Unsure about where his graphic design career was headed after a couple years into his first job out of college, Adam Vicarel took off for Asia where he taught himself the art and skill of hand lettering. Adam’s experiences in Asia changed his mindset and laid the foundation for his future. He intentionally bypassed the rat race and has been able to map his own way, creating the art, work and lifestyle he envisioned.
After teaching high school art for a couple years, Patrick Maxcy quit his job to become a full-time artist. He quickly discovered that art is only part of the equation for any professional artist and makes sure to focus an equal amount of time and effort on the business aspects of his work too. Nearly 10 years in, Patrick’s still going strong. In our chat, we talk about dealing with doubt, getting into galleries and finding new clients.
Painter & muralist Pedro Barrios “never intentionally” tried to become an artist. In fact, he actually has degrees in marketing and nursing to prove that he didn’t. Pedro is now working as a full-time artist as 50% of Denver’s The Worst Crew with fellow artist Jaime Molina. In our conversation, we talk about finding work through developers, understanding client needs and why they stopped signing their work.
Alaskan Filmmaker Ben Sturgulewski draws his inspiration from his love of the outdoors, so it’s no surprise that after spending some time in the lower 48, he took a risk and moved back to a tiny Alaskan town. The risk paid off and he’s been able to both stay busy with work and create a life that suits him well. In our conversation, we talk about why collaboration is key, how relinquishing control can reduce stress + why you should follow your own path.
Flip McCririck is a photography veteran, working for various publications, big brands (like Nike, Red Bull, Target) and some of the most well-known skiers of our generation. The industry has no doubt shifted since he got into the game some decades ago, but much of his advice has no expiration. In our conversation, we talk about how to pivot into another industry, how to target ideal clients + how to make yourself more marketable to commercial clients.
After spending many years away from Colorado painting commercial billboards and murals, Patrick Kane McGregor is back in his hometown of Denver honing his style and developing his commission business. His reputable standing as an artist, work ethic and solid network of collaborators are gaining him the artistic control he desires.
“From that point on I gave up caring about what everybody else was doing and focused on my art. That’s my drive, to prove to myself that I can be a successful living artist.” Originally from South Carolina, Denver-based painter James André has been a full-time artist for over 5 years. At 25 he decided to follow his dream and dedicate himself to his art. In our conversation, James shares how he knew he was ready to go full time, his biggest challenge as an artist + how he structures his time.
Married artists Lindz and Lamb play off of each other’s strengths to keep moving forward in their business + marriage. They also understand that their long-term success depends not only on themselves, but also on the collective strength of their community. In our conversation, Lindz and Lamb share why reinvesting profits into your art pays dividends, how no artist gets to where they are entirely on their own + what key factor is imperative for surviving as an artist.
Matchstick Productions’ (MSP) partners Murray Wais, Steve Winter + Scott Gaffney have created some of the most important and groundbreaking ski films of all time. We sat down with Murray in MSP’s office in Crested Butte, Colorado, to talk about how they’re stayed relevant for 30 years, how they’ve navigated the digital revolution + how they’ve managed to maintain a healthy business partnership.
