Art can play a significant role in people’s lives. It can provide a source of inspiration, a sense of comfort, or a way to express oneself. For some, art is a form of therapy, helping them cope with difficult life experiences. For others, it is a way to connect with people who share a similar passion. Regardless of how it is used, art can profoundly impact the lives of those who engage with it.
Nicholas “Nick” Iby, a Texas-based artist, known for his positive approach to life, has been using art to inspire people. What started as a couple of doodles using permanent markers led him to become one of the most inspiring artists of the generation with his custom paintings for NFL athletes.
How Nick’s doodles turned into a big business
Nick began doing his art in college, after a breakup with his girlfriend at the time. He started drawing because drawing was better than crying and he needed a way to get over his breakup. Friends encouraged him to take art seriously and gave him the initial snowball, which later only grew bigger and bigger.
“I started drawing random things and then some friends asked me to draw on their shoes. After college, I started drawing murals for local businesses. Then, I thought about it as well. How can I get more exposure? Then I started dm-ing people, offering free art in exchange for shout-outs in hopes to gain my own audience online. And then after a couple of years, and right when quarteinte hit in 2020, I used my experience of messaging people on social media to transfer over to the NFL. I spent days and weeks just messaging players in the NFL, to see if they would want some custom art. And slowly but surely it started to work” says Nick.
His determination paid off, and Nick was able to make a living by doing what he loved. The initial boost of confidence came from his first client in the NFL, Christian McCaffery. With the validation from a high-level NFL pro, Nick decided to work harder. The more people he worked with, the more credibility he got, which only fed into the snowball that is his full-time career now.
“It’s always an honor to be asked to create art for famous or well-known people. It’s a great feeling to know that your work will be seen by so many individuals and that it will be associated with someone who is so highly respected. There is a lot of pressure to perform well, but it’s also a great motivator to do your best work,” Nick shares.
No matter what medium he works with, Nick always puts a lot of thought and emotion into his art. He wants to create something that will make people feel something special by incorporating their lives into it. Nick often includes some personal touch, like incorporating the names and/or pictures of the client’s loved ones, their favorite plays from their career, or any other little thing that can make the art piece completely unique and something that they are proud to showcase in their home.
What started out as a form of therapy six years ago, Nick has been able to transform that hobby into a lucrative full-time job that has connected him with 60+ NFL players. Nick attributes his success to a simple idea, that idea being: “be a good person and provide good value.”
Contact details:
Instagram: ©nickiby
Website: nickiby.com
