We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jared Wright a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jared 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 have been lucky enough to maintain myself as a full-time freelance artist for more than ten years now. I had been drawing since I can remember and started painting in high school mainly doing lowbrow Mixed media stuff, Lots of spray paint, drips and complete lack of respect for color theory as we all do at one point, right? I worked a lot of jobs I my early twenties but I continued drawing and painting in the evenings and would always share my art on instagram. Eventually I was at the point where I was working two full time jobs, one the I hated and one I really enjoyed, but I was so burnt out that I wasn’t creating any art during this period. I decided to quit the job I hated and about a week later the job I liked told me they were going out of business. My wife and I took our son and “moved” to Ecuador where she had family, I say moved but it was only a few months. During this time I started drawing a lot again and when we returned to the US I was determined to make my best art yet. We got an apartment with a small sun room that I made into a makeshift Studio and started pumping out art. I was gaining followers and even getting clients solely through instagram. I eventually set up an online store and started selling prints and other merch. I was actively looking for work while unknowingly building a “brand”. I realized at one point that I could make enough on just my art to survive that I decided I would focus on that solely and I have been self employed ever since.

The first few years were difficult and there are still times where I wish I had a normal job and steady paycheck but I have learned so much and would not trade my experience for anything but there are certainly things I would of done differently.

My first lesson is to have a vision. Not only have a vision of what you want your art to say or look like but also a vision of what you want to do as an artist in this space and follow that vision. See yourself in the future, see yourself in the best case scenario and analyze everything. Look around and see where you are and who you are surrounded by, in this dream scenario, think about how future you got there and and how you can start working toward that exact place. Never lose sight of the vision. Create attainable actions that move you toward your goals and re-allign yourself when you see your actions not lining up with your vision.

The second lesson I learned was you have to treat your art like a job, you are the boss but you are also the employee. You need to create your own structure and stick to it. Treat yourself as an employee and give yourself a set list of tasks. I have found that I can actually let me mind wander more freely with a little bit of structure and direction than none.

The third lesson and I would say the most important, Is to trust yourself and your own taste. You are the only person that can make YOUR ART and that is exactly what you should make, art that you like. Make the coolest art you can imagine, make what you would want to see in a gallery make art that you believe in! When you make art that is genuine and personal to you, it may not resonate with everyone but to those it does resonate with, the connection is real and genuine. The only way to connect to your people and your audience is to be honest and make art for yourself.

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.

Well Im 36 years old and I live in Florida with my wife and son, our dog and two cats. Im a full time freelance artist and I specialize in Painting, Illustration, Design and Murals. As I mentioned I got into freelance about ten years ago, when I started out I was just posting on social media and kind of organically getting likeminded clients by posting my art and interests. I have been skateboarding since I was about 11 and it is a huge part of who I am, so I would often mock my art up onto boards for fun and post them. I did the same with t-shirts and hoodies and I eventually started getting clients asking me to do a design or two for them. It started with smaller companies and bands and eventually led to bigger and more exciting opportunities. I have had the pleasure of working with some of my absolute favorite brands, bands and even sports teams over the years including Birdhouse skateboards, Band of Horses and The Tampa Bay Rays. I think what I bring to the table is a great understanding of design and color as well as an inside knowledge of the “counter culture” within which I work and most importantly for any artist, a style and vision that is mine alone.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I would say the most rewarding part is seeing your art interacting with the world. Whether its a mural, a shirt design or a photo someone sent of my art hanging in their home when I see my art in the wild its exciting. It is a good feeling when someone resonates with your art enough to let you paint it on their building or wear it or even bring it into their home, its special.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The goal is to make the absolute best art I can, as corny as that might sound. When I envision the end goal of my creative journey I see myself surrounded by incredible paintings that I am very proud of. I cant see exactly what the art looks like but I can see how it makes me feel, and the feeling is excited. I think that is my main goal to make art that excites me and when I make art that truly excites me it’s an unbelievable feeling that I cant imagine I will ever stop chasing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jaredwrightart.com
• Instagram: @jaredwright
• Facebook: Jared Wright Art
• Twitter: @jaredwrightart
• Other: I have an online store: Jaredwright.bigcartel.com

Image Credits

JaredWright