We recently connected with Spencer Patrick and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Spencer, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

My initial earnings as a creative stemmed from a commissioned painting. It all began when a family friend noticed my interest in painting and extended a small opportunity to me. This first commission came with a tight deadline, which added a sense of pressure to ensure its timely completion while maintaining the high standards I had set for my work.

The first challenge lay in the painting’s dimensions—it spanned 5 feet in width, making it the most ambitious project I had undertaken at that point in my career. It was a bit daunting, but also an exhilarating prospect. To prepare, I meticulously readied the canvas and gathered all the necessary supplies. Interestingly, the cost of the paints alone amounted to roughly a quarter of my earnings from the commission. However, I saw it as a significant investment in advancing the quality of my work.

For a little over a week, I immersed myself in the creative process—conceptualizing, drafting, and revising until the painting was completed and delivered. It was a pivotal moment when I realized that the income generated could be reinvested into acquiring more materials. This became my strategy for the initial years—to continually channel all profits back into the expenses of subsequent projects, thereby perpetuating the cycle of growth and sustaining my creative endeavors.

Spencer, 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?

Sure, my name is Spencer and my brand is PARCHPAK. it is a visual narrative that I own, run and maintain, expanding upon the story one day at a time. I am currently running the business out of my art studio in Brooklyn, NY.

So what is PARCHPAK?

PARCHPAK embodies the journey of a visionary, on a quest to uncover the vibrancy in life while navigating the complexities of existence. PARCHPAK represents those instances where i paused, realizing the profound significance of being alive. in my youth, i grappled with overwhelming anxiety, fearing the uncontrollable course of events beyond my influence. rather than resisting these thoughts, i have learned to embrace them. through this journey, i have discovered a newfound sense of freedom. i now delve into exploration, reflection, and storytelling, shedding light on my past misconceptions and personal triumphs.

I sell pieces through buyers that express interest, but also offer a few other items at lower price points that have helped expand my consumer market. in 2023, I have expanded into clothing along with print booklets containing my portfolio so far to date. In 2024, I am planning on having my first run of official limited prints of a piece. All paintings and merch can be found on parchpak.com.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I encourage everyone to pursue a creative hobby at the very least. The sense of relief that I am able to get with painting has been unmatched in my lifetime. It is the only outlet that I am able to rely on each and every day to help me express how I am feeling, and encapsulate the state of things surrounding me.

I believe that practicing creativity could improve people’s lives in ways that they have not felt before. In both the sense of documenting feelings and the sense of accomplishment once complete. These are the addictive qualities I’ve obtained since beginning my journey as an artist.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My personal artistic pursuit is fueled by expanding my portfolio to make the work reflect the narrative that I am trying to explain in the most appropriate way. I am finding new ways to express the different stories that I tell, and my excitement lies in the thought that my best work is still yet to come.

Like, I look at my work from 5 years ago, and how much better my work is now. So what does that mean for the work that I’ll make in 5 more years? 10 years? 50 years? it’s so exciting.

Contact Info:

• Website: parchpak.com
• Instagram: @parchpak
• Twitter: @parchpak
• Other: TikTok: @parchpak

Image Credits
Artwork & Images by PARCHPAK