There was a time when ‘graffiti’ and ‘art’ were two words that most of us didn’t believe belonged together, but artists like Blake Pollard have proved that they can.
Mr Pollard has been creating art with aerosol paint for more than 25 years.
“I started off as a vandal, honestly,” Mr Polalrd said.
“I’ve always been more interested in doing the art than the illegal side of things, but I had to do a certain amount of illegal artwork in order to get recognition for my art.
“I wanted to produce something very cool.
“I loved being able to play with letters.”
“I got my first paid job when I was about 20.
“I had a pipeline dream to make a living doing what I love.”
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. Social media wasn’t really around back then and he found it hard to find customers.
Mr Pollard and his wife welcomed their first daughter 13 years ago. “When that happened, I decided I was done with the illegal stuff,” he said.
“They know that I used to be a naughty boy.
“They love what I do.”
He started getting the occasional job, probably one per year, earning around $1000 per job doing straight letters - usually company logos.
About five years ago he took a leap of faith and set up an ABN, but nobody seemed to be biting.
He said for every hundred door knocks he might get one job, so he was doing the 9 to 5 slog warehousing.
His wife finally told him to stop talking about what he wanted to do and get out there and use the talent and drive he had to do what he loved about two years ago.
“I was scared of taking that leap,” Mr Pllard said.
“I had two daughters and a wife to support.”
It was during the pandemic that his business, Aerosol Walls, really started to catch on. He set up Instagram and Facebook accounts and messaged every day looking for new customers.
Daddy’s Burgers in Windsor was his first client as a legitimate business and it was very successful.
“That was when I thought I can make money from this.
Like any business, there are downsides. Blake often feels like he seems to hound people when trying to drum up business, but he loves his job and the lifestyle it brings.
“I wake up now and I get paid to do what I love.
“I am on Cloud 9.”
Anyone interested in learning more can contact Mr Pollard at Instagram/Facebook@aerosolwalls.
Stay Connected
Subscribe
Get in Contact
Hawkesbury News to your inbox
Sign up now for the latest news from the Hawkesbury Area direct to your inbox.