Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nikola Delic. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nikola, appreciate you joining us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

My journey into earning as an artist had a unique beginning. I was working as a cook in a franchise restaurant that already had its resident artist. However, when they were gearing up to open a new location and their regular artist was unavailable, I couldn’t resist stepping in. Despite being met with laughter initially, given my role as a cook, I was determined to prove my artistic determination.

In pursuit of the opportunity, I presented sketches aligned with their vision. After a careful review, they decided to take a chance on me. What started as a singular opportunity blossomed into a role as their dedicated artist for the entire chain, allowing me to paint seven of their restaurants. This experience was not just a turning point in my career but a personal validation that dedication and seizing unexpected chances could chart the course for artistic success.

Nikola, 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?

My name is Nikola Delic and I come from a tiny country named Montenegro. This where I fell in love with spray painting. My love for art came the young age of 10. My dad inspired me with his painting and wood carving skills. Spray painting came very natural to me. I started spray painting as a form of rebellion. My friends and I would spray paint or tag, which is what we call it in the graffiti culture, on trains and buildings which got us into a lot of trouble. I was someone who never liked following the rules. Spray painting was not looked at as art where I come from. It wasn’t until I came to the states that I saw that spray paint was something that was appreciated. I came to the states on a full ride basketball scholarship. Although most of my time was spent in the gym and school I still found time to do art. I wasn’t tagging anymore but I would paint on canvas just to keep up with my craft. It wasn’t until after college I landed my first job for spray painting. I was so surprised that someone was going to pay me to spray paint. Back home the cops would catch us and bring me back to my parents so this was a dream come true for me. My first spray paint job was for a franchise restaurant. The owner of the restaurant had an artist already that did their restaurants. However they were opening up another location and the artist was unavailable. I overheard the conversation and let the owner know that I could do it. They laughed at first but then I realized I was serious. I had to prove myself so I presented them with some sketches based off of what they told me they wanted. After they took a look at the sketches they decided to give me a shot. After that one job I became their designated artist for the rest of their restaurants. I’ve had the privilege of painting 7 of their restaurants.
After completing the first project for them I started offering my services to anyone and everyone who would listen. Most of the jobs I’ve done has come from word of mouth. Some of the jobs I’ve completed have been for corporate offices, restaurants, private estates as well as commission canvases. Im very detailed and have been known to be a perfectionist so getting right is a must for me. I wont present anything to a client until it’s up to my standards and I’ve yet to meet anyone who has higher standards than me when it comes to art work. I absolutely love everything about the process, from speaking with the clients to sketching out what they want all the way to the finished product. Art has taken me to some pretty cool places which has been one of my favorite things about what I do. However with that being said, I’d say what’s most rewarding, even more than getting to travel and being paid is the reaction on clients faces when they see the finished product. There’s nothing better than that. It was makes me love what I do and I hope I get to do it for as long as I can.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

In my artistic journey, I realize I missed out by avoiding social media. Now, looking back, I’m embracing the digital world. It’s not just about showing my art; it’s connecting with fellow creators. Each post feels like a brushstroke in a virtual gallery, where likes and comments open doors to unexpected opportunities.

I’m shifting from being a recluse to building connections. I’ve learned that in today’s world, art isn’t confined to canvas; it comes alive in the online community’s shared moments and conversations.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, being an artist is like baring a piece of my soul to the world. The real magic happens when I see the pure joy in my clients’ eyes as they connect with my creations. It’s an indescribable feeling, knowing that something I poured my heart into resonates with them on such a personal level.

One of the most intimate moments of my artistic journey was painting my girlfriend on the anniversary of our first meeting. That smile, frozen in time on canvas, isn’t just my favorite picture—it’s a testament to the power of art to capture emotions and tell stories. Every stroke I make is a piece of me, and every reaction from those who experience my work is a shared heartbeat in this deeply personal exploration of creativity.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @studioforty4
• Other: Working on getting my website and business LinkedIn page.