Interview by Jimon

1-What is your earliest childhood memory of making art?  When I was eight or nine I remember enjoying drawing sharks and planes. I think when I was younger I wanted to be a comic book artist and a jet fighter pilot.

2-What did your path to becoming an artist look like?  When I was a child I was very artistically active. I enjoyed painting and drawing but after the age of fourteen my home life was very turbulent and my mother was not supportive of my interests at all. Due to my circumstances I stopped all my artistic output around that age. In December of 2018 a friend of mine left a set of watercolor paints at my house for my partner, who is an accomplished tattoo artist/ painter/sketcher. One day while bored and watching T.V. I opened up the set of cheap watercolor and started doodling on napkins. Then I started doing watercolor on paper after that it moved very quickly to acrylics and oil and other mediums. Last month I moved all of my art supplies out of my apartment, which had become an art studio, into an actual large studio space dedicated to painting and the creation of art.

3-Where did you grow up and how did that affect you as an artist?  I grew up in Miami Florida. I’m not entirely sure how growing up in South Florida influenced my eventually becoming an artist. I do have a propensity for bright lively colors which are commonplace design elements in Miami, maybe that had something to do with it?

4-Where do you currently live and create?  I currently live in Asheville N.C where I have a studio space in the local art district.

5-How would you describe yourself as an artist?  Playful and full of spontaneity, I attempt not to have an overly serious opinion of my work. I want it feel alive and full of energy although that is not always the case. I strive to make art without pomp and pretense. I want to paint like a child would. I just want to make things I think look dope.

6-Do you have motto on how to live life?  No I wouldn’t say I have a motto, the closest thing would be “don’t take life personally” or “fuck the naysayers” or “have a nice day” ask me tomorrow I’ll probably have a different answer.

7- What influences you as an artist?  I draw inspiration from life. Sometimes it’s a funny T.V. show or a color I see or think of. Sometimes it’s a crack in the sidewalk. Often lately I find myself inspired by other artists I’m exposed to through the internet.

8-Do you have a place/person/thing that you visit for inspiration?  I just step outside and walk around for a bit if I feel stuck or lacking drive. Blue skies and sunshine is a large source of inspiration to me.

9-When you are not painting where would someone find you?  At home reading or out in the streets of Asheville riding my one wheel electric board.

10-If a movie was to be made about your life, where would it ideally take place and who would be the actor playing your part?  It would take place in Miami and in Asheville and I’m thinking fat Leo Dicaprio to play me, cause that guy is a fantastic actor and who wouldn’t want him to play them in a movie? I think my life would make for a really sad and boring film.

11- How do you describe success as an artist?  I think that’s a moving target. If you were to have asked me this question a year ago I would have laughed and probably have said something flippant, like being rich and famous. Now I would say that my goal is to have as many people as possible see and enjoy my work as possible. Not concerned with my former ideas about success. I also feel like if you ask me this question tomorrow I might have a different answer. Definitively though I want people to enjoy my work, for it to make them smile or think or feel, any of these things I would consider a success.

12- Name three things you can’t live without in your studio?  Spray paint, Music and some place to pace. I walk around in between marks.

13- If you could have dinner with 3 artists living/dead who would be at your table?  Oliver Lee Jackson, Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock although if they were busy that night I would ask Kandinsky, Van Gogh and John Cage over 😉 My dinner with artists would have to be at a big table.

14-How would someone find you on Social media? Instagram @matter_not

15-If you were asking the questions what question would you ask and please follow with an answer.  How do you handle, deal with the critiques your work receives? I try not to take too much stock in what other say negatively or positively about my work. Everyone has their own opinion about what they think makes good art. I’m often blown away by the differences in these opinions. For every piece I think is garbage I’ll have people tell me it’s their favorite work and for pieces I think are my best work others will think of as complete shit. It takes all kinds to make the world go round. I’m happy about this and try not to let it get to me. It’s a battle for sure.