The alternative path from the alternative path

By SodakArtist

Fifteen years in construction will teach you a lot. I started out roofing—learning the ropes, mastering the basics, and figuring out how to handle the physically demanding grind. Eventually, I found myself building pole barns, installing specialized steel shingles, and working on iron frame buildings. Each step felt like progress, like I was becoming the master of my trade. When I wasn’t working on iron frames or siding houses, I was building decks out of rough-cut lumber or doing excavation work. In truth, I never felt like there was a project too big for me to take on. I’d done it all—or so I thought.

But life has a funny way of interrupting your plans. After all those years of pushing myself, my back gave out. One day, it just stopped working with me. That was my wake-up call, the kind of “career stopper” you can’t ignore. It wasn’t just about the physical pain; it was about realizing that this path I’d been on—this path I thought I’d be walking forever—was no longer an option. I couldn’t keep going. So, I found myself asking, “What’s next?”

That’s when SoDakArtist was born. I’d always had this artistic side to me, this desire to create and express, but it was only in that moment, forced to step back from construction, that I realized it was time to fully embrace that part of myself. Art had been quietly calling me for years, but now, it was time to answer. I decided I’d take all that grit, all that determination I’d used to build homes and decks, and I’d pour it into building a business around my art.

But like anything, it wasn’t an instant success. I had bills to pay and a life to maintain, so as I began my journey into artistry, I still needed a way to keep things moving financially. That’s when photography came into the picture. At the time, I knew next to nothing about posing people, setting up a shot, or even how to light a room properly. But the opportunity presented itself, and I jumped in, ready to learn as I went.

Photography, to my surprise, became more than just a means to make money—it became another form of creative expression. It let me see the world through a new lens, quite literally. I discovered that capturing a moment, a feeling, or a story through photography had parallels with the way I approached painting or sketching. It was all about the details, the composition, the story hidden in the colors or the lines. I found myself loving this new medium in a way I hadn’t anticipated.

Now, I’m still in the process of growing SoDakArtist. Every day is a step forward, whether it’s working on a new painting, refining my photography, or dreaming up new ways to bring my vision to life. That back injury though not even a year ago but most definitely feels like it’s been severalall those years ago might have felt like a career-ending moment at the time, but in hindsight, it was just the push I needed to reinvent myself. Construction may have been my foundation, but art is what allows me to build something lasting—something that speaks to who I truly am.

When I look back, I realize that every skill I learned in construction helped shape the artist I’ve become. Attention to detail, patience, hard work—those qualities didn’t disappear when I put down the hammer. They’ve just evolved, transformed into the brush strokes on a canvas or the frame of a photograph. My career might have taken an unexpected turn, but it was a turn toward something better, something more aligned with my true self.

This journey—from roofing and siding to capturing moments and painting emotions—has been all about embracing change, trusting the process, and following the path that feels right, even when it’s uncertain. The transition wasn’t easy, but every moment of it was worth it. And now, as SoDakArtist, I’m just getting started.