We recently connected with Patric Stillman and have shared our conversation below.

Patric , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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?

In most professions, you learn what you need to know and then get in line to enter into the workforce. As a visual artist, the path to making a full-time living is pretty chaotic. There are so many variables at play and perhaps as many road blocks. All of the successful artists that I know, who may or may not make a living from their art, have a determination to keep going. Somewhere next to the creative spirit there also has to be a level of entrepreneurship.

My approach has always been to be as open as I can be about the opportunities that come my way. Over the years, I’ve tried everything I can to get eyes on my work. The thread that I’ve discovered has been most sustaining through these efforts is the network of people I’ve met. I believe that art is really about connections that people make to the work and the artist. The longer I put myself and my work into the world, the more I find a feedback loop that brings opportunities, commissions and sales.

What I’ve learned from my experience and the advice I wish I was given early on is to be clear about what you are creating, what you want to achieve and then work tirelessly towards that goal. Things rarely happen overnight. It’s the long game.

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

Though I embraced my creativity during my youth, I left it hanging while I focused on other career goals. It took me years to realize how much my life was out of balance because I kept it at bay. On the upside, I was able to take all the lessons I learned from my business life and use it to support my creative life. Finance, marketing, grant writing, human resources and project follow through all supported my entry into the world as a visual artist and then again, as a gallery owner.

The symbiotic nature of surrounding oneself with other creatives is an unending source of inspiration, ideas and collaboration. I take great pride in the fact that I have created a unique space that allows my creativity to flourish. At the same time, this space is one that has been beneficial to hundreds of visual artists. My gallery, The Studio Door is constantly creating new opportunities that feed a community of artists through exhibitions, education, community events, professional development and studio practice.

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

Bravo to all of the creatives who find their internal strength and manage to keep going in spite of the many obstacles. It often seems that there are so many forces to take you down from people who say they just don’t understand art to the gatekeepers of culture.

When I decided to make a go at being an artist, many of my closest friends thought I was having a mid-life crisis. I heard that I should keep “art” as a side hobby because it was insane to give up the security of doing what I have always done. They didn’t understand the calling that was burning inside of me. I realized that the only response I could have that would change their minds was to show them through my actions.

First as a visual artist and eventually as a gallery owner, I was caught off guard by the reality of making a dream come true. For a while I felt like Charlie Brown running to kick the football out of Lucy’s hands only to be tricked at the last minute. The initial challenges felt pretty heavy. Thankfully many of those friends who tried to dissuade me from my path became my faithful champions.

Belief in yourself, support of good people and ready to face the unexpected is what has gotten me through the roller coaster ride of trying to make a living as an artist.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I’m an avid reader and enjoy history, especially biographies. I encourage artists to pick up books on the artists they admire and dig in. In the past, I had this funny idea that when someone “made it”, that meant they were living on easy street. The more I read about the lives of others is that we all have to go through the messiness of life. There is some comfort in knowing that you aren’t alone.

The Big Picture (2012) by RD Riccoboni is a no-nonsense step by step guide for artists. It is surprising who we have in our own backyard. San Diego artist, entrepreneur and gallerist RD Riccoboni has literally written the book on what it takes to become a successful artist. His common sense approach makes the guide useful to anyone. I’m glad to know him as a mentor and a friend.

The Art Dealers (1984) by Alan Jones and Laura de Coppet has also been a powerful book for me. It’s filled with over 30 essays by some of the great art dealers of the 20th century. All the struggles I have in today’s world trying to convince people to understand or buy art has all been said and experienced before by greater men and women than me. This book really shined a light on the chaos of the art world. The contradictions in the essays also offered the opportunity for me to refine my own beliefs.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.patricstillman.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p.stillman/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patric.stillman
• Other: The Studio Door website: https://thestudiodoor.com

Image Credits
Courtesy of Artist Patric Stillman.