We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful David Souza. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with David below.

Alright, David thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

I had been making art for decades as a hobby and only had been sharing it with friends and family, maybe making the occasional holiday card. The idea of selling an original was too emotionally overwhelming, so it wasn’t until I began working at a print shop that I began creating and selling prints.

I had always seen pieces made by local artists hung in coffee shops around Tacoma and had always daydreamed about hanging my art alongside theirs, so I eventually approached my favorite café with a handful of my own pieces. They generously gave me a spot near the front of the shop and I chose a handful of pieces to place on the walls. It felt so surreal to have my art hanging in a public space that the notion of selling one actually didn’t cross my mind.

A month or so later that I got a message saying that someone had purchased a copy of “The Gunslinger”. It was a small, 4″ x 6″ piece that I made on some rainy afternoon during a Western tv show binge. I had no idea that it would become not only my first, but also my best all-time seller so far.

The message I got from the buyer was so sweet and enthusiastic that it finally shook off some of the imposter syndrome I had begun to feel, and I immediately replaced it with a freshly-framed replacement. The idea that I could potentially make a living at this suddenly didn’t feel impossible. It definitely changed my perception of being an artist.

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 have always been drawn to creating visual art and was heavily inspired by movies, cartoons, anime, video games, graphic novels, and historical artists like Alphonse Mucha. I often found that it was easier for me to express myself through a drawing than it was through words, so it was something that I continued developing as a hobby through adulthood.

Fast forward to much later in life, (while I was working at a print shop) a friend recommended that I create some copies of my work and offer them up for sale. It was extremely exciting to start receiving requests to purchase my work or to carry my products in local businesses! I had no idea that any of my pieces would be worthy of showing anywhere, let alone sell. It felt like a dream come true, and the notion of earning a living in the creative field finally seemed possible.

All of my original works are created by hand with physical media. I primarily create mixed-media pieces using watercolor paint, micron pen, and color pencil. I originally began using these media separately and slowly incorporated them into a single style that I’m still developing today. I take pride in having a message or feeling that I am inspired to communicate and most of my decisions are made based on emotional impact rather than realism.

I’m heavily inspired by symbolism and dreams, often subverting expectations by creating something surreal or even vaguely abstract in concept. I feel most successful as an artist when I am able to communicate a thought or feeling that is often difficult, if not sometimes impossible, for others to express but can immediately identify with.

In addition to showing and selling artwork, I also teach workshops. I find teaching extremely satisfying and look forward to doing it much more regularly. Developing a booth and participating in markets is a long-time personal goal that I’m excitedly working toward as well.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I was raised to believe that only a blessed few artists could possibly make a living through their art, which is utter nonsense. From the outside, it always appeared as though only the most talented individuals could succeed. I was comparing myself to all of my favorite artists, who of course were professionals who had spent decades honing their craft full-time.

It turns out that there is actually a lot of room for artists of all kinds. The local art scene is always welcoming and there rarely seems to be a lack of space for emerging creatives in the neighborhood community. Going viral or getting a national solo gallery show isn’t necessary to be quite successful!

I find that the most important factor is putting yourself and your work out there and being open to whatever kinds of opportunities cross your path. For instance, I had no intention of teaching workshops but after showing some of my pieces to a local art store employee they offered me the chance to use their space to teach. It’s become one of my favorite aspects of my art business, now.

If you are dedicated to honing your craft and taking chances, I believe that something good will inevitably find you.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Creating art is only a portion of what is required of every creative to earn a living as a business owner. It’s an extremely demanding path to follow that is often dismissed as being whimsical and carefree. It takes surprising resilience, cleverness, and passion to make a living selling one’s own artwork.

The next time you encounter art in a store, market, or website consider what it took to not only create but to bring to you in that format. Creating a profitable workflow for an online store, a market booth, a brick-and-mortar storefront, or your local gallery takes trial and error that comes at personal cost to the artist.

The balance of applying to new events to get new work and keeping existing commitments is a constant challenge, especially since the artist can rarely pay an employee to assist and often rely on friends and family to fill in the gaps. Much of what you see is loving, volunteer work from the people in that artist’s community.

Most artists work for themselves after many years of trying to fit into a “normal” workplace and failing, or at least struggling. Many of us learn that we can also fail at doing something we hate, so there is little to lose in trying at what we love. Regardless of the reason, it’s a special calling that demands bravery and persistence.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.davidmsouzastudios.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david_souza_art/
• Other: https://linktr.ee/davidmsouza