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

Phil, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

WAY back. I remember telling my parents I wasn’t going to college (I did end up going). I was in grade school. I was making money designing and selling book covers made out of paper bags that would go over the hardback school books we used. I was always drawing and making things, or taking them apart to see how they work. Electronics never really interested me, it was gears, switches, automatons, things that worked because they worked, not magical electricity. I remember getting in trouble very young for dismantling my dad’s drill to see what was in it. This led me to making things. I’m a maker. Always have been. I have to make things. Create things. Do things. I can’t just sit. Currently I am working on learning an app called Nomad. It’s a sculpting program for 3D printing. Fascinating stuff. I hated it at first but I see now the power it holds in being able to quickly alter something that would normally take me hours to fix in the physical world. The head looks to small, Yoink! fixed. no resculpting. wow. It’s nowhere near as fun as dong it by hand, but like all computer stuff, it’s all about saving time.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

In my last year at Ball State, I asked Mr. Gee, my drawing instructor, “Where is the money in fine art?” He looked me square in the face and said flatly, “Art supplies.” I decided to leave and went to Ivy tech to learn graphic design. At least that’d give me a chance to do some art I could sneak into projects. From there I started illustrating and designing hundreds of book covers at a company called Howard Sams & Masters Press. One particular book was about women’s body building. I decided instead of drawing, I’d sculpt a bust, then bury it in clay. each chapter I’d dig it out a bit more until her final sculpted physique is revealed. It was a hit and I fell in love with sculpting. I don’t even have pictures or remember the name of the book now! My work now is sculpting pieces I love. I only make things I want to see. That way, if no one else likes it, I get to keep it! Seriously, that is my philosophy. I do it for me. If it makes me happy or laugh, done.
Strangely tho, that is what has made me successful. There are a lot of weirdos out there that like the same type of things I do, and my take on them. I’ve found a little niche on kickstarter. I put my things out there, people buy them and the extras I have left over from the campaign I sell at conventions. Molds of my work last maybe 30 castings, after that they fall apart. So all of my pieces are limited editions. I even have certificates of authenticity because there are people out there that recast art.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I don’t have much of one, but social media is just like a gallery. The owner of a gallery wants someone who puts out work. They look at you as “can this person keep me in art if it sells?” You have to have content. As long as you keep creating and putting it out there, you’ll be found. I had a patreon for a while. It works but is a lot to keep up. you have a month by month subscription from people and have to keep putting out content so that people stay subscribed. It got to be a bit much for me to handle. Maybe I’ll try again sometime. Right now I am playing with Kickstarter. Every time I put a new project on there, the people that follow me are notified. I then post it on Facebook and such. It’s worked fairly well building an audience.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

When you find like minded people. People who “get you”. You see their eyes light up when they see your booth. They want to talk to you about the art, they tell stories, they buy something you created for their own. That is rewarding. Knowing someone puts their hard earned cash into you and your vision. They want a piece of your world. Want to forward your journey. Be a patron of your art. That’s wonderful.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.findphil.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PVelikanArt