Life & Work with Josh Lindsey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Lindsey.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve loved art ever since as early as I can remember. As I grew up, I became more involved in competitive sports. My art was just a hobby to pass the time in class at school. My friends enjoyed watching me draw in class and some would even ask me to draw them things. I went to college for baseball, and once I graduated I began personal training and directing group fitness classes. Athletics opened so many doors for me to meet new people, and expand my network even before I was old enough to even realize it.

When I was 31, I noticed that I had begun to lose interest in my career path. Burnout was setting after years of chasing opportunities and finally realizing that I wasn’t pursuing something that was meant to fulfill me. I picked up painting after spending some time at my friend, Alex Yost’s art studio in Miami. His dedication and work inspired me to find my art again. I bought a canvas and completed a simple acrylic painting of an idea I had. I posted this painting to social media, where my friends, Jacob and Carissa Dunaway, later saw the painting. Jacob owns Native Design and Hardscapes in Knoxville, TN.

A few months after I posted that video, Jacob offered me a position with Native drawing up his site plans and renderings for his landscape and hardscape designs. I now have been working with Native for almost 2 years. During that time, through my network of friends, I have been given opportunities to paint murals for several businesses. With each project, I am learning more and more.

My path back to art has been a long and winding road but I am grateful every day that I get to create. I look forward to seeing what the future holds! If anyone could take anything from my story, I would hope they realize that your life can change the moment you realize you CAN do what you love for a living, finding that thing is not easy, and it shouldn’t be. But it’s worth the trip.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest struggle, for most, I would believe, is the financial hardship that you go through starting a new career. Not everyone’s story looks the same, but the consistency and discipline it takes to make your vision work is consistent for everyone. Maintaining my daily discipline to grow myself and my work was, and is, a daily struggle.

I would suggest reading the book “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield. In this book, I was able to construct what it means to “turn pro” in my art. Daily discipline is the foundation of being a professional. My young family did not have the time or resources for me to fail. The disciplines I established in my work and business are what led to me being able to provide for my family through my work.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an artist, specializing in digital renderings and painted murals. I’m lucky to have been given the opportunities I’ve had so far.

I’m proud of all my work equally because each project has led to a deeper understanding of myself and my work, which has directly benefited the following project. I think this is because I’m still very new on this path of discovering who I am as an artist. I want to be known as an artist that can make a client’s vision come to life, across many different mediums.

We all have different ways of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is having the ability to control your day, on your terms. This doesn’t always mean complete free time and endless happiness. I believe it means controlling your day through your perspective and attitude.

I haven’t always had the best control over my mind, and the way I speak to myself. No other material things have given me that peace or control, but my faith and my perspective does. Those give me daily success.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jl.artconcepts?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Ryan Hull – Ryan Hull Photography