what does that mean, seeker of life?

that i seek enjoyment, pleasure, challenge. the things that create experiences and make you most present while living. that's all you really should be in life no?

what does being an artist mean to you?

well, first it means that i produce art, or things rather. it's actually very central to who i am because i've been creative my entire life. i started viewing myself as an 'artist' very young, drawing, painting, making. so i think i've gone my entire life with that label on me both from outside sources and from within. its interesting because now i feel like it doesn't exactly fit who i am but there isn't really a better term? creative is becoming a little contrived now, and i do, in fact, make art so i guess artist fits at the end of the day. deeper meaning, i think it means releasing parts of me into the world. i love the impermanence of art, always have. i've been gifting / giving away my art ever since i was a child and i love it. it's like releasing a piece of beauty i made into the ether of someone else's life. i also have pieces that no one but me have seen… i'll work on something and throw it away-- that's also impermanence. hah.

do you remember the first piece you made?

definitely not. I can't even remember some of the pieces i made within the past year. it was probably a drawing or messy painting. my parents always gave us art supplies. i am the youngest so i lucked out with that i guess; early access.

what’s a recent work you are proud of?

[seen below]

i did a photoset with my best friend Nasir, titled 'peace and power'. it's a portrait set, and i think it illustrates me well. the hair was super fun to do, admittedly it is a lot harder working on yourself than others. Nasir and i work super well together, we will create random stuff on a whim, even this was super loose. we kind of just mess around in a space and document it. definitely one of my favorite ways to create with one of my favorite artists.

do you have any big inspirations?

yes absolutely. i love supermodels and fashion, anything solely existing for beauty. i like that concept because a lot of people would say beauty is purposeless, weak, pointless or shallow, but that's what makes it so interesting. we will never exactly know why certain things are pleasing to look at, that they give us enjoyment just from perception, but we all have that experience. beautiful things absolutely serve a purpose: to be beautiful! people, i would say myself, some of the amazing people i work with and create with, Florence Welch. oh and nature, absolutely cannot mention inspiration without nature.

why nature?

because nature is everything. it has all the answers in life, and demonstrates it. so many times inventions are completed because the inventors finally look to nature for help, airplane turbines, friction-less coatings, velcro, flight itself. all of those things are rooted in natural concepts. why wouldn't i be inspired by beauty and genius that has existed far before all of us.

what does your future look like?

uh a lot. i have done a so many things and want to do so many things. i'd say happiness or joy? more fun, more friends, more life. i invite any and all experiences. i want it all.

are you where you want to be?

short, surface answer definitely not. location wise 100% no. life and career wise, i guess yes? its difficult because i've done a lot of things maybe other artists would envy or think are super huge but to me they are a step and i would love to keep going bigger.

that’s very direct, what makes you so self assured?

well i think a lot of people my age, not just creatives, cut themselves down in the name of being 'humble', but I will not do that. humbleness is not denying yourself recognition. i have always been comfortable with giving credit to myself, i think that's really important in creative spaces. some people make art to fulfill others and for me that has never felt right. especially with the commodification of art currently. many artists lose themselves in the whirlwind of trying to appease an audience. but then you back up and look at your art and suddenly its not yours. you simply are the printer that someone else told to shoot a piece out with. so i think if anyone wants to have longevity or be successful rather, you have to give yourself the flowers you deserve. and that makes me self assured.

anything else about you?

can't wait to do more of these!

fin.