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

Nate, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I love this question! Excuse me while I get up on my soapbox:

We’ve been lied to our entire lives. By our parents, by our teachers, by society in general. We’ve been conditioned to believe that we have ‘failed’ if we don’t do something correctly the first time. And failure is to be avoided at all costs! If you don’t get straight A’s in math, you’re not good at math. If you miss a note and sing off key, you can’t sing. If your new business doesn’t make you a millionaire in the first year, what’s the point? If you don’t already have 6 pack abs, people at the gym will judge you. Fear of failure is what keeps many people from even trying something new.

But here’s the truth: Failure is one of the best teachers. Each attempt to create something new is an opportunity to learn something new and do better the next time. The only difference between a beginner and an expert is the work in between.

My mission with my Youtube channel is to inspire people to be fearless, because fear kills creativity. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece the first time you put paint on a canvas. If you use your imagination to create something, you are making art. YOU ARE AN ARTIST!

Nate, 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?

Fortunately, I was exposed to art very early in my life. My mother was a painter too – working with oils, acrylics and watercolor – and she encouraged me to explore my artistic side as well. I dabbled in everything… did anyone else go through a macrame phase in the late 70’s, early 80’s? Landscaping, drawing, writing and painting have always been my primary mediums, and I enjoy teaching and inspiring other people to create and find their unique expression.

When I discovered fluid acrylics in 2018, I was instantly obsessed. The possibilities with this art form are endless! I love to collaborate with other artists, as well as teach and mentor new artists through my Youtube channel and in-person classes.

My art is primarily abstract, heavily influenced by nature and the beautiful colors of the tropics where I now live in Costa Rica. I enjoy using strong, bold and contrasting colors to create flowing movement, mesmerizing patterns and intricate details. My style ranges from modern and minimal, to floral and whimsical.

In my classes, I teach specific techniques, but more importantly, how to experiment, troubleshoot and approach your art FEARLESSLY.

How did you build your audience on social media?

When I first started my Youtube channel, I received some excellent advice: Focus on the art, but make it entertaining.

I’m fortunate that my art form is very performative – watching paint pour from a cup and seeing it flow across a canvas as it’s tilted, spun or blown can be mesmerizing. I jokingly call it ‘Paint Pourn.’ So for me, this part is easy. It’s both artistic and entertaining.

One way to up the entertainment factor is choosing great music. Talking through my entire process is instructive, but it’s easy to lose people’s attention. So I learned to give a brief description of what I’m doing, and then play some music that fits the feel of the piece I’m creating. There are several subscription services available where you can download and use license-free music, and the quality and variety of music gives me lots of great choices. And I’ve found that finding the right music for my videos is what makes the editing process fun.

I’m also fortunate that the fluid art community on Youtube is very collaborative. I frequently work with other artists to create a piece that follows a theme – sometimes it’s as easy as using the same color palette, or maybe a challenge to try something you’ve never done before. I’ve collaborated with artists all over the world in this way, and my channel grows every time because their audience may be seeing me for the first time (and vice versa). It’s a win-win and a no brainer. Don’t be afraid to reach out to another artist you admire and ask to create something together.

But my best advice is also the most trite: Be yourself. People may watch because you’re creating something beautiful, but they’ll FOLLOW YOU if they connect with you. So don’t be afraid to show your personality. Be goofy if you’re goofy. Laugh at yourself and your ‘mistakes.’ Dance if you’re happy, and share some of your struggles. Relatability will build a loyal audience that keeps coming back for more.

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

Being creative is not a choice for me – I have to make things. If I go a couple of days without creating something, I get irritable and depressed. Art is my therapy.

One of my favorite things about fluid art is that I get to use both sides of my brain. There’s science in how the different paints and ingredients react to each other and move, so my analytical side enjoys working out the plan. But once the paint hits the canvas everything else in my life disappears, and I’m focused solely on the moment. It’s freeing and addictive and I cannot get enough. And once I’ve finished, my analytical side kicks back in and I evaluate: What do I like? What can I improve? And how soon can I do it again? Haha!

One of the most rewarding and surprising parts of having a Youtube channel is all the amazing people I have met, and the lifelong friends I have made. Art is a great way to connect with people and I am so grateful to the people who have encouraged and supported my creative journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.galeria1084.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n8_bright_art
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@NateBrightArt

Image Credits
All pictures taken by me.