Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Landon Fraker. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Landon 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 was passed down to me through my family lineage partly but also instilled in me as a young boy by my dad. My grandfather never stops working even to his detriment. The same goes for my dad who worked very hard his whole life to make sure my brother and I were taken care of. Growing up I was given a lot of opportunities to develop good work ethic. I was taught the importance of completing work and doing it well, doing it with purpose. My dad was always there to encourage me to work harder and be mindful about the work I was doing. I resisted at times but I began to see the benefits and the results in the world around me. That carried on into my endeavors as I tried to find my purpose and “career”. I’m grateful for those lessons because they enabled me to work for myself and create beautiful things with hard work.
I do believe however that there is a balance and it is easy for a person with great work ethic to overwork themselves. I saw it in my dad and still see it in my grandfather. I’m grateful for that lesson as well because seeing them overworked gave me a chance to reflect on striking a balance between hard work and well-needed rest.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
When I started my journey of finding something I could create a steady income with, I first tried selling homemade artisan breads at a farmers market. I dreamt of having my own bakery. Soon I was hired on as head baker at a new bakery that was opening up. I worked there for 3 years before I tried shifting gears and opening something of my own with other partners, a pizza restaurant and bakery. That never came to fruition though and I was again sitting with the thought of how I would make an income on my own. Enter my long time interest of drawing and painting. My life partner had been going to music festivals and working for food vendors and she discovered a few artists selling work and truly making a living doing it. She returned home telling me about them and how she thought we might have a chance at something like that. I started doing more and more paintings and pushing myself to be consistent and learn more techniques. I made a few paintings of my favorite subjects, animals, and posted them on my social media to see how they were received. To my surprise, they sold! Mostly to friends, some to family, but it was encouraging enough to keep me going. It lit a fire under me and soon my partner and I were booking small art shows locally and trying to get into music festivals. It snowballed from there, I kept selling artwork and getting great compliments. I dove headfirst into painting more and more, honing my craft as I went.
Now, I am proud to say that I make a full time living from selling my art at festivals and art shows. As an artist it is easy to get down on yourself and forget the purpose of your work but every time I show my work my fans show up for me and reignite the creative fire in me. I see the spark in children’s eyes. I receive amazing compliments and encouragement from others. It reminds me that THIS is why I do what I do. To bring beauty into the world and inspire conversations.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities that were most impactful for my journey were great work ethic, love for the beauty in the world and most of all support from my friends and family. I am still considerably early in my journey, but my advice to anyone starting out woukd be simple. Be you. There is no one like you. Work hard, be diligent and be you. You will need to emulate others to find yourself, but don’t forget the end goal which is always to find yourself and share that with the world.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents played a huge role in encouraging me to do what I wanted to do. They have always supported my artwork and are probably my biggest collectors. My grandmother was right there with them. She has my artwork all over her house, from when I was a child up to my current work. They all have been there for me along the way. It sounds simple, but the most impactful thing that my parents did for me was support me and my interests.
Contact Info:
- Website: LandonFraker.com
- Instagram: @landonfrakerart
- Facebook: Landon Fraker Art
- Other: Etsy Shop : Landon Fraker Art
