We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful William Lyday. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with William below.

William, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

The biggest risk I ever took was just after I decided to quit my job after being passed up for a promotion, just fresh from a bad breakup, and my landlord in Portland Oregon wasn’t going to renew the lease. I had sold almost everything and packed my bags for mexico. I was living with a childhood friend who happened to get deported, in Puerto Vallarta. I made that jump and was able to live off of commission and freelance work. It was scary at first but also a real confidence booster.
On the back end of that when I returned to the states, I had made a painting reflective of my time in mexico, and almost immediately was asked to contribute to my first museum show at the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art in Santa Fe New Mexico.

William, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve always dabbled in art but really started taking it seriously about 10 years ago. I’m a former standup comic and while I enjoyed my time on the circuit – I just got burned out because I was so competitive.

I gave up standup for the most part, and just started painting and drawing. I had a natural eye for design and I took to it pretty quickly. Occasional commissions turned into regular and repeat commission work, then freelancing, doing some shows, and adding digital art to my repertoire, etc.

I do anything from in house design work, to mural work, to writing copy, to character design. For some people I’m a one stop shop.

I draw from a lot of childhood influences that stuck with me, Wayne White, Keith Haring, Patrick Nagle, and things like Saturday Morning Cartoons and old comic books.

I think what sets me apart from other artists is the sense of humor I’m able to approach things with, and I’m told my use of bright color.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think just knowing I’m better than most everybody.

For reals, I have a million ideas floating through my head at any time, and whats rewarding is the satisfaction of getting those ideas out there on paper.

Secondary to that, I do enjoy the validation when people tell me that they’ve enjoyed something I made.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Yeah, I think revenge.

I’m the kind of guy, where I don’t let anybody tell me what I can’t do.

I had a pretty unsupportive family growing up and was told by an ex-girlfriend once in regards to pursuing art that “that ship has sailed”.

So I just worked twice as hard to prove them wrong. I’M LOOKING AT YOU BROOKE.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://artistwilliamlyday.myportfolio.com/
• Instagram: @w.lydayart