We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Preston Craig a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Preston, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
I guess it depends on which aspect of my creative life one is referring. As for my painting, no, I haven’t been able to earn a living from that. However, I do have a degree in graphic design and illustration and that has served me well. Even though I’m only freelancing now, at one time in the not too distant past, I was working full time as a graphic designer and illustrator. Based on my portfolio of freelance work, a company hired me to create art for slides for their clients. Some of the work was very creative, some of it was boring but I worked for that company for 1 1/2 years. With that experience under my belt, I soon became employed by an aerospace firm in Long Beach. I was only there for about 6 months before I accepted an assignment in Norway doing the same kind of work. I worked for that company for a year, spent two months traveling around Europe, came back to the U.S., freelanced for a bit and then got hired for another assignment in England, where I worked for a year and a half. After my contract was completed there, I spent another two months traveling around Europe before I returned to the U.S. I spent the next few years freelancing in computer graphics, illustration and mural creating. Eventually, there were some very lean times but due to my mural work and theatrical backdrop work history, I got hired to create murals and faux finishes on the Paris Casino in Las Vegas and then spent 8 months doing the same thing at a 60,000 sq. ft shopping center in Tokyo, Japan. Looking back on it, there are some things I definitely would have done differently, like save more money from my flush times to do a better job of carrying me through the lean times. Knowing what I know now, I would have spent more time advancing my career in computer graphics. They say, no knowledge is wasted and i can attest to that. The work I’ve created as a graphic artist, illustrator, muralist and painter, led me to be accepted into an MFA program, where I graduated Cum Laude. This has allowed me to pursue a career, part-time, as an educator.
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.
Well, you already know quite a bit from the first paragraph I filled out but to go into more detail, I always drew as a child and my mom was instrumental in helping me get a college scholarship to help me pursue my creative dreams. After graduating with a B.A., I freelanced for a bit as a graphic designer and then moved to Atlanta for 3 months because my job prospects were better there. However, that didn’t pan out and I returned to my home, I did a bit more freelancing, sold several pieces of my art at various exhibitions and then secured a position as a full-time illustrator under the Nat’l Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations “Seagrant” program at LSU. I worked there for 1 1/2 years. It was a good job but I wanted more and was stifled by the small town mentality that is/was Baton Rouge. Having attended a few sci-fy conventions where I exhibited some of my art, I had made some friends and decided to move to Los Angeles, where I felt I would have more opportunities. That move launched me on the path that has led to where I am today. I have worked as a graphic designer/illustrator/storyboard artist in the film industry, the tv industry, the theatrical industry (and done a bit of acting myself), the voice over industry, the aerospace industry, the military complex as a technical illustrator and I have owned my own business. I donated my creative talent to several charitable causes and have been recognized by the Los Angeles City Council and other agencies. I had a faux finish/mural business for a few years and created murals on Hollywood Blvd and CBS Studios, but after earning my MFA, after my mural business kind of fizzled, I started a new business from my thesis project called “Twisted Teddys”, a series of socially relevant teddy bear images, of which I am very proud (https://twistedteddys.com). I had a one man show at the Hive Gallery in Los Angeles for my Twisted Teddys and it was one of the best attended exhibits that they had had. I love the positive response I have gotten to my teddys wherever I go. I get quite a bit of laughter. I sell all kinds of merchandise on RedBubble – look for 1Artdude, but generally, it’s the t-shirts that sell the most. A portion of any sales I generate from my teddy merchandise, goes to the charitable organizations that address the issues my teddy bears depict. I still freelance as a graphic artist on occasion but have devoted more of my time to promoting my teddys and to my fine art. In addition, I have almost completed a murder mystery novel based on my teddys, tentatively titled, “Detective Dan – the Mean Streets of Teddytown”. I have taught art as an Adjunct College Professor at UCLA and other colleges around Los Angeles. At present, I am the CEO of a new startup toy company called Kids, Pets & More, Inc. (https://kidspetsnmore.com). We don’t have any products on the market as yet but have several in the prototype phase. We are in our fundraising phase but one of our first products that will be introduced will be a plush version of my character, Redneck Teddy, and like my Twisted Teddys, a portion of the sales generated will be donated to charitable organizations.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
In my journey working in various creative disciplines and industries, I realized, somewhat early on, that creatives are not really valued for their contribution to society. For the longest time it seems, the image of the creative was the tortured, self-destructive artist that was barely making it on their own while pursuing their passion and who relied heavily on the kindness of strangers or friends in order to get by. When a creative told someone else that they were an artist, the usual first question from that person was, where do you work or what’s your day job? Art to them seemed more like a hobby, rather than a profession. I don’t think the average person realizes just how much creatives contribute to society or the struggles because they don’t make the connection. The writer that writes ad or script copy, the graphic designer who illustrates and designs packaging for a product or an ad campaign, the billboard images that were created in a studio somewhere, the murals that seem to suddenly appear on building walls, the clothing that was designed by a fashion designer using textile designs created by a textile artist, the furniture designed by a product designer, the interior spaces designed by an interior designer, the buildings designed by an architect, etc., etc. I could go on and on. People are literally surrounded by visual art so much that they take it for granted and it never occurs to them that the very spaces they traverse everyday and the very thing they are holding in their hands and are considering purchasing, that somewhere, there is a creative individual that had a hand in helping to create it. I feel when most people think of what an artist is, they think of paintings on a wall, or sculpture in a garden, or perhaps a favored ceramic bowl on their coffee table. The just don’t seem to realize the enormous contribution to society that creatives make, and I haven’t even covered musicians or actors. I don’t think the average person realizes the sacrifices a creative individual makes in order to pursue their passion. I’ve had my work stolen and have been screwed over by an unscrupulous business partner to the tune of $50K so personally speaking, my life has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, between some amazing successes to some absolute depressing fallow periods. Often times, it is a difficult life choice to be a creative and to pursue one’s passions, but really, there is no other choice. Lastly, always get a written contract.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
So, many good questions and I wish I had the time to address them all since I have had so many experiences as a creative, from the depths of blinding depression to the highs of being recognized by one’s peers. I’m kind of split on my answer to this question. Certainly, one of the most rewarding aspects is being able to pursue my passion, despite all the hardships. Creating my art, making sales and being publicly recognized for my talent certainly gives one a sense of self worth. Also, one of the most rewarding aspects of being a creative, is that I’ve been able to visit 18 different countries and didn’t need to join the military to see the world. I’ve lived for a time in three separate countries (other than my home country) and I’ve met some amazing, creative people from various cultures and ethnic groups. I’ve witnessed some incredible art from the Renaissance masters, to the Asian masters to the Modern masters. Wherever I went, I never felt fearful or threatened (except here in the U.S.). People always greeted me with kindness, even if I didn’t speak their language. From a personal belief, I feel that the U.S. should pass a law that when one reaches the age of 18, they have to go live in another country that speaks a different language other than their own. I think that would solve a multitude of political issues. But, getting back on track, having my work chosen to be published in a few different magazines and a book, was definitely a high. In addition, every time I wear one of my teddy t-shirts and I get a positive reaction from someone it just confirms my validity as an artist and in what I’m doing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.behance.net/PrestonArts, https://twistedteddys.com, https://prestonfinearts.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twistedteddys
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twistedteddys, https://www.facebook.com/prestonc2
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonarts
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/PrestonArtz
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi5GWrzGhqfL55cL1tIhdLg