Life & Work with Joseph Sciacca

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Sciacca.

Hi Joseph, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My artistic journey began when I just a young kid who loved to draw. That love for drawing soon developed into an exploration of creativity on all artistic fronts. Whether it was drawing, painting, sculpting, etc., I was always striving to make exciting artwork. Family and friends often expressed that I had a natural talent in the arts, which aided me in my dream of being a full-fledged artist. Growing up in an environment that supported my creative passion, I was allowed to pursue art in and out of the academic setting. From elementary school to high school, my dream of being an artist never wavered. That being said, my love for the arts and the support from those around me wasn’t going to be enough to help me financially when attending college.

My parents were always able to provide for my brother and I, even though they have never had a substantial income. Realizing this, I started working as a golf caddy at the age of twelve so that I could help provide for myself and also in the long term hopes of being awarded the Chick Evans Scholarship. Six hardworking years had past since I began as a caddy and it finally came time to apply for this full tuition/room and board scholarship. To my surprise, I was not awarded the scholarship, but I did not give up. With the money I had saved, I attended a nearby community college with that same childhood dream that I was not going to give up on.

After my first year’s attendance at that community college, I received a 4.0 GPA and reapplied for the scholarship that I previously had been denied. This time I was successful and was granted the scholarship to the University of Kansas. At KU, I worked extremely hard to excel in the progression of my work and also increased my knowledge of the art world. I was given amazing opportunities to display my work in numerous art shows and exhibitions, in which I took full advantage of. In 2019, I graduated with a Bachelors in Fine Art and an Art History minor, as well as a confident outlook for what the future was holding for me.

Now looking back, I am so glad that I did not stray from that dream I had as a kid. So many great opportunities

have presented themselves to me throughout my life since because I never let go of what I love. Currently, I am busy creating one of a kind commissioned pieces of artwork for patrons, expanding my social media presence, adding onto my artist portfolio, and working hard to establish myself as a prominent Kansas City artist. I wouldn’t be where I am at today without the support from friends and family so thank you to all who have supported me and continue to support me in my journey!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road in my career as an artist. One of the hardest struggles I have faced and still do is my self-deprecation, specifically about my abilities as an artist. I have always been a very harsh critic when it came to my own work. Even though I have had a supportive community of friends and family, frequently, I wouldn’t be able to finish certain pieces or not show work because of the feelings of inadequacy. I can’t speak for all artists, but for a lot of them, like myself, it is sometimes very hard to accept that what you have created was “good enough”. It is a constant battle between the conflicting thoughts in my head, which is quite challenging for me at times. This self-deprecation is something that has held me back and probably will hold me back in certain occasions in the future, but I continue moving forward because the great moments in my career will always outweigh the bad.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My body of work is made up of diverse medium, subject matter, compositions, and styles, but I would say that recently I specialize in painting/drawing. Most of my current subject matter is of portraits and/or landscape imagery and I believe that most people who follow my work would agree. I am most proud when I get to see people enjoying my artwork or when it has a positive impact on their lives in some way. My ability to create artwork that is not limited in style, subject, or medium is what sets me apart from other artists.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk taking is essential if you are wanting to succeed and/or progress in life. Whether it’s in regards to personal relationships, careers, styles, being creative, etc., you need to take risks in order move forward. Sometimes, if not a lot of the time, you will fail when taking risks, but failing is essential in growing. I think it’s also important to know the difference between careless risk taking and calculated risk taking. I don’t think it’s wise to take a risk without knowing the possible outcomes, either positive or negative. This past year I moved out to KC without having a solid source of income in my pursuit of becoming an established KC artists. That was a risk, but I did have savings and a deadline in case things didn’t work out, I wouldn’t totally fail financially and emotionally. I think that everyone should take risks and grow to become someone you have always wanted to be.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joe.sciacca.art/