Art speaks
You are not an author, as you are not an artist unless, from your own heart, you add to the treasures of art, something which could not have existed if you had not been born.
In choosing to become an artist, many thoughts come into play after you've made this heroic choice. Some will doubt you. Some will see you as a living reminder of them never taking the leap of faith in their passions. Here lies the comforting wisdom from a few artists I enjoyed interviewing. This is for all my fellow artists who need one more reason to have blind faith in the world of art.
Interview 1: Joseph McDonald
About: The artist I interviewed is my childhood friend of over a decade. He is my first art hero and always will be dear to me. Thank you for always believing in me and never letting me stop my pursuit of art. I love you for all my lifetimes.
What do you think the future of art is going to look like?
JM: "I think, especially now, there is such a rise in technology, you know, with technological arts and digital arts. There's going to be a more technical side to art. We've already seen it before in the last couple of years with AI, and I forgot what the other one is called, the big one, um, NFTs. We've already seen how technology plays a role in art and will see a lot more of that. Traditional methods such as oil painting will not go anywhere, but we will see a decrease in conventional works."
How do you feel about the future of fashion, and what will that look like?
JM: "Well, I mean, it's such a changing world; there are popular trends every other day. Mostly, I think because of media, it's so fast and changing every other day, so in the future, I see it slowing down, and people will start finding their style. We've noticed that lately with streetwear, more vintage clothing, and a lot more thrift. Not letting social media and the more prominent people influence their style."
What encouragement could you give young artists who are contemplating pursuing art?
JM: "I could say to the younger crowd, if you have a goal or something to pursue, then no matter what anyone says, you should do it. Because it's what you want to do, there are stereotypes in the art world. You'll never really get into it because of not having the right support and stuff, and I say that a lot of people truly don't care if you want to do something, go for it, and if it is art, fashion, film, any of these things go for it the only one stopping you is yourself."
Interview 2: David Branch
About: The next artist I interviewed is from Detroit. He is a filmmaker, photographer, and director. He also is the founder of a clothing line. Branch gave me a peek into his incredible insight that is sure to leave you walking away with hope and happiness. Thank you for letting me get your perspective.
What do you think the future of art is going to look like?
DB: "I feel it will have more artists because of technology and everything. What you can do with your phone or an iPad is already so advanced that it will only enable more people to express themselves and become creative artists. The community is only going to grow.
What encouragement could you give young artists who are contemplating pursuing art?
DB: "For the sake of the world, don't stop. Any creatives before us walked so we could run. You're only encouraging more people to express themselves. There's no downsides to it. If I can make something that will inspire one person to make something, then that's amazing to me. That's all you could hope for. It's a snowball effect. It's going to keep rolling. For the sake of the world, don't stop. If you're working a full-time job and tell yourself, "Oh, I'm not in a creative mood," no, just try. It will all work out. If you ask any artist who they looked up to, they will have names and people or a group they know who started it all for them. You can be that person for somebody else."
Interview 3: Waild Mustafa
About: This artist, who was an honor to interview, has incredible artistic drive and the ability to tap into himself. He is the founder of a clothing line. He believes in real-time creation. He creates based on his mood for that day. Interviewing him made me feel present in the world of art. Thank you for your time, and I appreciate all the wisdom you gave me for this interview.
"Do something wrong. Do something right."- WM
What do you think the future of art is going to look like?
WM: "When anyone thinks about the future, I think the first thing everyone thinks about is, in a way, tech. When you think about the future, it's always related to how advanced technology is. So it's weird in a place of art because art can be anything. It's how they are feeling in that period. So when you look into the future, I'd like to think the future will be good, you know. I think world events play a role in how art is created."
What encouragement could you give young artists who are contemplating pursuing art?
WM: "I tell my friends, you must make stuff. These days, with social media, you spend so much time wondering how people will perceive it based on the like button. You assume how people will react instead of just putting your art out there. That said, a lot of art is made based on how you want people to see it. Not more or less how you want to see it, and you see how they see it. In a way, you should cut yourself out of comparison and then make stuff, post it, and keep repeating that. Try new things. I go about my day, and when I do design, it's spontaneous. I don't pull up a mood board or references. I have a blank mock-up and figure it out. I would say go about your day, make stuff when you want to, and then post it. That's the way you get exposure these days. Just make stuff you want to make. Please don't care about how people are going to perceive it. Just make it and let them perceive it. You can't control others opinions. That's just how people are going to perceive it."
Interview 4: Quinny Beats
About: The next artist I interviewed is a music production genius. His words were so encouraging and left you feeling understood and heard. I had such a lovely time interviewing this artist. Thank you for being so passionate and driven. It's contagious.
What do you think the future of art is going to look like?
QB: "I think about art and everything that has to do with it so much that it's odd that I don't immediately have an answer. I think that, especially after 2020, everybody was at home, and there was a lot of space to get into creative fields. I can say that right now, we are in a bad spot in terms of supporting creativity. I can say what I hope for the future, especially if our systems perform in a way where we can nurture creativity in children while they grow up. Then, we can have a world where more people feel like they can be creative. If you ask a group of kindergarteners how many are creative, they will all raise their hands. Ask a room of college students and only two of them will. I think that says a lot about how things are going. I say that, hopefully, we live in a world where art is encouraged."
What encouragement could you give young artists who are contemplating art?
QB: "Just keep doing it and never stop. I'm very passionate about that. Everything stems from continuing to do it. My friend told me FL studio was free, and I was like, no, it's not, and then I found out it was. I ended up downloading it in 2018, and there hasn't been a week where I haven't made music. It's just that mentality that you don't stop. You learn everything about it. You don't need music theory, but it's nice to learn. You don't need more gear, but it's fun to use. Keep getting more into it; don't worry about people who have the same interests; that doesn't mean you're not special. That also doesn't mean you can't provide something. The biggest thing I've learned in the past few months is that I don't have to be just a fan or a listener regurgitating what I've learned. When I want to create something, I know I am creating something new. Also, if you find some of your art subject boring, maybe that is what you don't do. The goal is to find an interesting part of your art, then do the work."
Would you like to add anything else?
QB: "Someone else can't be the same as you. So, as long as you are being yourself, you will be unique. If you only try to be unique, and that makes you suppress who you are, then you ate being like someone else, stay true to yourself. Being yourself makes you authentically unique, and now you can make your art."