We recently connected with Steven Ecker and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Steven thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
Yes I am! If I wasn’t I wouldn’t be doing it because it’s certainlty a rollercoaster of ups and downs. This creative journey has been endless tests of overcoming my self-doubt, limitations, and staying true to my initution. I have had many internal converstations and battles whether to drop it and go back to a job with more consistent pay and stability. Then I think back to the days where I did work a 9-5 and how much I hated everything about it. When I stuck in a cubicle staring at spreadsheets, I dreamed of creating a business like this. This is all I ever wanted and now it’s really cool that I’ve built a business around making art and teaching art.
Being an artist is an unconvential path in the eyes of society and many people don’t understand it. I’ve have to learn to turn out other people’s opinions, thoughts, and limitations in order to get my vision out into the world. Yes I have my moments where I question this path, but I rather give it my all and see what happens then not see it through.
I’ve so deep into my creative expression where it’ll always be part of my life and I can’t imagine going back a regular job. The way I would describe it is scene in the first Matrix where Neo gets picked up by Trinity to go to meet Morpheus where he presents the red and blue pills. In the car, Neo debates leaving the car to go back to the familiar and Trinity urges him to stay. “You have been down there, Neo. You know that road. You know exactly where it ends. And I know that’s not where you want to be.” I’ll rewatch this scene to remind myself why I do what I do.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Steven Ecker and I am a collage artist. I strive to create art that reflects the human experience. I love combining multiple mediums into my collages, including print, paint, and writing. Each collage is a little glimpse into a moment of my life. I assemble images to connect with you so you can see yourself in my art.
My art is an expression of who I am—all of me. Sometimes I’ll be in my feels making art or be inspired by something around me. Time moves fast and slows at the same time when I college. I get lost in my mind, the art, and the nature of life. This is where my name, Get Lost comes from. I get lost in the creative process and disconnect from all the events in my life. When people look at my art, I want them to lose themselves in it. See themselves in the art and let their mind wander.
Collaging has become therapeutic, meditative, and so freeing for me. The creative flow is an extraordinary place to be in. As adults, it’s easy to forget about the magic of creative flow and free expression. This is why I host collage workshops to create enviroments to remind people that they are artist themselves.
Collage & Connect workshop was created to empower adults to reclaim their inner creative gifts and prove we are all artists in life. The workshop is designed to let go of the day-to-day burdens and get lost in the creative process by making a one-of-a-kind collage.
Since starting in April 2022, I have hosted over 40 workshops in Austin where every participant reclaimed their creative powers. I do these workshops to remind people that yes, are you creative despite whatever story you tell yourself. Each person leaves the class with a piece of art that they could’ve made and get to show it off in their home.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Becoming Supernatural by Joe Dispenza
Real Artists Don’t Starve by Jeff Goins
How did you build your audience on social media?
I focus on a few different ways to interact and attract my followers. I’ve come to realize that simply posting your art doesn’t mean much. Yes, it’s great to show your art but you are also an person. Display the person behind the canvas in addition to the art you make. Things I share on my media accounts is my artwork, events I’m doing, and sharing stories as an artist. The more I share about myself as a person, the more likely someone will support my business. I will often share lessons, realizations, and different ways to look at things. The viewer will start to build a relationship with me as a person and not just my art.
With my stories I usually use a the structure of: make a claim, share a personal story related to claim, and encourage viewer to try it. My intention is always to speak from a place of knowing. If I post a video of me talking, it’s because I have lived and experienced the thing I am presenting.
Also being clear, concise, and simple with the message is huge. Get to point and land the plane.
Social media has so much fluff and content that repeats itself. It feels like everyone just hot potatos trending topics when in reality most haven’t embodied anything they presented. It waste of time for the viewer and creator so I do my best to only share what I found is true to me.
I found since creating the Get Lost profiles, I am more couragous sharing my opinions, thoughts and stories. For my art process videos, I started doing audio journals instead of explaining what I am doing. I foudn it be a great way for me to share a message while you get to watch me make my art. People love watching people make things so I’ll add some thoughts about what I am experiecing in life.
Another focus of mine was being known in Austin first before building a worldwide following. A good portion of my followers have been people I’ve met in Austin.
When I first started my art career, I wanted to find out who were the players in town and get to know them. I used Instagram to idenify artists and organizations in town. I made the effort to reach out and interact with them. Most of the time I would get invited to events they were hosting and I went and made it a point to go introduce myself in person. My goal was to connect with people that were doing what I wanted to do and become friends with them. Focus on the who, not the how.
I am where I am today because of social media. I’ve met amazing people, found new opportunites, and been discovered by random people because of it. I definetly bash social media often and struggle to find the balance of not putting so much value into how many likes or followers I have. It’s very addictive and probably something I wouldn’t be on if I didn’t have this business. I often have conversations with other creatives about not putting so much value into it. Easier said then done but it has been a great tool for me to get my name out there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.getlostcollages.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getlostcollages/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-ecker-8506a98b/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@getlostcollages
Image Credits
Sam Colón Jazmin Elmahdy Joi Conti