We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ross Severson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ross thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Being happy as an artist or creative, I think is a struggle everyone faces. Self-employment can be such a freeing experience but the drawbacks can have an extremely negative impact on your mental health. I have two children and a wife to support so financial health is constantly on my mind. Making art for a living means droughts in pay, no work related health care and that nagging question of if I am spending my time wisely. This is when the thought of should I just get a regular job arises most frequently. Losing faith in what you are doing can truly become a burden if you let it. I’ve found that consistently showing up to do the work is the best solution. Treating everyday like you are going to a job and focusing on the tasks at hand rather than getting drowned by self-doubt. Learning to accept failures and artistic blocks is all part of the process and helps lead you to new places. At the end of the day I would choose being an artist over any regular job.

Ross, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a self-taught artist. living and working in Milwaukee,WI. My journey into the art world was born of necessity. As a teenager I was a musician and found myself constantly in need of artwork for concert flyers, t-shirts, and album artwork. There was no money to pay artists or designers so everything had to be done DIY. Working in a bookstore, I began to use the discarded magazines to collage artwork together that we would later screen print in a basement. Necessity turned into an obsession. Art didn’t require collaboration like a band. My free time became consumed with learning about and creating art. Over the course of the last twenty years I have been exploring art and using it to document my search for who I am.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Artists and creatives have always been on the fringes of society but are responsible for what I think makes life a unique and wonderful experience. Artists, writers, film makers and so many more create images and words that help us tap into the human experience and help translate the joys, heartaches and essential questions of our time. They help us to escape the mundane and often so many see so little profit, or funding for their projects. Supporting an artist can be as simple as sharing their work with others and helping to spread the word and as difficult as choosing to spend your hard earned money. Rather than buying massed produced art try to find local artists or friends to support. Not only will you end up with something more meaningful and less disposable but you will also come away with a new experience.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is having the freedom to explore new ideas. Everyday can seem like an adventure into the unknown and with the unknown comes fear, surprises, and moments of extreme joy. Nothing is better than talking with someone who is truly moved by a piece of art I have created.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ross-severson.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/414modern/