We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Phybr. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Phybr below.

Phybr, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

A lot of what I’ve learned has been through a combination of life experiences and education. I studied graphic design, web design, and IT. Took me years to figure out what I wanted to do for a career the rest of my life so I explored a lot of avenues. Eventually, getting my Associates in IT and dropping out of art school right before graduating with my Bachelors degree. Biggest thing I learned was being able to educate myself on whatever it is that I had interest in or was trying to do. It wasn’t until I began studying graphic design where I really began to understand the purpose of graffiti and how street art is a part of it. If I knew then what I know now, I would have began painting graffiti sooner, haha. Painting graffiti taught me more than I expected, not only about myself, but the culture and how so many things are influenced by it ultimately. There’s a few skills that I found useful both in professional and the real world. Learning about IP law and business helped me really develop a keener sense of business and how to run and operate a successful business.

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

Hi, My artist name is “Phybr” and I am a muralist, artist, educator, and father. I travel the country, city to city, painting murals large to small for clients that include small business owners, corporations, organizations, residential, and commercial. I specialize in painting realistic style portraits, foliage, and many other subjects and my repertoire of style has a broad spectrum. This is what I feel makes my artwork unique – not being afraid to adventure out of my comfort zone to explore the unknown. To me that is the core of discovering something new and learning more. By approaching things with an open mind really helps you to continue to grow and expand the “tools in your tool box”.

This mindset helps you solve many problems for your clients and help deliver that vision they wanted to bring to life.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

It all began when I was out day painting with my old graffiti crew and a couple stopped by to talk, they were friendly and fearless. They mentioned they just purchased this old bank and are converting it into their new home. I ended up meeting up with them and they commissioned me to paint a mural, which was my first commissioned mural. I was working a full-time job as a manager at a commercial greenhouse in Carleton, MI. And I was painting for fun on the side when I had time, it was shortly after I got divorced. It was a great outlet and a great way for me to stay occupied and to meet new friends, create artwork, and work out all the emotions from such a life changing event. It only began to grow from there to getting invited to show in multiple art shows, live painting events, and all the jobs began to slowly trickle in. Little by little, many long nights, early mornings, it began to take off more and more. 5 years later, I choose to leave my career at the greenhouse and pursue art full-time. I got into teaching a summer art program called the Young Artist At Work program in Toledo, OH. And shortly after that I got into the College for Creative Studies as an instructor for their Community Arts Partnership teaching art in Detroit Public Schools. This helped me and my family to survive and I continued to travel and paint murals as much as I could. It was really difficult for a few years until things began to fall into place. It took a lot of support from family and friends to keep me on track and to remind me that I got what it takes to to do this. It really shifted for me a few years ago and things haven’t slowed down one bit. I am extremely grateful to be able to tell his story.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is being able to do what you want and not have a boss or job to answer to. You may have clients and deadlines, but you ultimately set those boundaries and goals. That’s one of the biggest lessons I had to learn being an artist. Unlearning all the things I was taught about working and having a job.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.Phybrart.com
• Instagram: Phybr
• Facebook: Phybr
• Twitter: Phybr_
• Youtube: Phybr Art