We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nate Libby. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nate below.
Nate, 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?
As artists, musicians, and creatives, I think this is one of the most challenging areas to dive into. We will try a re-branding. We focus on climbing the so-called ladder instead of doing what we love, and we all feverishly read “The Artist’s Way” from cover to cover, year after year.
I try to exist as a creative in every aspect of my life, career, relationships, etc. It’s not like my creativity is bound to my visual art. As someone who has, historically, perceived the world differently than others, it’s hard not to live this way. I take on new challenges by thinking them through as I would a piece of art. — What am I trying to accomplish? What are new and alternate ways to get to Outcome A that I have not tried? If we are trying to blend together A and B, how can I accomplish this with meaning? Can a small detail make a big difference?
The creativity is never really dead, it just moves from one area of life to the next. My self-expression is my creativity. If I am having trouble expressing myself through my visual art, I focus this way of thinking elsewhere. How can I approach my day job with the same passion? Can I heal or open up new relationships by thinking and communicating differently? Trying new things, taking on new ventures, and looking differently at my day-to-day. These are all ways that I am constantly flexing my creative muscles.
If you think you’ve hit a block, don’t backtrack. Just use that same force against something else in your life. By doing this, I think that we can come back to our art in a new way and with fresh ideas from something else.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am currently working as a Visual Artist in Denver, Colorado. My work focuses mainly on the human experience, popular culture, and satire. From a young age (whether my therapist would like this or not) I used humor to relate to the world. I feel that it sometimes bridges a gap between things that are hard to see or understand. The human experience is crazy, but it’s also really hilarious, especially when fueled by media culture, hyper-capitalism, and the things we live with day to day.
I think what is most exciting for me is that I get to express myself in ways that intrigue others, to the point where they ask questions, follow my journey, and even take home my work as their own. I grew up in a small, conservative town where oddities and self-expression were not in high regard. Being both neurodivergent and gay, I think that through my art, I can now relate and communicate with people that I didn’t even know existed growing up.
I am on display at multiple small venues in Denver as well as online at www.natelibby.com and @natelibbyart — I am a part-time graphic designer as well as a studio photographer.
Currently, I am working on a new, mixed-media series about growing up in northern, rural Maine. Through photos, drawings, and other mediums, I’m hoping to share my story and the stories of these communities.
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?
Work ethic. Openness to critique. Ability to try and learn.
My parents worked hard for what they had (it often wasn’t much) and they instilled a sense of working for what you had. I also worked my a** off for everything. There were many times when jumping out seemed easier than staying in but everything I gave away for free and every obstacle I had to shove out of my way made it worth it (tenfold!) when I got here. Just don’t be blasé about it, folks — and never expect that anything is going to be handed to you.
You have to be open to critique and criticism, or you will never grow. Even the harsh stuff. Use it as a tool to refocus, because trust me, you’re going to hear a lot of it.
Try new things and learn – that’s all. You’ll never know you’re good at what you never give the chance.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and comparing myself to others. I’d like to say that one day I just woke up and said, “Screw it, I’m so cool!” — In a field or a community where your work, your ideas, and even your story often seem like a blip in the masses, it’s difficult to not compare yourself to others and just do things the way that you want to do them.
These last couple of years, I really leaned into the things that I did WELL. “Well, shouldn’t I be doing it THIS way?” and “Well this is working for THEM, and why isn’t it working for me?” These phrases flooded my head, and when I was truly able to just focus on the things that I succeeded in, I was able to shake that feeling of not deserving it. I am never going to be good at painting landscapes because I don’t give a sh*t about painting landscapes. Just like I wouldn’t expect myself to be able to rebuild a 1975 Chevy Camaro. It felt like I was forcing myself to be someone I simply was not.
It’s really not an easy thing to grasp, and it takes a lot of self-reflection, but it helps when you can see yourself as deserving, powerful, and, dare I say even talented. Don’t focus on learning all the skills you think you need to have, focus on fine-tuning the ones you already have. This applies to art, small business, relationships, and almost every part of life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.natelibby.com
- Instagram: @natelibbyart
Image Credits
Nate Libby
