We were lucky to catch up with Lyndon Probst recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lyndon , appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Im sure you’ve heard the quote: “Only boring people get bored.”
For me, this rings true. It’s essential to make connections and draw parallels between all subjects to create as much interrelativity as possible. This way everything becomes integral to my process allowing work to be a conversation open to all. Ultimately I am making work to further understand broader aspects of the world and to solve my own problems in life. I hope that when I contribute my work to this world it acts as a tool for others to pause on, think about and become inspired by as well.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Lyndon Probst b. 1989. I am a full time visual artist, primarily focused on painting. I have had studios in places such as Cincinnati, Over the Rhine (Ohio), Los Angeles, Chinatown (CA) and currently practicing full time in San Francisco, Mission District (CA). I am interested in making work that is esthetically pleasing and metaphorically provocative. One of my first interests is the creation of illusions – the interplay of sensuousness and structure, the logical and irrational, the exploration of the strange versus the familiar, and the indulgence of playful, free-associating fantasy. Using beauty’s harmonious unity of purpose and form, my work offers visual puns of both a physical and symbolic nature. The pieces are bold and simple, contradictory and suggestive. The joy of creative discovery, the open-ended narrative and experimentation in concept, technique and application fuel my passion. My curiosity to seek new ways to engage is a commitment to my belief that the function of art is to ceaselessly renew perception and perspective. The idea behind my exploration of work is inspired by the three primary shapes; a circle, square, and triangle with the intersection of harmonious color and values. I want produce work that everyone can relate to. I have been exploring shaped canvases for the past 8 years. I feel that stretching the canvas over the bespoke stretcher frames emphasizes the expression of the imagery while maintaining its integrity. I strive to reach an outcome that feels current in this very digitally driven society. The artwork has to be relevant to this day and age whilst maintaining a certain individuallity. My goal with this is to marry traditional and contempory painting techniques.
I usually paint for private collectors all over the world, but have shown in several galleries and worked on numerous public art projects whilst maintaining a web shop where I occasionally release limited prints, shirts, stickers, enamel pins, etc. I am currently seeking gallery representation.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Trial and error is the most important- Just start doing a thing! The process might be challenging, then it might be awesome and then it might be challenging again – same for the outcome (the art itself). Just remember, you are never failing if you are always learning.
Don’t follow others’ lead. Sure, look at what they are doing, but don’t just ask them how they are doing it or try to copy. Figure out how to do something yourself. What works for them might not work for you. Figuring things out for yourself not only allows you to master that skill, but it also allows for your authentic self to be seen in the outcome.
Try and stay consistent with your intentions. Bridging the gap between setting intentions and achieving them appropriately is the true art form. Keep making small, regular efforts toward your goals, day in and day out. This process of consistent action is what turns our intentions into reality.
As cheesy as it sounds… I didn’t choose the art life, the art life chose me.
The way I see it is, I am an artist from day one until day none.
How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client is someone who shares my sense of wonder and discovery, who understands by purchasing a piece of work they are investing in the artist and their vision. The art is simply a token in appreciation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lyndonprobst.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/lyndonprobst
- Other: @lyndonprobst.bsky.social
Image Credits
Lyndon Probst
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
