(from left to right: Chris Carson, Jalen Ramsey, Taylor Heinicke)
A piece of paper, some permanent markers, and a knack for art — this is how Nick Iby began his passion for creating artwork. Little did he know that his way of expressing himself would be his ticket to success and connect him with NFL players.
Nick was like any other young adult trying to figure out life; just like anyone, he had to face tough times. For others, their coping mechanism was socializing or doing anything that would get their mind off things. For Nick, art became his outlet to reflect on these situations.
During his university years, Nick would usually spend his time making drawings. “I spent around 10-12 hours working on one drawing, and when I finished, I decided to hang it up on my wall. I didn’t feel better after my first drawing, so I produced about a dozen more and hung them on my dorm room wall,” Nick recalls.
Nick’s friends often visited and marveled at his artwork, giving him the idea to make more oversized prints and launch a website for his creations.
“All my friends in college just kept on giving me ideas to draw, shoes to paint, and most importantly, continued confidence. Friends started giving me shoes to paint on, and then I moved on to big canvases [to paint on]. I had no real plan; everything just started to snowball into the next thing,” Nick says
In 2020, when the pandemic hit and everyone had to stay inside for quarantine, Nick was faced with an exciting problem… how can you make a living off of art without leaving your apartment? Well, for Nick, he turned to social media. The NFL was also shut down, and with that thought in mind, Nick started messaging players in the NFL to see if they would want some custom art for their homes.
To Nick’s surprise, the first person to reply and order was none other than Carolina Panther’s running back, Christain McCaffery. Not only was Christain’s order, but the simple fact that he saw Nick’s message was a green flag for Nick and just a sign to keep going.
Now, in 2022, Nick has become one of the most sought-after modern artists in the US. He has transitioned from doing doodles on pens and paper to creating custom canvases for NFL clients using a mix of spray paint and paint markers. His main objective with each piece is to capture what is most important in a client’s life. Whether that is their favorite play from their career, family photos, favorite cartoons, or anything else that speaks truth to them, Nick finds an organic way to blend it all to create a truly one-of-a-kind art piece.
Nick’s artwork is trendy and captivating, especially for the younger generation. He has sold over a hundred paintings to notable NFL Players such as, but not limited to, Jalen Ramsey, Christain McCaffery, Aaron Rogers, Chris Carson, Chase Claypool, Daron Payne, Jarran Reed, Taylor Heinicke, Mike Edwards, and many more.
Contact details:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickiby/?hl=en
Website: https://www.nickiby.com/about
