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

Toeknee, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

The first time I ever got money for something I created was in 8th grade someone in my class told me to fill a page with my art and they paid me $10. It was weird honestly because I just drew in class because of adhd or whatever so it wasn’t my intention to ever generate any sort of revenue with my art but $10 seemed worth it at the time and I had no money because I was 14.

Toeknee, 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 got back into my creative journey as a healing process. Honestly. I really didn’t have any really close friends so my art became one. I created one of my best pieces on my birthday. My art is me usually working through my emotions on paper or canvas. I recently started a print on demand service on Etsy with some of my art and with the brand name Throwd on it as a brand to kind just see where it goes. Aside from that I just paint, draw, and will only accept art jobs I like because painting your dog is most likely a no for me.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Back in the MySpace days I was very much an artist but in a different way. I was a singer, songwriter, music producer. I did that for about 5ish years or so and performed a few times. Then I would pick up music here and there still but somehow picked up a brush along the way and here we are today. Believe me this has actually worked out better.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I have injuries that have made art actually a pain to do in my wrists,hands, neck but I strive forward because when I don’t do art I feel emotional and spiritually embalanced. There’s a healing to it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/to3kn33martian?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1438175453&load_webview=1&bid=-Z40ULkQTkjYPgoQXx9ozVnn6RLq
• Instagram: @to3kn33_martian
• Facebook: facebook.com/to3kn33martian