We were lucky to catch up with Mason Wiley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mason, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I started my art career at a later age. I was a part of the surf industry for many years and during that time I was always interested in art and expressing myself. So, one day I decided to pursue a career in art. I was accepted to the 27th Annual Juried Exhibition at the Athenaeum art museum in La Jolla with a painting I just finished and wanted to see what would happen if I entered it. Being accepted was such a confidence boost and so exciting. From that point on I haven’t looked back and have been pursuing my dreams of being a professional artist. I love the struggle and the challenges that come with such a passion, but things are going well and I’m forever grateful.

Mason, 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?

As stated earlier for many years I worked within the surf industry for a variety of companies and was very fortunate to be able to travel the world and surf in some of the most beautiful places on earth. The rich and unique cultures I came across always inspired me to create art and explore my true passion of being an artist, so one day I just walked away from the surfing world and enrolled in art school at Art on 30th and took many classes. From here I know there would be a steep learning curve. I had to allow myself to be afraid, be vulnerable, to be critiqued and also supported, while learning to accept it all and grow. To this day I am continually learning, failing, and exceeding my own expectations in what I think art can be and finding ways to improve and express my voice.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My love of being an artist is a strong motivation and what continues to drive my success. My creative journey I feel is just getting started. This journey has only been going now for 6 years and I love the learning process and meeting people in the art world that allows my creative journey to continue. Everyday I wake up excited about what will come next. Some days are hard and involve distractions and disappointments, but most involve unexpected paths and relationships that make this journey so inspiring and intriguing.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I was chosen by a landlord to do a mural on the side of of a building they owned. I made the deal with a handshake and started on the mural. I was paid half up front and would be paid the other half once completed. The mural would have taken 7 days to complete based on our plans and the design they wanted. On the second to last day I was fired from the project from a new landlord that actually was in negotiations to buy the property. The original owner never disclosed this and I was never paid or allowed to finish this beautiful mural I had created. I learned a lot about contracts and how the business side or art and murals work, so I didn’t let it get me down. Instead I decided to do more murals and be completely in control of the entire process which now has lead to smooth transactions and great art.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @wileyart25