We recently connected with Nico Riccione and have shared our conversation below.
Nico, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
I worked full time as an illustrator for a few years. It was for a web3-infused app company called Dreamr. I got the job through a series of odd jobs actually.
I used to customize sneakers, and I had made a pair of air force 1s for Charlie Jabaley. Dreamr had partnered with Charlie to sponsor a tour he was doing to make a bunch of people’s dreams come true across the United States. A few weeks later the founder of Dreamr, Chris Adams, reached out to me looking for some design work. Our relationship just grew from there and Chris brought me on full time. It was definitely a great experience while it lasted. All of my coworkers at Dreamr were incredible artists and we all became friends. Unfortunately Chris passed away unexpectedly and the company just kind of dissolved. I owe a lot to Chris, though, for influencing the growth in my art. We did a lot of cool stuff together at Dreamr and I’m sad we never got to see what it could’ve become. I miss that dude!
Now, I’m fortunate enough to have another career in the medical field that I love and can depend on while being an artist on my own terms. The starving artist life really isn’t for me.
I like money (haha), and I enjoy not worrying about how I’m going to pay my next bill. Call me what you want.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I started 12th & Market in 2021. We are a skateboarding brand first and foremost but we do everything. We make clothing and skateboards. We print a local skate/art magazine called Palette that has been doing amazing. We put on big events for the city and promote local musicians, business owners and skateboarders. We host a radio show called AfterNoon that is like an Adult Swim/MTV hybrid for the local Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton areas.
I’m really proud of what we do for our community. We’re helping to get skateparks built in areas that need them. We offer multiple mediums and platforms for local artists and skateboarders to utilize. We bring a variety of scenes together to have a good time and appreciate each others hard work. That’s what all of this is about.
We just want to see our city grow honestly. The ABE is filled with amazing artists. It deserves to be up there with the NY’s and LA’s of the world.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Art has given me another purpose in life. As long as I can create, I’ll have something to work on and I’ll have something to push forward and progress with. That’s massive for my standard of living.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
My mother is an author. She’s written things that make me reassess myself as an artist (haha). She is incredible and it makes me want to progress as an artist and get on her level one day.
Her name is Sharon Lee Villone and her book “Harness the Storm” needs to be made into a f*cking movie one day, seriously. It would win awards if directors could even do the book justice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://12thandmarket.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/12thandmarket/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA5yMTMh9OUxl8K0CCmhogA?app=desktop
Image Credits
Nico Riccione, ReservedForHell, Brandon Avery, Kaitlynn Bowser