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

Tyler, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

My journey into full-time creative work is quite unique. I initially had a full-time corporate technical job in the aviation industry. However, when the pandemic hit and the travel industry suffered, I seized a unique opportunity to leave the company while still maintaining some benefits for a short period of time. This became the turning point for me to take a leap of faith into pursuing my passion as a 3D hair artist.

Contrary to what I initially expected, my transition wasn’t a period of rest. Instead, my business scaled up rapidly because my art gained global viral attention. The wonderful yet unexpected surge in demand and recognition propelled my journey as a 3D hair artist. While the growth was rapid, I had taken the precautionary step of saving enough money to sustain myself for several months even if my business didn’t generate income immediately. Looking back, this financial preparation played a crucial role in giving me the flexibility to focus on my creative work without immediate financial pressures.

After being a full-time artist for 2.5 years, I made a strategic decision to reintegrate into the corporate world for added stability. Balancing both art and corporate responsibilities has been my approach for about a year now. The key lesson learned is the importance of being prepared for the unexpected and being willing to pivot when necessary. In terms of speeding up the process, while I believe preparation is crucial, the unpredictability of success in the creative industry sometimes requires adaptability more than acceleration.

Here is some advice for an up-and-coming entrepreneur/creative:
-Embrace the unexpected: Be prepared for the unpredictability of the creative industry and be flexible in adapting to sudden changes.
-Financial planning: Save enough money to sustain yourself during the initial phases when your creative business might not generate consistent income.
-Balancing act: If needed, consider balancing your passion with a stable job to mitigate financial risks and provide a safety net.
-Continuous learning: Always be open to learning and evolving, as both the creative and business landscapes can change quickly.
-Passion and Persistence: Stay passionate about your business and persist through challenges. Success may come when you least expect it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My Dual Degrees in Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering from Spelman College and Georgia Institute of Technology initiated my career at a legacy airline. Soon after, I splashed art into the mix. One day I had the thought of adding synthetic hair to my artwork and it went viral on social media. I realized there was a market for my product and decided to focus on hair art. In 2020, while continuing to work in corporate by day and as an artist by night, I decided to take a leap of faith! My 3-dimensional hair paintings led me to trade in the friendly skies for a paint brush, full time. Since becoming an artist, my paintings continue to go viral on social media and I have enjoyed creating art for celebrities, such as Taraji P Henson, Saweetie, Common and Burna Boy. I have been humbly honored to have several paintings auctioned at the annual Wearable Arts Gala; hosted by Mrs. Tina Knowles. Along with a partnership with Mastercard, as a featured artist at the Apollo Theater, highlighting a 23-piece collection. I also became a contestant on Instant Influencer Season II. My art has been featured on a Walmart Black Creativity commercial campaign and also featured at the BET Her Awards. My goal is to redefine what beauty looks like, which is the power of being a mixed-media artist. My paintings are personal to me as a Black woman with natural hair, which is such a culturally relevant topic in the Black community. Many of us have experienced a difficult time managing our hair. We have been really focused on learning how to properly care for our hair and there has been a major shift in the natural hair movement. We want to embrace our natural curls and coils. Visual representation is essential. We need to see beautiful artwork that we can identify with. My goal is to create powerful art that highlights Black beauty and hair versatility. Inspire by Tyler promotes self-love, faith and women’s empowerment. I understand the challenges associated with having natural hair, I want to beautify this experience.

In order to transform the culture and shift the atmosphere, you must start from within the community. I appreciate opportunities to be present at events in my hometown, Chicago. Whether it is an opportunity to display my art or be a speaker at an event and share my story. What is so interesting though, is the power of social media. Although I live in Chicago, I have the ability to build a community that is global. I would like to explain the impact of my art and how it connects to our hair experience and self-love journey. My goal is to share my art and story with my network and help change their perspective. This is bigger than the art for me, it is about how I can use my life and translate my experiences in a way that is well received by others. I use my life lessons to educate black girls and women on alternative perspectives. I have truly dedicated my life to my mental health journey and overall well being. I am invested in becoming the healthiest version of myself. I want to share this with someone who maybe hasn’t had that influence or perspective. The way I look at it is, I went through it, so let me explain my story so you don’t have the same difficult experiences.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In the pre-pandemic era, my primary avenue for selling art was through in-person events. However, when the landscape shifted, and attending events became nearly impossible, I found myself at a crossroads that demanded a pivot. Recognizing the need for a stronger online presence, I made strategic investments in overhauling my e-commerce platform and ramping up marketing efforts. These decisions turned out to be among the best I could have made at the time.

The redesign of my website not only enhanced the overall customer experience but also was instrumental in increasing sales, thanks to a collaboration with a marketing agency at the time. The success, though, came with its own set of challenges as the increased demand required a significant adjustment in my operational approach.

Conversely, there came a point when my business experienced a downturn. Seizing the opportunity for stability, I made the decision to return to corporate life. This pivot, while perhaps not as glamorous as being a full-time artist, was undeniably crucial to my overall success. It served as a reminder of the importance of adaptability in navigating the unpredictable ebbs and flows of business performance.

Embracing these twists and turns has taught me the value of being open-minded with my life. I’ve come to appreciate that each pivot, whether towards heightened success or a more stable foundation, plays an important role in the broader narrative of my journey.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is witnessing the transformative journey of creating something impactful from a blank canvas. There’s so much joy in seeing my creations evolve into beautiful pieces that positively impact the world. My passion lies in crafting art that celebrates Black women and accentuates the beauty of our natural hair.

I love when people encounter my art for the first time and experience that unmistakable chill—a reaction to the emotional resonance of the work. It’s in those moments that I feel a connection to something greater, recognizing how God is working through me and within me.

Being an artist also provides me with the privilege of uplifting my team, offering them unique opportunities for growth and expression. It’s immensely fulfilling to share in their successes and contribute to their journeys.

There’s a special excitement in seizing unique opportunities, such as creating a custom painting for the Ms. Lauryn Hill and the Fugees. These moments, though not always easy, encapsulate the uniqueness and beauty of my story. The challenges, the hard work, and the dedication to my craft are all part of a journey that I find truly worthwhile.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://inspirebytyler.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirebytyler
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inspirebytyler
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/65718569/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/inspirebytyler
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/inspirebytyler
• Other: TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@inspirebytyler Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/inspirebytyler/

Image Credits
Sabrina Eagles-Clark Taylor Malloy James Mendez Elijah Wells