The Hustle
Years in Tampa Bay
22
Hustle (job)
Metal Artist
What do you do?
I communicate through pushing the boundaries and definitions of art and metal.
Why do you do it?
Connection to the source, independence, calling my own shots.
What was your Catalyst? (How did you get started?)
I had art inside me that was gonna burn a hole in me to get out.
What’s a common misconception or unknown aspect of what you do?
Nothing I do is easy. People think they know what metal is or what metal does, but until you are pushing it day after day, years in a row they have no idea.
What’s the most challenging part of your Hustle?
Staying innovative, challenging myself and being an honest critic of my work.
What’s the most valuable piece of business advice/insight that’s helped you?
Persist. it wont be easy, but it will be worth it.
You talk about making sure you continue to challenge yourself as an artist. Was it difficult to pursue your art in the context of earning a living, and how do you balance being an artist and the time commitment of the business side of art?
It’s been difficult to try to fit being an artist into a business “model” without losing artistic integrity. So lately I’ve been looking at it more from the perspective of fitting business into a creative “model”. It’s still challenging, but it’s the only way I can go to my studio every day and feel like I’m living for me and not just the dollar. You gotta live your life you were put here to live. Mine is about creating.
