 How have the Arts impacted your life?
The arts have impacted my life tremendously. Being in the fashion industry, I’m always thinking of new and creative ways to take my brand to the next level. Art plays a major part in my creative process. Tell us about your company and merchandise. Famous Apparel is a unisex sportswear line. I specialize in graphic tees, sweatshirts, hoodies and more so recently sweatsuits for men and women. What inspired you to become a fashion designer? I’ve always been into clothes. Getting dressed was always more than a task for me, it was a moment for me to express how I wanted to be seen. I got voted best dressed in high school and thank God I did, because I was always late to school because I was looking for something to wear. I didn’t intend on being in the fashion industry at all. I went to school for television /radio production and it’s still very much a passion of mine.
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 How has the Arts impacted your life?
Art was how I communicated as a child. At 4 years old, I did not talk in kindergarten. The teacher requested to meet with my parents and show them a drawing of a kitten I had drawn for my father. She had never seen such a drawing from a child. It was determined then that this was my form of communication. Now as an adult, Art has reached out to me, and now after a decade of fighting inner demons through psychotherapy, Art is now the main instrument for communication once again. How would you describe your style of art? I do the work. If it’s perusing paint or as my latest sculptural pieces pushing charred bone and rust. I am mostly defined by my piers that I push the limits of abstraction. What inspires you to create art? Inspiration comes from many areas for me. I have been inspired to work on a piece by experiencing a simple gesture of a touch which might be a soft water color or as strong as being thrown against a wall like a rag doll after a car bomb detonated in my vicinity in the early 90’s in Lima, Peru inspiring me to use body bags covered in charred bone as a sculptural piece.  How have the Arts impacted your life?
The arts have been a part of my life since day one; its actually how I found photography. I started off as in theatre, choir, and dance in high school, which led to me majoring in theatre in college. There was a point in college where my director needed everyone to have headshots done, and having dabbled with photography in high school I volunteered. Next thing I knew I was photographing everyone on campus. Even moving out to Atlanta was motivated by the arts. I originally came out here to act. In an effort to make ends meet I started working for a magazine as their photographer. Things just kinda took off and its been a wild ride ever since. How did you begin your career as a photographer? I actually got started with photography by accident. Back in high school I was that kid that didn’t really go to parties. Though I had my reasons, clearly my friends having had enough of my excuses, literally dragged me to a party they were going to. On the way to the party one of my friends needed to stop at Sears Portrait Studio to pick up some pictures she had taken. As I waited, I noticed they had a stack of blank applications. Out of sheer boredom I doodled on one and filled out the other. Two weeks later I was working there as a photographer. Its crazy how life has a way of nudging you exactly where you’re supposed to be. At the time I thought I was being dragged out to a dance, I now know I was being pushed towards my destiny.  How has the Arts impacted your life?
Over time, I have learned that being artistic takes on many forms. Some people are artistic, or creative, in a more traditional space ... music, film, art, etc. I discovered that my creative side was more unconventional, in business and finance. My eclectic training and experiences in business allow me to see and create opportunities for clients that other business advisors miss. As a father of two children, how will you incorporate the Arts into their development? I recognize that my children will be creative in some area(s). It's my obligation to look for their natural creative gifts and nurture and encourage them. I want my children to always think outside the box and creatively. What inspired you to become an entrepreneur? Entrepreneurship was inspired out of the necessity to do what I was passionate about. I simply wanted to fulfill what I consider to be my purpose. No one gave me an opportunity to pursue my dreams so I created my own opportunities with the businesses that I own. |