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Thursday, July 9, 2015
CREATIVE BLACK WALL STREET SPOTLIGHT: MELISSA OF MELISSA COOK ART
Creative Black Wall Street is an inspiring series focusing on the Young, Determined, and Ambitious Hustlepreneurs who are making things happen while building their amazing brands!
Today, we're cruising the streets with multi-talented artist, Melissa. I stumbled upon her Instagram profile some time ago an really enjoyed stalking her page for a wile Her artwork is very original and more than enough to keep anyone creatively satisfied with their art fix.
1. What is Melissa Cook Art and why do you make a creative difference?
A: Melissa Cook Art is a representation of myself and my name. Things that I love and what I like to do. When it comes to portrait drawings, I like to add a twist to it, combining different images into one, drawings things and people that represents me and people I look up to. I feel I can make a creative difference to help inspire others out there that want to draw, I have many people that say they look up to my work and want to be like me. I also have time-lapse videos of my work on my Youtube page.
2. You're a triple threat! Who or what would you credit that gave you the inspiration to become an artist?
A: I would say I would look up to Nigo, Pharrell, Brian Donnelly (KAWS), Takashi Murakami when it comes to stepping out the box and exploring the arts and realizing that boundaries and borders don't exist, letting your imagination run wild and be free. Marcello Barenghi and Heather Rooney are others that I look up too when it comes to art and time-lapse videos, they have made me say, "You know what, this is something that I want to do."
I've always been drawing my whole life but wasn't until 2013 when I visited an art museum and that's what made me want to draw again. I also give credit to my parents, family and friends for helping me to keep going when I didn't want to anymore.
3. You have a comic series - Urban Shokk. How did that idea come about?
A: Urban Shook Comics, I came up with the idea back in 2011, it started with me doodling in my sketch book of these characters. Didn't know where it would take me or what I wanted to do with it. At first it was strictly a clothing line but decided I want to turn it into a comic series with merchandise on the side. Being inspired by graffiti and the Hip-Hop culture specifically the 80s are what inspired me to push this forward as well as the Japanese culture, combining both cultures into one.
4. My art is never-ending imagination, destined for success and to be great.
5. Do you have plans of selling your work on your own site in the near future? I'd love to support.
A: Yes! I plan on doing more drawings, different types on my society6.com/melissacookart page of prints. I have yet to update my sites of recent work.
6. Any major projects in the works? What can we expect in the next 6 months from your creative vault?
A: I plan on working on my comic series and getting that launched. Also continuing to work on my portrait drawings and time-lapse videos. I want to make prints of some of my work as well.
7. To upcoming illustrators and artists, what is something you'd share with them to help them stay motivated and in love with their craft?
A: First things first, I would say, keep going! As hard as it may sound, sometimes I just want to not do it but most of the time I HAVE TOO! This is what we're destined for. Keep practicing on your craft, I wasn't drawing like I am now but still feel I have a ways to go.
I read many inspirational things such as The Alchemist, follow other inspiring artists, read quotes, cut the negativity out of your life. Have a niche and do something different that others aren't doing. Hang with others that will inspire you and help lift you up. If you don't have people you can look up too, watching rags to riches biographies of celebs can help out as well.
I believe in the power of the universe, what you think, will happen. It's hard staying positive in the negative world, but keep focused, stay true to your heart and love what you do ever single day. It may be tough in the beginning, but someone out there is loving what you do!
Drop a comment! Click To Tweet The Quotes if you took any great advice from this post! We'd both love to see and hear from you!!
FOLLOW THIS HUSTLEPRENEUR
www.melissacookart.com | Twitter: @melissacookart| Instagram: @melissacookart| Facebook: Melissa Cook Art
Thursday, July 9, 2015
CREATIVE BLACK WALL STREET SPOTLIGHT: MELISSA OF MELISSA COOK ART
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
CREATIVE BLACK WALL STREET SPOTLIGHT: BRITTANY OF BRITTLYNN DESIGNS
Creative Black Wall Street is an inspiring series focusing on the Young, Determined, and Ambitious Hustlepreneurs who are making things happen while building their amazing brands!
Today, we're hitting the virtual streets with Brittany, creative illustrator and graphic designer behind BrittLynn Designs. She's a triple threat that has skills in not just illustration and graphic arts, but also photography. BLH Designs opened for business last year + has already proven to be a business worth watching. I caught wind of her work a few weeks ago on Instagram after she liked one of my photos. Life works in mysterious ways ...indeed. Let's get to know this talented hustlepreneur.
Q: Why does BrittLynn Designs make a creative difference?
A: When I began BrittLynn Designs, it was because I wanted to create my own art and share my art with others. Though this mission still reigns true, I decided to expound and create branding graphic art for businesses and young entrepreneurs. I want to make a creative difference by helping beginning entrepreneurs, young creatives, and other business owners. I meet so many wonderful young creatives, who need someone to understand their dreams and their aspirations. BrittLynn Designs’ difference is to understand them, and to take the time to hear their visions, their style, their stories, and we learn from one another. It’s not always about the money that’s made, but the people that you meet and the creativity that you help propel!
