Meet Barry Shapiro

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

Barry, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever had any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?

Blocks happen to all artists. When I hit a rut I find it helpful to have a small, fun side project to move over to. Something meaningless and fun and one that doesn’t take up a lot of time or space. That distraction allows me to take my mind off whatever I’m frustrated with but stay in the creative zone.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m an artist and art instructor. I teach at the Vero Beach Museum of Art and also at a local elementary school. My background is in art but also film and advertising so I’m pretty diverse.

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?

I could always draw. Drawing is an essential skill for an artist no matter the style or medium.
I don’t like giving advice. I’d just say follow your passion.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

This is a great question because I believe that reading is a very important part of our development as a civilization. I’ve always been a reader and I still read actual books. I don’t like reading on a device but I know for some that works. When I was a kid I was a ravenous reader but I think the book that had the greatest impact on me was To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. The story really resonated with me and still does all these years later. Later in college I read The Razor’s Edge by Maugham and Siddhartha by Hesse, stories of people searching which was exactly what I was doing then and that meant a lot to me. Always keep searching and learning. That’s the message

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shapirostudioart.com
• Instagram: BarryShapiro
• Facebook: Barry Shapiro

Image Credits

Self portrait in pen and ink