Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Joshua Meyer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Joshua thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I’ve always been deeply pulled and connected with the beauty in this world and the creative creations of people in many different cultures. However, I don’t think it was until I was in my 9th grade Art 101 class that I realized I could pursue art as a career! I had an incredible teacher who exposed me to a ton of mediums that I didn’t even know existed. She opened up the art room for a couple hours after school every day allowing myself and others the freedom to explore and experiment. It was during those moments that I began to understand the power of art and flow. It was like plugging myself into a stream of life and was extremely empowering.

Joshua, 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?

Born and raised in the South Pacific jungles of Papua New Guinea, my formative years were heavily influenced by the beauty, diversity, survival, and magic of the unique peoples of this land. Moving to the United States as a young adult I took my passion for the outdoors and the ingenuity of off-grid living and started my own business doing high-end landscaping, stonework, and marine construction for clients along the rivers and lakes of Alabama.

As much as I enjoyed that work, there was a much deeper passion for art calling me that just couldn’t be fully satisfied in the construction industry. I needed more creativity and freedom, so after moving west I eventually found myself in the mountain town of Flagstaff, Arizona. In 2018 I finally found the courage to quit my job and follow my dream of being a full-time artist and business owner of The-Quench.

Specializing in creative and high-end pieces, I work in a variety of mediums offering custom blades, unique furniture, unforgettable blacksmithing classes, exquisite ink paintings, and sculptures.

My passion for art, creativity, and challenging experiences took me to the popular TV series on the Discovery Channel, Forged in Fire, where I won first place!

Over the years I’ve realized that art is just my platform to inspire others. I absolutely love providing unique and often scary experiences to both kids and adults. Just like my high-school art teacher inspired me to follow my heart I also want to empower young people and remind adults of their awesomeness. So although I do a lot of creative custom work for clients I also teach a ton of workshops!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Although I knew I wanted to be a full-time artist from a very young age, for some reason I didn’t believe it was the responsible path. I guess I bought into the whole “starving artist” mentality so it took me a long time to make the shift and realize that didn’t have to be true for me.

When I was in my mid-thirties there was an undeniable emotion and intense desire to paint, draw, and sculpt that I could no longer ignore so I signed up for a couple of art classes at my local community college. After my first evening class, I came out to my truck and cried for an hour. I had finally given my soul something it had been craving for decades and it felt so right. It was at that moment that I decided having a career in art was no longer an option. I had to find a way to be a full-time artist.

I moved to Sedona in 2015 where I spent all of my free time creating and reconnecting with myself. Being a huge outdoor enthusiast the land there was healing and strengthening me. I was beginning to find myself again and it felt good. Eventually, I found myself being drawn to Flagstaff where the cool mountain air and endless forests took me to the next level of freedom. In 2018, at the age of 44, I quit my job and finally officially embarked on my full-time art career. I could now say that I was an artist!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

For me, the drive to listen to my soul and discover my purpose has been a huge motivating factor in my journey. I personally believe that all humans are artists. I believe that creativity is the same energy of love and is what enables life itself. That doesn’t mean we are all visual artists, but we are meant to create our lives, follow our passions, and not hide our light from the world. My mission is to inspire, re-encourage, and empower as many people as I can to remember the importance of play and creativity and to give themselves space to bring it back into their lives. I don’t want us to co-exist… I want humanity to co-THRIVE and I believe that if we all have the courage to just be ourselves and follow our passions and purposes a little each day then the world will be a much better place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://the-quench.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuameyerart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuameyerart/

Image Credits
Joshua Meyer