A: As a creative, I define hard work as making myself get out of bed in the morning, and getting work done during the week. Leaving my full-time job was difficult, but I knew that in order to accomplish my dream, I had to take that leap of faith! Since I don't have the usual 8-5 job anymore, hard work is getting assignments completed without a supervisor looking over your shoulder. Hard work is never hard if you love your work, even with my most challenging assignments, I carry on and push through because I KNOW that this is what I want to do.
Q: What are 3 lessons you wish you would have learned before becoming an entrepreneur? Why?
A:
- 1- Be prepared for the unexpected. - Things may not always go as planned, just as life. Entrepreneurship takes dedication, leadership and effort, all qualities I had beforehand, but it definitely takes just a little bit more. I researched tips and advice, connected with other entrepreneurs, learned from my clients, and these are the things that have helped me on my journey.
- 2- Stay true to your goals. - As an entrepreneur, if you have a set goal in mind, stick to it. There will be people that say, "Oh, I couldn't be an entrepreneur, I need a steady paycheck." Though this statement has some truth, nothing is guaranteed, even if you have a full-time, 8-5 job. Keeping your head screwed on straight, staying prayerful and depending upon your willpower is the key. Never forget why you're doing it in the first place!
- 3- Legalities - Research what it takes to be an entrepreneur, in the eyes of the law! I researched for weeks before I went live with my website. With only a few months into my entrepreneurship, I am still researching topics of, paying taxes, trademark law, copyright law, LLC/Sole Proprietorship/C-Corps, etc. It will make your head spin, just stay calm, seek guidance and keep record of EVERYTHING!
FILL IN THE BLANKS: If I had words, I could create a book without meaning."
R: As an artist, all you need are the tools, talent, paint brush, whatever, (words) to create art (book) and should not have to provide interpretation or explanation (meaning) – you are an artist, because you express that you are, not by following expectation. As an artist, you are the words that create the book, and therefore, not responsible for the meaning that the words create, because meanings change, the art does not. For instance, if I create an art piece, very obviously, of a woman sitting in a chair, people will establish various meaning to that art piece, thus, the meaning changes, but the art remains the same - a woman sitting in a chair.
A:
- 1) Project Timeline and Time Management - Once I left my full-time job, I had more time to dedicate to my clients, which was great!
- 2) Managing Multiple Projects at once - Managing the time that is spent on each individual project, and multi-tasking.
- 3) Defining pricing and payment guidelines - I researched how to price varying projects and gave myself guidelines on how I would receive payment.
- 4) Balancing Work and Personal Life - Since this is still a job, finding time for myself was still very important and keeping a balance between my professional and my personal life, was also very important, whether it was completing projects for family members or friends.
- 5) Saving the money that was earned - It's easy to go out and purchase pretty things when you have a job that has a consistent paycheck, but I am working two part-time jobs and managing a business, therefore, setting a budget for myself and separating business and personal money is an essential decision.
Q:Where do you see BrittLynn Designs accomplishing within the next year?
A:Within the next year, I plan to launch an online digital magazine, for young entrepreneurs. It is in the beginning stages of trademarking and development, but I am very excited! It will be under a different name, but I will be Founder and Editor-in-Chief of course, so, still Britt Lynn Designs related! For my graphic art shop, adding new products (in addition to prints) and for my branding company, gaining new clients and branding packages.
Q: If you had only one major piece of advice to give to anyone seeking to start their own creative business, what would that advice be?
A: Be willing to take a leap of faith for what you want to accomplish and always develop and grow your skill. I'm not saying to quit your job with no PLAN B or way of paying your rent! I am not doing this full-time, since I still have part-time jobs, however, I did receive a reduction in pay per month. Some people can start their own business while working a full-time job, I could not afford to dedicate 40 hours a week in an office. I needed more time in order to make things happen for the multiple avenues I was taking. I believed in God and made it happen!
Drop a comment! Click To Tweet The Quotes if you took any great advice from this post! We'd both love to see and hear from you!!
FOLLOW THIS HUSTLEPRENEUR
www.brittlynndesigns.com | Twitter: @brittlynndesign| Instagram: @brittlynndesigns| Facebook: BrittLynn Designs
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
CREATIVE BLACK WALL STREET SPOTLIGHT: BRITTANY OF BRITTLYNN DESIGNS
The first of many creative features here on the DMC blog. I wanted to create a special place to share others I feel many of you should WANT and NEED to know about. Creative Black Wall Street is an inspiring series focusing on the Young, Determined, and Ambitious Hustlepreneurs who are making things happen while building their amazing brands!
Today, we're hitting the virtual streets with Tamara, owner and designer of Baydian, LLC.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
CREATIVE BLACK WALL STREET SPOTLIGHT: TAMARA OF BAYDIAN
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