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

Josh, appreciate you joining 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 was living in NYC and had recently started painting. I thought forcing myself to live only on the money I made from art sales would drive me to work and focus solely on creating. I lived in a rent-controlled apartment on Mott Street in NOLITA. It was cheap, but I soon learned just how desperate an artist’s life can be in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

I decided to take five paintings and post up on Prince Street in the heart of SOHO. Having my art judged by every person who passed by felt incredibly vulnerable, but I remembered a great piece of advice: “Always bring a book.” It gave my eyes and made the whole thing feel less desperate. People started giving me the vibe that I wasn’t supposed to be there, but I didn’t care; I needed to pay rent.

After a few hours, a couple stopped to look. Jason Biggs was in town to play the lead role in “The Graduate” on Broadway, and his wife, Jenny Mollen, who was also an artist, appreciated one of my pieces. She asked how much it was; I said $700 (a number that would cover my rent and allow me to get groceries for a few weeks). She said, “Would you take $500?”

Sold! It’s enough for rent – good enough. I promptly took my check to the bank. The next day, the police told me to leave and never sell on that corner again. That’s another story.

Josh, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I moved to New York City at 25, with the hope that the challenge and energy of the city would provide some sense of clarity as to who I was in the world. My apartment had high ceilings and blank walls, so I decided to start painting in my room and fill the apartment with my work (yep, I lost my deposit.) Friends asked if they could buy them, so I decided to pursue it, and I got into some group shows in Brooklyn, Chelsea, and Soho. Most importantly, I discovered that the act of painting was, and is, healing, exciting, and the most natural, comfortable way for me to exist in the world.

My painting process has changed over the years, but now, I start by laying a large, unstretched canvas on the studio’s concrete floor. I look at the canvas, try to turn off my brain and listen for a color. Once I hear the name of a color come, I’ll start. I believe that colors have their own vibration. When I’m stuck, I’ll hold my hand over my paints and choose the color that feels the strongest. I don’t believe in mistakes when I paint (which is tremendously freeing) but that each stroke leads towards the best outcome.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I feel that if I’ve painted, I haven’t wasted the day. When I’m in my studio, I feel thankful and whole. I don’t feel that way in most situations in the world, so having a place where I can paint and express myself, process feelings, and turn my mind off is an incredible gift.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Well, some ideas have guided me, and I return to them when I have doubts:

Jackson Pollock didn’t believe in mistakes. Everything leads to something else. Let it develop. Once I denied the error, I felt free to create without worry.

Also: “Paint as you like and die happy” – Henry Miller

Contact Info:

• Instagram: josh.peters.paints