Dear Pennies & Pens,
As you all know, last week I was in Dallas for the Dallas Observer’s Artopia 2015. If you missed the post, check it out here: Press Pen Dallas Observer Artopia 2015. While at Artopia Dallas, I came across the work of a really cool emerging artist who goes by the name of Nobody.
As I was wandering around the venue Centennial Hall where Artopia Dallas was held, Nobody’s work drew me in because he had such a diverse body of work. There were paintings of sneakers, Jay Z’s Magna Carter Holy Grail album cover, Marilyn Monroe, and much more. I found Nobody’s work to be relatable and real.
That said, I just knew I had to reach out to him for an interview to get insight on his work and creative process. Luckily, he agreed. In the interview, Nobody talks about how he’s been creating art since he was a child, his favorite artist Pablo Picasso, and his upcoming projects including painting a mural at the Children’s Hospital in Plano, TX. Without further adieu, check out the interview below!
Where are you from?
Frisco, TX
How has your heritage influenced you as an artist?
My mother and father were artists so they both encouraged me to go for it, there is nothing like a good support team! Especially my mother she is my backbone that can not break or bend!
What school did you go to?
Liberty High School
What inspires you to create art?
What inspires me is when I see someone go from being the underdog and being disliked to reaching the top of their passion and making a living off of it. I respect people more that follow their dreams, yes it’s a grind but it’s fun at the same time.
It’s the struggle that makes you, so don’t try and go around it, you need to go through it because you will appreciate the struggle more on the other side.
What made you decide to become an artist?
When I was around the age of 5 to 7 yrs old, I told my older sister that one day I was going to be better than her at drawing. At the time she was like the artist of the family and I admit I was a little jealous so that pushed me to become who I am today.
Tell me more about your creative process as far as how you create your pieces? What tools, programs, or mediums do you use?
My creative process is very unique sometimes I will go to the park and spray paint on wood panels or canvases. I’m very messy with my process. Sometimes I will sit down for 5-13 hrs straight to make a painting.
Some of the tools I use is spray paint, acrylic paint, oil paint, wall stencils, and reflective tape. If you were to ask me what’s the coolest out of the mediums I use it would be the reflective tape because when you take a flash picture with your camera it does a cool effect to your phone.
Which piece that you’ve created is your favorite? Why?
I can’t really say which piece is my favorite, their all like my kids, I have no favorites.
What advice would you give to young art artists who are starting to build their portfolios?
Just create and take your time in your creative process, believe in yourself and believe that GOD will take care of the rest if your trying to create art full time like myself. Another tip that I use is social media, yes it will get boring sometimes just looking for those venues to sell art but keep an open mind and never give up, and do something that nobody else is doing, that will draw a crowd easy.
In my home town Frisco, TX there were no performance painters — a performance painter paints to music in 5-10mins. I took it upon myself to be the first and I have done several events for the Frisco community, they call me now for events and not me calling them anymore!
Who is your favorite artist and why?
Pablo Picasso, why because he broke so many barriers in the art world that shaped the future of today. I would say there were maybe 3 more artists after he died that broke barriers. I believe that I will be the next to break those barriers.
Muhammad Ali once said. “You Watch Me Be Great”. So to the readers that are reading this, everything I have done up unto this point has been small steps but you watch me start taking giant leaps to Greatness in these next few months!
Tell me about present and upcoming projects?
Well I’m looking forward in painting a mural at the Children’s Hospital in Plano, TX and another at the Minnies Food Pantry. For more info on the pantry click here www.minniesfoodpantry.org. It’s a great place for people that are in need and they also roll out the red carpet to make the people there feel and be treated like A list celebrities, I wish I got that kind of treatment at home lol.
For the rest of the year, I will be selling my art at the Valley View Mall every third Saturday from 6-10pm and various other places. I will also be selling some art at the Brown Lane Studio on Feb 8, come out and see me it starts @ 7-10pm.
If you would like to keep up with me to see where I’m selling my art link up with me on social media: @nobodyyyart. My name is NOBODY remember that. GOD BLESS and don’t give up keep pushing cause you’re about to birth something great!
Be sure to check out the video of Nobody painting live below. #thatisall
