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

Alright, Ray thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

As a child I wanted to be like Indiana Jones. Traveling the world and exploring new places. I would sneak off with a neighborhood friend to a nearby creek where we would take rope we’d found in our parents garage and make makeshift ropes courses and swings. It was the jungle despite being in rural suburban northern California. It was the 90’s and 2000’s so kids weren’t supervised as much and I’m thankful for that.

Being a curious child meant wondering what you could make, how can we get to the other side without getting wet? I became a dreamer and a problem solver.
I do feel like a creative life is really about exploring. Exploring mediums, subjects, and yourself. Tackling problems which can be trying to make your imprint on something while representing a bit of your own creative style. Figuring out how to be creatively fulfilled and make ends meet. I always knew that I was destined for an adventure, and that is part of what living an artistic life is about.

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?

When I was 16 I camped along a river with my family. I fell asleep listening to the river, and I knew then, I wanted to spend a lot of my nights that way. When I was 19 I went to guide school to become a whitewater rafting guide. I lived in a tent by the river and had friends who did the same. We woke up with the sunrise, no alarm necessary, if you tried to sleep in the heat would sweat you out. It was fabulous, though I spent the last of my money (I had previously saved up money working as a graveyard shift baker) on guide school, and my life jacket and helmet and $100 rent to camp at the campground. I called home to ask for help. My mother told me, if I didn’t have enough money for food, I should just come home. I didn’t I said I would figure it out, and I started bussing tables at the campground. Which no one invited me to do, but I would just wander into a camp and say “Oh, let me help you with that” and start cleaning dishes, and when they offered me a free meal, I said “Oh gee, thank you very much” as if that wasn’t my intention the whole time. I solved that first problem, and eventually started to get jobs on the river. A lot of times through the same means of showing up uninvited and working hard and hoping that someone would take pity and give me paid work. Fast forward twelve years and I have guided internationally on trips ranging from 1 to 15 days in the wilderness.
My life as a guide is tied to my life as a creative and a problem solver. You have to go with the flow, and sometimes find a plan B, C, or D. I started my creative business out of a want for a side hustle in the off season of rafting to supplement my income, and to have income that wasn’t tied to my physical well being.
I started out as a tee shirt company, the margins weren’t good enough for me for wholesale, and that’s when I shifted to stickers. (Which I still recommend as a great way to get art out into the world. It’s affordable, has good margins, and nobody already has too many stickers). As I kept up with both my river life, and my artistic life I found myself taking my evenings by the river, to draw just 30 more minutes and flesh out an idea. I brought my ipad with me, which on the edge of the Wild and Scenic Rivers sometimes felt like a taboo. My artistic income started to become more than my guiding income, and I have shifted focus a little over the years. I still find that I am most drawn to outdoors brands, and my connection to the outdoors is evident in my work.
I really enjoy collaborating with companies and highlighting the things they value, and bringing it into the conversation through art and often humor. I have a few different styles, but I think they are connected through humor, and nature. I have always loved team projects, and enjoy making a client feel a part of the creative process. It usually ends up better for both of us, with the client also feeling they had creative voice in their ultimate design.

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

We all have the ability to direct our lives, and while that is true of all of us, I think as artists it is glaringly true. Working as and artist- that is a choice you actively make.
Many occupations require hard work and discipline, but working as a creative entrepreneur you are accountable to yourself. It’s not a typical clock in and clock out kind of work.

Being an artist is self directed. You place your bets, and you get to work. It doesn’t always pan out and that’s the game, but sometimes when it does, oh my goodness, when it does and you just get to marvel at the good fortune of having bet on yourself. It’s a beautiful and magical life and I think when you’ve chosen the beauty and caught the sunsets, and the collaborations with other inspiring and energizing makers and shakers its hard not to be grateful.

One of the most rewarding aspects of being an artist is being able to share the good company of other creative, innovative problem solvers, and adventurous spirits who see beauty in the world and work to make more of it.

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

For a long time I lamented that I had not studied graphic design or art in college. Later I was made aware of the array of online learning resources, and I don’t regret a penny I have spent on any of them. Skillshare and Domestika were big for me, I became proficient at Adobe and pattern making as well as editing softwares. I had never considered myself computer savvy growing up, but now I feel pretty darn competent behind the keyboard.

Also this might be cheesy, but the biggest resource would be confidence. Knowing that at any age, you can learn something new and become good at something you’ve never even heard of before. And likely, there are books, podcasts, and resources online that can help you.

Also, I think having the resource of community has been game changing. It’s incredible to think that many other creatives I’ve connected to online have become such close friends, peers and cheerleaders for me. It’s made being a solo business not feel so lonely.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.insecuri-tee.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insecuri_tee/