We were lucky to catch up with Mercury Baxley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mercury, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I am happy as an artist. I do think I end up working more hours than if I had a regular full time job, but I am more fulfilled as a person. I’m grateful to be able to work in a screen printing studio, while working on my own art on the weekends. Previously, I was working in the produce department of a grocery store, while trying to work on my art on the weekends, but the stress and frustration from that work environment made it difficult for me to have the mental space to focus. Having the ability to creative problem solve while at work makes it a much more rewarding experience. Now, I’m a print technician in a screen printing studio four days a week and am able to participate in local art markets and events on the weekend. It really excites me and encourages me to do more when I get to talk with other creatives and people who love art on a regular basis.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I moved from Virginia to Portland for college because I was drawn to its proximity to so many beautiful natural areas. I fell in love with the forest, the ferns, the mushrooms, the lichen. During college, my fixation on mushrooms began. First, fascinated by the wild edible varieties I could forage for, then began my interest in trying magic mushrooms. My first big trip was the first time I felt truly transported to another universe and through that experience my relationship with my body and my dysphoria as a trans person, as well as my ‘place’ in this universe, felt totally different. This sparked my thesis project for college, The Queer Magic Mushroom Experience, which was intended to inspire queer folks to explore their own life and identity through magic mushrooms. For that project, I created a series of seven illustrations which employed floral and fungal imagery, bright warping lines and colors, celestial and symbolic imagery, and queer themes which were then screen printed on hand tie-dyed bandanas. Some were left as individual bandanas and some were used to create wearable pieces, throw pillows, and a blanket. Now that I’ve graduated, I sell these bandanas at markets as well as patches, prints, buttons, stickers, cards, and wearables. As a queer artist, I’m inspired by the queer natural world around us and like to make work that will resonate with queer folks, nature lovers, and mushroom lovers.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding thing about being a creative for me is getting to make art that I like making and seeing it resonate with other people, especially queer folks who I can make feel welcomed or included by uplifting queer love, defiance, and connection in my art. It’s also encouraging to see how many supportive friends and family members will come up to my table and buy things for the queer folks in their lives.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I don’t have the biggest following yet, but I have learned some things about building and audience on social media. First of all, being genuine and true to yourself as an artist is important. Focus on what you love and the people who also love those things will follow. Also every social media app’s algorithm works differently. There’s a lot of articles online that will tell you the best parameters to follow according to each app’s algorithm. Adding a location and related hashtags will help new accounts to come across your posts. On Tik Tok, using trending hashtags, popular songs, and trending filters will help draw more views in. Another thing to remember is gaining an audience usually takes a lot of time, so don’t get discouraged! Just keep posting consistently and your following will grow in time.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.queerhippie.com
• Instagram: queerhippie_art
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/mercury-baxley-268038234
• Other: Tik Tok: queerhippie_art

Image Credits
Natasha Hercher