I had to take a full time job after a several month dry spell of work. I couldn’t find any illustration work people were not buying my art and there was no mural work. I’m currently working at a Museum. and working as an illustrator part time.

Contact Info:

• Website: dmeichenberger.com
• Instagram: @troubleberger

Image Credits
Matt Ramey for the head shot