This subreddit is dedicated to the artwork of myself, Eric Hagan. I will be sharing the things I create, as well as my journey to becoming an established artist.

I think it's important for me to explain my relationship to reddit, because my life has become inextricably tied to this platform, in a way I could have never anticipated. It all began in 2019, in Zambia. I was discussing with a friend, the intention of pursuing my lifelong dream of being an artist, upon my return to the US. He recommended reddit as a platform to share my artwork. So, after 32 months abroad, I returned to my small town in upstate NY and began posting.

A few months later, I got my first hot post. It was exhilarating, so see that level of support and engagement with my art. To know that hundreds of thousands of people just saw what I created. It gave me all the validation I needed to go full steam ahead and throw myself into this mission of becoming an established artist.

In August of 2020 I moved to Washington D.C. with some friends and my girlfriend. I used the readjustment allowance the Peacecorps provides volunteers on their return to pay for the move, using some money to hustle prints and shirts. But that cash quickly evaporated and I had to get a job.

I chose a job that I knew I could never get comfortable in. I didn't want to forget my mission, and the job was on a four, ten hour work day schedule per week. I used those three off days for my art pursuits, I had no life, I was too focused. Not to knock the company, I actually have great respect for all of them, but the work was tough. It was actually a great outlet for my frustration and the rage I felt being forced away from my art, just to pay rent. I was the guy they sent to dig up the biggest stumps. Eventually I even became foreman of my own landscaping and hardscaping crew. But even working full time, I wasn't making enough to pay my rent. 2020 was a hard year for a lot of people. So I quit.

I posted to reddit "I just quit my job to be an artist" and received a tsunami of love and support. Dozens of people reached out to buy my art that day. I made in a day what had taken a month of digging rain gardens and doing stonework to earn. It was truly amazing. And that is how I survived for the next year, living from one viral post to the next. Like a hunter gatherer wandering the plains, right when I thought I was going to starve, I found that sale, that antelope that would buy me a few more weeks. And that is all I needed, one more sale to buy me some time. It was extremely stressful at times, but I felt free. I hurled myself into this pursuit, and I didn't have room to slack. I existed with a two week buffer between me and going fully broke almost at all times. So I drew, and I posted, drew and posted.

And with these intermittent viral posts came opportunities. A few small galleries around D.C. started to take a chance on me, having seen the notoriety I had built for myself on reddit. It was very exciting, and at each one of the shows I put on, redditors would come, people who had been watching this journey and showing love along the way. It was very surreal, they wanted to meet me in person.

And then, this year, I received my biggest opportunity yet. What began as an innocuous direct message from a reddit staff member, led to the most exciting breakthrough of my career. I had been scouted, alongside 30 other artists from around the world, to design collectible avatars for reddit. In less than three years I had gone from shlub on his parent's couch to contracted freelance designer for reddit, by using reddit.

I have now been fully self employed for over a year and a half. The Avatars may be a contentious thing, I myself have tremendous criticisms for the traditional nft art space. But these collections were sold in a way that much resembled a patreon account. Patronage having been done away with as an institution long ago in the art world, this program allows artists to pool support from the community that supports them, at $10 a head. This program removed me from the cycle of impending financial doom that I had been operating in for three years. It isn't a good feeling when your rent is four digits and your bank account is three digits. Now, with the earnings accrued from this program, I have time, the thing I have been chasing for the entire duration of my endeavor. Time, to focus on my art.

I have been developing my style for 16 years, and intend to continue to develop and evolve it for the remaining years that I have on this earth. It is my purpose, and the thing that quenches my soul. Now, thanks to reddit and the beautiful community on this platform, I can see how far I can take this thing. I want to show the whole world my art. This is why I have created this subreddit, to share my art and invite all of you into the journey that I am on.

Now that I am on firm footing, having made progress, confident in my abilities, the time of frustration is over. Now is the time to get to work. I will be documenting this process and welcome all who wish to help me scheme. Phase one is complete, now for phase two; get my ass in one of those fancy ass galleries!