We recently connected with Will Eskridge and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Will with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My work ethic definitely comes from my parents. They both worked very hard and believed in a full day’s work. Mom waited tables and took care of two kids while my dad was working hard going back to school full-time at age 28 to become a veterinarian. Once I came along (making it a total of 3 kids), my dad started his own veterinary practice and all of us helped out at the clinic as a family. From about the age of 11 mom and dad had us kids out at the “little brick building” helping out. We cleaned the kennels, swept, mopped, answered phones, filed records, greeted clients, and assisted with animals. We did all of this after school, on some weekends and definitely during the summers. We weren’t the best helpers, but this experience definitely instilled a hard work ethic and helped teach us the value of a dollar.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
At the moment I am continuing my artistic career while exploring other creative outlets like music and writing. I am releasing a brand new series for my solo exhibit at Two Rivers Arts in Spruce Pine, NC this March. I will also have a booth at various Artist Markets in the Atlanta area this spring and summer. Along with painting I have also been releasing tiny kinetic sculptures and accompanying music on every new moon of this year as a year long project entitled “Lucky 13 New Moons”. And lastly I am writing a non-traditional experimental book tentatively titled, Color Will.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Perseverance, dedication, and showing up. No matter what, I have never given up. I continue to improve myself and my artistic skills by showing up. Everyday I show up to the easel, the work table, or the sketchbook. I am always brainstorming. It’s a bit hard to turn off sometimes, but I just love art-making so much. My advice would be to never wait for inspiration. That being said, always bring a piece of paper and pencil everywhere you go (you never know what idea will pop in your head). Always show up. Whether I have an art exhibit at the local coffee shop or at a white wall gallery, I put all my fun marketing into it.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The best thing my parents did for me (aside from support) was my dad taught me to sweep and mop. And my mom taught me how to be resourceful. My dad taught me to sweep and mop and take pride in that. I didn’t always do it right, but he showed me how important the follow through is otherwise you’re just pushing dirt into the corners and not really cleaning. My mom’s resourcefulness came out of necessity while they weren’t making much money when Dad first started out on his own. This resourcefulness had an impact on my art-making as I seem to find what I need even when I think I don’t have the tool or material. I can find SOMETHING to use. Limitations breed fantastic creations.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.willeskridge.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/willeskridgeart
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/will.eskridge.artist
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/willeskridge
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/willeskridge
Image Credits
Self photo: Joshua Jones Photography others: me
