Happy April.. or should I say happy 4/20. 🥦

As you all know, Maverick began as a side hustle and quickly turned into a full time gig! Now we have been given the ability to show off amazing artists each month as a new side hustle of our own. We are so excited to have this opportunity to give you all an idea of what other types of creative outlets you can dive into while learning about some amazing people. 

This month we are showcasing a super talented artist from our hometown- VEGAS! From art prints, acrylic on wood, all the way to giant enamel pins let me introduce- Casey Weldon!

Please make sure to keep reading to see just how talented he is. ⬇️

And for my cat lovers out there... be ready for some awesomeness! 🐈‍⬛ 

 MAKE SURE TO GET YOUR RAFFLE TICKET HERE (RAFFLE ENDS APRIL 30TH)

TWO WINNERS ($200 VALUE)

1 ART PRINT EACH

1 GIGANTIC ENAMEL PIN EACH

1 DRAWSTRING BAG EACH

2 PACKS OF MEOWY WOWIE STICKERS (13 CT EACH PACK) EACH

Do you have a full time gig or jobby job? 

Technically, I suppose I would classify the illustration and gallery side of my work as my ‘jobby job’, but I’m not sure Snoop’s father would agree with that.

Can you tell us a little about your creative outlet that you might consider a SIDE HUSTLE?

That would be the merch stuff, I think. While a lot of it is somewhat standard and affordable ways to offer art, like prints, stickers, puzzles, I try to get as creative with it as possible, like making the puzzles double sided of mirror image, make enamel pins that are gigantic and covered in glitter and glow in the dark, offer prints as die cut valentine cards in little valentine packs. Hopefully it keeps getting weirder. 

Anyone in particular that inspired you to move forward and  take your side hustle a little more seriously?  

I never really considered doing anything other than prints until Joey Nix, the owner of one of my favorite bars in Seattle - Jupiter, asked for vending machine sized art packs to sell at the bar. I made 3-4 types of mini print and sticker packs that I’ve been selling ever since, but have actually yet to give him any for the bar’s vending machine.

Do you think it’s important for artists to have multiple creative outlets?

Absolutely. I think creativity rarely confines itself to one type of media/expression. Trying your hand at other arts will likely expand the scope of your vision and the ability to realize it. Or you find out what you don’t like to do. I don’t care for interpretive dancing.

Do you have a creative outlet that you’d rather not turn into a side hustle? Something just for YOU that helps you escape or relax?

Yes, that would be music. I’ve made myself a tiny little band room where I can go play tiny little songs to myself and not have to worry about ever monetizing it because it is extremely hard to make money off of music, and also I am terrible.

Do you have a bigger picture or a vision of where your side hustle could take you?

I’ve often thought about combining forces with some artist friends and creating a kind of boutique of just our wares and not so much original art/prints. I know quite a few artists with a variety of skills in rarer mediums, and it would be so fun to offer like a ceramic or bronze item inspired by an artist who usually only paints in 2D. Not a super original idea, except there would be an emphasis on the artists working together in a very hands on way. It’s so easy to get a product made and have it sent to you, it would be great to have a real insolvent and learning experience in creating that product.

Any advice for artists that are interested in building up a new side biz or SIDE HUSTLE?

Print on demand fulfillment sites are everywhere now. You can easily upload an image to a site and have it turned into a shirt or a phone case or whatever. I think they are great when you are first exploring using your art for merchandise, and maybe even further down the line when their products are very specialized. However, I highly recommend trying to create a product yourself as much as possible. Get creative and weird, Even if you’re just making a sticker pack, try to make it standout from the packs that are offered by the big printers out there. If you’ve spent so much hard work making the art that you can really be proud of, do you really want to offer it on a low quality basic bitch coffee mug?

You have any Artists that have been truly inspiring and or helped you in any way?

Ken Harman at Spoke Art/Harman Projects, Mike Biggs and the whole Art Fart Night crew here in Vegas. The folks at Almost Amusing, Sticker Robot, Sticker Ninja, and Matt Midgely at Gallery Ergo.

You have any random knowledge to drop on us that could potentially inspire us to push forward and pursue our passions? 

I know a lot of miserable people, and I proudly call them my friends. Every single one of them that finally started paying more attention to the things they wanted to do for the peace of mind and paid less attention to making the money beyond necessity has ended up so much less miserable. It can be frustrating, but it’s a different frustration than traffic or jobby job shit. Its invigorating and it demands trying again and again until you get a result you are proud of. Those tiny achievements blossom into bigger ideas and wonders and dreams and it all has a stronger effect on the rest of your head than most of the things you can buy. Except mushrooms… I also recommend mushrooms.

HOW DO WE FIND YOU?

@CASEYWELDON

https://www.caseyweldonstore.com/