Artbyapisces: Behind The Artist

This is so new to me, I've written blogs for work but I don't think I've ever written a blog for my own personal use!

Upbringing / Growing up

A little bit of background about me - I'm a 22 Artist and Graphic Designer (sort of) based in rural East Yorkshire (it's just trees and fields round 'ere). I've grown up here since I was 5 after immigrating from Riga, Latvia in 2008. I'm at that age now where that actually does feel like a looooong time ago. I live at home with my partner and our 2-year old choccy lab. We love her so so much!! <3

I've always been drawn to art since I was little. My earliest memories of art are from my dad back when we still lived in Latvia and he used to have an array of paintings up in his loft apartment. I remember begging him for this massive painting of a woman holding an umbrella with a gorgeous sunset that I fell in love with, baring only a €2 coin (lats at the time). But, shock, he said no! That taught me real world value from a young age because no huge and beautiful painting like that should be sold for the same price as an espresso!!

Growing up, I started investing more energy into art. Doing little doodles in lessons, spending my time drawing after school, experimenting with paints etc. Fast forward to Sixth Form, it was all I would think about. Unfortunately, my mind never let me put my full focus into it as it's always been drilled into me how much of a risky career path it is or even worse that art is "not a real job". What even is a "real" job anyways? A job that pays you 200k salary but you come home miserable or a minimum wage salary but every morning you wake up blissfully and ready to take on the world! I feel like everyone has their own opinions on what is a valuable career but happiness is priceless and that should come before any soul-sucking job you have to endure to keep afloat. This has turned into a mini side-rant but my advice is: if it gets you up and you love it, DON'T give up! Keep pursuing it no matter how long it takes because one day it WILL pay off. Whether it's in a year or 10, keep going and keep trying.

Studies

I studied Graphic Design at University because it was the closest thing to a creative career that I thought would actually be attainable. Truthfully speaking, it's just as hard to find a job in that field as it is to be an artist! So take this from me, if you're gonna study, let it be a course you well and truly love and are passionate about and don't go where the money is. I like to believe that we attract the money by what we do, not doing what we do for the money. (Does that even make sense?!)

Art is the closest thing I've felt to having a purpose in life. I'm not a heart-surgeon or a fancy solicitor (I don't have the brains or dedication for that) but alongside my current 9-5 I can whole-heartedly dedicate my evenings to painting a piece of wall art for someone who would love it just as much as I do. Or make prints out of it which are way more economical!

So here I am now, 22 years later, hoping that finally I've found my purpose in life and can share more of my artwork with not just those close to me but with the internet, the world, the universe!!

Thanks so much for making it to the end :)

If you fancy a custom work of art made by yours truly, feel free to drop me an email: nikgribuste@gmail.com

If not, I love you anyways!! <3