Back in December 2012, Stephanie used a Groupon Coupon for a new paint and sip shop nearby. We were the only couple to show up that evening, but the owners Justin and Janelle were happy to have us hang out and paint. They showed us a wall of paintings they were prepared to walk us through. Stephanie picked one while we both enjoyed a few libations. Being the science fiction and space enthusiast, I decided I’d take advantage of the paint and canvas in front of me and go rogue with my own painting.

I had learned to paint during my time at Kendall College of Art & Design, back in Michigan. Even though I went through their Industrial Design program (and got the degree), we had many core Fine Art classes. Sixteen years had passed since the last time I picked up a paint brush, I wasn’t sure if I’d forgotten everything. But there was no pressure, and I had the confidence of a couple of good stouts so I just started moving the brush.

I felt comfortable with the paint and brush, and a blank canvas. A picture started forming as I painted, and I forced myself to just keep going. Don’t stop, don’t deliberate, just go with the flow. It was liberating. No art direction, no internal dialog. Just the canvas, paint, some good music, a chill atmosphere, and decent beer.

The spaceship started taking form with dark shapes. I blocked in the overall silhouette and added highlights, details, windows. I put on a few “hero stars” with a brush then spattered a bunch of smaller stars to finish it off. By the end of the evening, this was staring back at me:

I surprised myself. Painting tapped into a part of my brain that was dormant for many years. I left feeling like I had ignored a base instinct my entire life. It was different than the 3D work I had done as a game designer, or even on my own as a digital artist. And as much as I enjoyed building and painting models of spaceships, this offered something more – an energy and context that was missing from my other hobbies.

I Went Back to Work on Monday

The next week I went back to my dismal job as a User Experience Designer. I loved being a User Experience Designer, don’t get me wrong. But I was working in the middle of a series of garbage corporations, many that you’d know by name, in an industry that still to this day remains stagnant and miserable for designers. I decided that if I were to remain sane and not die sitting in a cubicle or standing desk, I needed to sort out how to make a living as an artist on my own terms.

This was an insane idea. I’ve known many artists, and even in my circle of friends I knew people with Fine Art Degrees that shoved them aside to work in the more practical technology and business fields. My peers would laugh at me, and with good reason. I wouldn’t make nearly the money I was making in tech. Artists my age already had 20 years on me. I was just a guy who had a few beers and threw a spaceship on a canvas.

I was already beginning to realize my career was killing me. That isn’t hyperbole. I was beginning to hit the wall with several health issues related to stress and anxiety. And maybe I would’ve hit that wall anyway, but I knew after sixteen years I wasn’t built for the industry. Even with my comfortable salary I hadn’t accumulated enough money to just walk away and start painting. We’d lose the house within months, and I knew it.

So, Get On With It

It took me a few weeks to build a plan, and I started slowly. I dusted off my Wacom tablet and began working with my digital tools. With a recently purchased iPad, I put a lot of miles on an early version of Procreate. And I began buying paint, brushes, and canvases to work on painting at home. The only way I could pull this off was if I put myself on the equivalent of a Master’s Degree program for Fine Art, while working as a UX Designer. This meant more than just painting nebulae and spaceships, I wanted to tackle it all – landscapes, abstracts, figurative art. I had to get good at many levels if I ever wanted to step up and call myself an Artist.

I still feel I’m an Imposter as an Artist, ten years later. But in that time a lot of good things happened. I left my career as a UX Designer and joined my wife Stephanie with her baking business Doll House Baked Goods. This helped us keep the house and I was still able to learn new painting techniques, new media, and I started landing commissions. I also learned how to make a mean batch of chocolate chip cookies, sourdough, pies, and other baked goods. More importantly, we got a crash course in running a small business and this was a tremendous advantage for my own art business.

For an imposter, I’ve had a few successes – I’ve painted the covers for many science fiction novels, including a series that won the Hugo Award for “Best Science Fiction Series” in 2019. My work has been on album covers, model kits, and is now in the homes of many collectors. This year I completed a HUGE commission for a Science Museum (more on that when I can reveal the project). And I’ve been running a weekly livestream on Twitch.TV where I paint a new science fiction or space painting every week, Bob Ross style. I remain hopeful that I can grow this business and career for the rest of my remaining days.

There are many artists who, like me, left their careers to become successful space and science fiction artists – and in less time than it’s taken me. But I wouldn’t trade my own experience as it’s been both frustrating and incredibly rewarding.

I am Grateful

I am thankful to Stephanie for arranging this event, and for being such an amazing supporter of my art for the last ten years. I had no idea going into this evening that it would switch my brain onto a completely different course. And my thanks also go out to Justin and Janelle for being so great to their lone patrons that evening, and letting me paint something that was quite literally “off the wall”. I am also grateful for the many followers that have found me on social media, and more recently through my livestream. You’ve all helped make this possible.

Post Script

I’m approaching the third anniversary of my livestream on Twitch and two weeks ago I wanted to try painting my “spaceship and nebula” again, just like I did at The Drunken Easel ten years ago. This was a two-hour live painting, with no initial preparation. Just me, the paint, the camera, a fine audience of viewers (thank you to all of my subscribers, followers, and Patreon supporters). I still enjoy the visceral throwing of paint that happens with a spontaneous painting session:

And now, on to the next ten years. Ad Astra!

Where you Can Find Me

• You can support me through purchases in my Store here on the site
• Check out my weekly livestream over on Twitch.TV
• If you’d like to support my work, I offer exclusive inside information over on my Patreon
• I’m adding more videos on YouTube in the coming year
• I’m still on Twitter
• And Facebook
• And Instagram
• And now Mastadon