Meet Apollo Stuckey

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Apollo Stuckey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Apollo, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

This is such a great question, because over my 15 years of painting I’ve only recently developed the confidence and self-esteem to truly believe that not only am I enough, but my work is enough—and that both my art and I deserve to be in the room.

My lack of confidence came from being a self-taught artist and starting later than most. When I first began, I wasn’t as skilled as others who had been creating art for years, and I hadn’t yet developed my own style. Because even though art was always in my heart, I didn’t officially start painting until my early twenties and had no formal training, I convinced myself that I didn’t deserve a seat at the table.

What changed was discovering who I was as a person which transcended to who I was as an artist. Once I understood that, I intentionally worked on the areas where I wasn’t strong. But most importantly, I refused to give up. I remember looking through a book of famous artists and noticing that many of them started later in life or were teachers first. That realization changed everything for me. It showed me that it’s not about where you start—it’s about where you finish.

That understanding, combined with persistence, self-discovery, and dedication to my craft, is what ultimately gave me confidence.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a muralist, illustrator, and Christian blogger—and interestingly, it took me a long time to figure out the kind of artist I wanted to be. I love creating murals because they allow me to build a vibe and bring life into a space. Whether it’s a store or a daycare, art on the walls transforms an environment and sets the tone.

I am also a published illustrator, which has been a long-time dream of mine. I’ve always loved storytelling, and being able to tell stories through my art brings me so much joy. In addition to my visual work, I am a Christian blogger. I’ve always kept a journal, and now I share those reflections on my website, where I document my journey as a woman walking by faith—believing in Christ and striving to follow God’s Word to the best of my ability. I try to be honest about my slip-ups and mistakes because that transparency is not only real, but therapeutic for me.

As for what’s next, I recently got picked up to illustrate another children’s book, which I’m incredibly excited about. I’ve also been asked to create another mural for a daycare, with details still pending. There’s one opportunity in particular that I’m especially excited about—I’ve just submitted artwork for a dream project. I don’t want to jinx it, so I’ll save that celebration for another time.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The three qualities and skills that are most important to me on my journey are: resiliency, integrity, and grit—or, as my friends and I like to say, you’ve got to have that dog in you.

Resiliency is the ability to adapt and recover despite adversity. On any journey, challenges are inevitable. No one moves forward without facing obstacles, so resiliency is essential to keep going when things don’t go as planned.

Integrity matters because along your journey, you will have to make difficult decisions. Without integrity, it’s easy to compromise your morals and values, which can delay your progress or cause you to fall off the path entirely. Integrity keeps you grounded and aligned, even when shortcuts seem tempting.

And last—but certainly not least—you need grit. That passion and perseverance that pushes you forward no matter what the outcome looks like. Grit is what separates those who succeed from those who say, “I could have.” It makes a way when there seems to be no way and reminds you that you can when everyone else says you can’t.

I truly believe you need all three.

For anyone just starting their journey, my advice is this: find your why and build a solid foundation. When things get tough—and they will—you’ll need something strong to hold onto and a clear reminder of why you started in the first place. And above all, the best way to get better is simple: never quit.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

My biggest area of growth has been learning how to slow down. I’ve shared before that I struggled with feelings of inadequacy because I started my art career later and was self-taught. That mindset made me feel like I had to do everything at once because I believed I was already behind.

Over the past 12 months, God has shown me that His timing is far better than mine. Rushing and overloading myself didn’t make me more successful or accomplished—it only made me tired and stressed. What I’ve learned is that spending three months on one meaningful project is far more valuable than producing forty projects that don’t come close to the quality of that one.

Early on, I was given a lot of well-meaning but misguided advice. I was told I had to constantly put out work, stay relevant, and never let people forget me. As a result, I released a lot of pieces that were subpar.

This past year, I chose a different approach. I slowed down, focused deeply, and poured my best work into just two pieces—and honestly, I’m still eating off of them. That experience taught me that intention, patience, and excellence will always outlast urgency and noise.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ApolloStuckey.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_apollostuckey_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apollo.abrams.77/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ApolloStuckey