We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marcus ‘Grabster’ Borges a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Marcus ‘Grabster’ thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
I’ve been very grateful and am proud to be earning a full time living from my art. As a working artist, I am certain that there’s nothing else I rather be doing and I feel like I’m fulfilling my purpose, especially when I’m creating work in my own style. A career that offers creative freedom adds another layer of success aside from the financial aspects.
At one point, I dreamt of doing my own work and to make a living from it but I started with getting paid and being my own boss first. 16 years ago, I’d been laid off from Sherwin Williams around the same time that I became a father for the first time and was determined to never find myself in situation where someone else controlled my paycheck again.
I went full force into murals and art production, meaning taking just about every job that I figured I could get done. It started as air brushing t-shirts at events every weekend, live paintings, interior graffiti murals and more.
One major milestone for me when I painted at the first Wynwood Mural Fest in Miami Florida. It was my first large sponsored mural where I was given total creative freedom. As a business owner, my first solid professional client was Tijuana flats. This chain of restaurants provided me work all over Florida and gave me great professional experience.
Marcus ‘Grabster’, 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?
I am an artist with a specilty in large-scales mural and run an art production company. I help my clients incorporate art into their events, developments and community through live-painting services, murals, or visual design work.
As owner of Funky Paint, an art production business I’ve ran for nearly two decades, I’ve seen that much of art production is a science and it requires a technician with the background to complete large jobs and to understand what a project needs from a holistic view. I understand how business owners navigate navigate budgets, schedules, and competing brand interests and work to support their needs. I’ve got plenty of experience in this having worked with big names like Off-White, Formula 1, FIFA, the US Open, and Redbull.
As a live painter, I pull from my experience as a performer—I grew up breakdancing and have years of experience in the event space performing dance and capoeira. I’m the most prolific live painter for corporate retreats and branded events in the South Florida region and have been a leader in the local street art world for over 20 years and bring this expertise and understanding to each project.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Getting to truly create freely – painting whatever I want whenever I want and going where inspiration strikes. When I create for myself in my own style, that’s when I feel I’m fulfilling my purpose.
Have you ever had to pivot?
When I decided to become a business owner, I made one of the biggest pivots of my life! I found myself being without income after doing a job I wasn’t passionate about to begin with. So I used my strong belief in self and trusted that my skills and talent were enough to truly make something of my passion for the arts. Instead of finding another dead end job, I put all my energy into my business and have built something that I’m proud of and that supports my creative drive and provides for my family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.grabisms.com
- Instagram: grabster
Image Credits
Headshot is by @viviimage