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

Joshua, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been one of the most interesting investments you’ve made – and did you win or lose? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

My wife and I are both ambitious people. We come from hard-working, accomplished, ambitious people. Even before I made the decision to pursue a career in the arts, we knew that it would be important to invest in life as a whole, not just the pursuit of professional success. That means that you have to make choices that are good for your body, your soul, and your family. In order to do that we made some unconventional choices along the way. As our family grew and we needed more space, home prices were rising quickly. We found a home in Azle, TX that had plenty of square footage but it needed a lot of work. It took me almost a year to do it myself but I gutted the inside of the house and remodeled it to include a studio on the second floor. My parents were gracious enough to let us stay with them until I finished. I don’t know how we could have done it otherwise. We always wanted to own a home. We were able to save a tremendous amount of money and ended up with a home that we really love.

The path of an artist can be a winding road. We all start in different places and there is no clear map to follow. Sometimes it is just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other and not giving up. In 2016, I left my teaching job at the University of North Texas to stay home with our two daughters until they were old enough to attend school. I took care of them during the day and worked on my paintings at night. It was an investment in our family and in myself as an artist. I will always be grateful for the time I spent bonding with them in their first years of life.

I tell my students that if you want to have something worth saying through your art, you have to intentionally feed your mind things worth thinking about and live a life filled with meaningful experiences. Read good books, talk to people who are older and wiser than you, listen to great music, keep your eyes open to the world around you and pay attention. Push back against things that shorten your attention span and dull your ability to think critically. Especially once you become an adult, you are the only one who will push you to grow. Invest in yourself and strive to be a person of good character. What could be more important?

Joshua, 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?

How did you get into this industry?

My father is an artist. He is a different kind of artist. He creates saddles and other objects that are covered with engraved silver and leather tooling (intricate patterns carved into leather). It is an unconventional life. I never wanted to be a saddle maker but I always knew I wanted to live an unconventional life. From an early age I found that I had an aptitude for drawing and making things. I knew that the life of an artist can be difficult and I worried about how to make a consistent living. Anyone who works in the arts can tell you it can be a feast or famine kind of life. After graduation, I decided to become a counseling psychologist. While working as an investigator for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services I attended graduate school at the University of North
Texas Counseling Program. In my spare time, I made art. I had an exhibition at a small gallery in Denton, TX. I sold several pieces and even got some media attention from a local TV station out of Dallas. A friend who was attending graduate school at UNT College of Visual Art and Design suggested that I apply. I did and was even able to get a full scholarship and a teaching fellowship. I really enjoyed working with students to help them develop skills and hone their artistic voice. Since then, I have been living the life of an artist making paintings and teaching classes.

What do you think sets you apart from others?

I think the content of my work sets me apart from others. It can also be what pushes people away. People make art for a host of different reasons. Each artist has to decide for themselves. I want to encourage people to think deeply about the world and our place in it. Art can be an escape. However, in a world overflowing with content, it seems as though we have no shortage of things to distract ourselves. When I make a painting, I want it to be more than a pretty decoration. I used to want to tell the truth with my art. I still do, but with age has come the realization that the truth can be complicated, and it is rarely as tidy as we would like to imagine. So, with each piece of art that I make, I hope to invite the viewer to take time to thoughtfully consider. Each piece tells a story. Sometimes there are many stories all in one painting. Sometimes the story I want to tell is about wonder and how truly amazing it is that we are alive on this rock flying at 60,000 miles per hour around a star. In other works, I want to draw attention to injustice and encourage others to right action in the face of it. No matter what, every piece that I make has a story and a reason that it was made. Art cannot fix the world and how it is broken, but if we use it wisely it can nudge our hearts in the right direction.

What are you the most proud of and what are the main things you want potential clients to know about you?

I am extremely blessed to have a family that I love and to have the ability to pursue my dream as an artist. My wife is an amazing and brilliant woman and I have two incredible daughters who are as beautiful as they are talented and bright. As much as I would love to take credit for any success I achieve, I know that I had no say in how and when and to whom I came into this world. I am fortunate. I want my life to be filled with purpose and meaning and for that to be what drives the work that I make as an artist. I have been a social worker, a special education teacher, and an art teacher. Investing in people is something that gives life purpose. As much as I would love to spend all of my working hours in my studio painting, the truth is that being in the world (not removed from it) gives legitimacy to the art.

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.

You can’t get around the fact that it costs money to live but we don’t need nearly as much as we think we do. Art and money have a complicated relationship. As an artist, it is difficult to keep going if you never see a return on your investment. However, if money is the main focus, it kills the art. In other words, it is more difficult to be honest if you are trying to give people what they want to see or say what they want to hear. When I try to make what I think people want, the work falls flat. Part of that has to do with the personal reasons why I make paintings. It is a journey that ends with an object that I hope inspires thoughtful consideration and reflection. Exigency is key. You have to believe in what you’re doing. If you don’t believe in it, nobody else will either.

With the skills that I have, I could probably sell a lot more paintings if I made a different kind of picture. While I certainly strive to make images that have beauty, I can also understand why my work might seem strange to some people. From a business perspective, it might seem counterintuitive to make a choice that limits your audience. Still, making the kind of work that I do is personally fulfilling. Something I often tell my students when I am encouraging them to dig deeper is that life is short. If you’re going to spend so many hours smearing color around on a rectangle, you might as well do it with a sense of purpose. There has to be something more at the end of it than just a paycheck, although that is also needed.

Every artist makes it in their own way. Do what you must to keep going. My wife is constantly reminding me to appreciate the journey. Sometimes it doesn’t look the way you planned but there are valuable experiences to have and lessons to be learned through it. You only get this one chance to be alive. Strive to be a person of substance more than a person of means. Make it your goal to live a whole life.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the fact that I live in a time and a place where that is possible. There are plenty of reasons to be frustrated about the state of things. Corruption and injustice is everywhere. There is great uncertainty about the future of our country and the world. Still, I am able to make art about these things without any real fear of persecution. It has not always been this way nor will it necessarily always be. I am grateful to be able to take part in this ancient thing we call art. The idea that something I made might in some way nudge others toward a better version of themselves is rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.joshua-west.com
• Instagram: @joshwestart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Joshwestart/

Image Credits
Photos courtesy of Joshua West