We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Will Wilson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Will below.
Will, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
The term, art, comes with a lot of baggage. Looking at all of art throughout history and the weight that comes with it can be sometimes daunting. Every drawing, painting, or sculpture is measured against history and the contemporary perspective of what art is in our collective society. When making “art”, the monolith of that history and expectation often sits heavy on the shoulders of the artist. In researching art history, I discovered that the definition of “art” has changed over time and the purpose of making art has changed. The artists in the Dada movement were literally trying to create in ways that defied or destroyed their contemporary version of the baggage laden term.
During my process of creating I have come to a point where I decided I was no longer making art. I was intentionally going to release myself from the strings attached with the word. I now make cool things for people to enjoy. And not even for everyone to enjoy, just some people. I don’t have to measure myself against anything. I only have to work with the intent of bringing joy to people through bright colors, fun characters, imaginative responses to our world. This release has given me permission to have fun when creating and to make space for others to have fun when looking at my creations. My purpose is not to create art, but rather to spread joy, wonder, and curiosity. All without worrying about whether it is or is not art.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a full time art teacher at a high school. I love working with the bright and creative minds that come through my classroom. Engaging with them and their ideas excites my imagination and continuously inspires me. I love it and I love the economic stability it gives me. This stability allows me some freedom from the economic pressures many artists feel.
I am also a creator. I make art with the intention to sell and display. I have been in many gallery shows across the United States, I do tent shows and pop-ups, and I am continuously trying to expand my presence in the art community. I love creating drawings, paintings, and some sculptures featuring weird plants, fun characters, and bizarre scenarios. In 2022 I was one of the selected artists for the CAN Triennielle show in Cleveland, OH. I created fun interactive mazes that were a commentary on economic disparity based on starting points. Each piece encouraged participants to make a decision at the outset of engaging with the work. They were then encouraged to explore the work and see what the outcome of that decision might be.
My current work is exploring ways to use isometric imagery inspired by video games in ways that feel new and fresh but also nostalgic. In the near future I am hoping to create paintings on metal with magnetic characters that can be moved within the picture space. This allows the person experiencing the art to become less of a viewer and more of a collaborator. I believe that giving people a part in the work takes the engagement to a new level. Imagine having a painting in your space that you can change to suit your mood or just to switch things up. I want people to become a part of the work and to have fun while doing it. It is my goal to complete a number of these works and then seek out some venues for people to engage with it.
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?
Being an artist (or a person who makes things) requires a balance between self criticism and confidence that is not always easy to maintain. Too much critique and you run the risk of becoming immobilized and demoralized. I’m not good enough, this isn’t good enough, I hate everything I make. Too little, and you are never improving or pushing forward. A balanced amount of criticism to help you grow and develop while still moving forward is crucial. As a high school art teacher I see a wide range of expressions of this. Students who think everything they do is great and are never critically looking at themselves and therefore never growing and students who believe nothing but perfection is acceptable who never finish anything because nothing is ever perfect. It is hard to find that balance between that allows you to look at your work and see what’s wrong with it, but feel comfortable enough to put it out in the world and share it anyways. It’s not perfect, but it still has value.
Confidence is key. Success and confidence are inseparable. You need to believe in what you are doing and the value what you’re doing has for other people. Confidence doesn’t only help you make the work you want to make, it also gives you the strength to share it, cultivate it, and grow it into something more meaningful. My ideas are valid. My ideas are worth sharing. My vision has purpose and value in the world. This mantra can help guide you when you feel your confidence waver. Yes, it’s true, you’re not perfect, but that doesn’t diminish the value you have for others. Put yourself out there with confidence and you will grow. Wait until you are “good enough” and you may never get there.
The third thing that I think is an essential ingredient to success is tenacity. Do not let go, do not stop, do not give up. It is a long journey and the roads get bumpy but people who stop and wait for the road to get smooth never get where they want to go. It can be hard sometimes, when you aren’t “feeling it” or you’re having a low moment but you must stay dedicated and keep working. Picasso is quoted as saying, “Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working,” Even when it’s not doing what you want it to do, keep working. If you do not dedicate your self to the actions you need to take, you will never get the results you wish you had.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
As a father of 3, a husband, and a full time art teacher, my biggest obstacle to my art career is time. There is always something pulling me in a different direction, asking me to put it first. Art does not always come first. And art takes time. Making things, researching shows, entering shows, being at openings, making connections, sitting tent shows, mailing work, promoting yourself; all these things add up to a lot of time.
When trying to find time for my career as an artist I have found some things helpful. The first is scheduling and planning. Hoping that random time will appear in your day and you will begin working is probably not the most realistic approach. By deliberately setting aside time to work, regardless of what kind of work that is, I am more likely to engage with activities that lead to the results I want. And sure, this time gets eaten up sometimes by events unforeseen and I fall back into the chaotic juggle of squeezing what I can when I can, but that usually results in wasted time and missed opportunities for me. When I schedule time, I know that time is meant for this, and I become productive. Planning ahead what I am going to do with that time is also important. If a have a list of shows I want to enter, or organizational tasks to prepare for a tent show I need doing, or work I plan on creating, the time I have is usually spent much more productively than if I din’t have a list. By using a calendar and a list of active tasks I am better able to anticipate things that need my attention and better able to prioritize my actions.
The other, more interesting thing I have done, is create projects that can fit in the small gaps of my life. The moments where I might watch a 30 minute show or play on my phone are moments that add up and can be used. Sure, the 15 minutes waiting to pick up one of my kids is not enough time to create a large complex painting, but it is enough to research, plan, sketch, or create something small. My current project is 1,000 5″ x 7″ pieces of art. There is no restriction on what I create other than the size, 5″ x 7″. I traded my sketchbook out for a shoebox that is filled with a rotating list of art supplies and a decent stack of pre-cut pieces of paper. In the lobby of the dentist’s office? Waiting for them to finish servicing my car? Have a small amount of time before I have to drive someone somewhere? I grab the box and start creating. The pieces I create can then be put in readymade frames and sold. The benefits are I get to include a creative exercise that’s low pressure, sale-able small works that provide entry into owning my work, and using time that may have otherwise been lost.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://g.co/kgs/mBu1AZR
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willwilsonart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Will-Wilson-100066346045008/
Image Credits
Will Wilson
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