We were lucky to catch up with Christopher Mccormick recently and have shared our conversation below.

Christopher, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

One of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken was moving to LA and it paid off in so many greats ways but it also had its drawbacks. I moved to LA in 2018 with no promise of employment and very little money. I had recently come out, struggling with immense depression and really had no concrete plan as to what I wanted to do. I graduated from Pratt Institute with my Bachelors Degree in Architecture & had been working in the field in NYC for about 5 years. I knew I had dreams to chase but how I was getting there was a huge leap of faith. In 2017, I found solace and comfort in creating again and jumped back into my love for painting and portraiture. It saved my life in so many ways and continues to fuel me. Fast forward back to LA, I landed a job with a boutique architecture firm and started living my dream. I was doing what I loved, making friends in this new world and creating more than I ever have. Then, the pandemic hit, I was laid off and had no idea what was next. My painting business was thriving which became the silver lining throughout all the adversity I was facing and inspired me to take things even further. During that time, I locked in one of my biggest jobs to date with the rebranding of LuckyDaye’s “Painted” album via my dear friends Natalie Prospere and Paris Hines. So many great things followed and it gave me reassurance that my decision to not return full time to architecture was the best one and biggest leap of my life. I decided to take yet another leap and start a production company with my partner and business took off running. We’ve been blessed to work with some of the biggest names in entertainment doing what we love. I never take it for granted and I always reflect on the sheer feeling of terror I had when I decided to step out on faith and trust my talent. It is a constant reminder that if you put in the work God and the Universe will continue to fill your cup.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My entry into the industry was a result of my stepping out on faith and a lot of hard work. I’ve always been a super creative person. I love creating, I love making things and capturing the world in so many different ways. When I graduated from Pratt, we were in the middle of a recession and no one was hiring but I got lucky and a friend/classmate Sonia hooked me up with a Junior Architect position in Chelsea, NY. I was ecstatic. I helped design tons of residential guts outs, bars and restaurants, things I only dreamed of. Currently, I am running my art business full-time on my own in LA and running our production company alongside my co-founder. Our company CRV Productions, offers everything photo and video, graphic design and more. We’ve been blessed to work with some of the biggest names in entertainment and it’s a testament to the hard work and consistency we’ve put in all these years. I’m most proud of the perseverance I’ve had since uprooting my life. I’ve been immensely blessed but I have come face-to-face with some the worst possible scenarios in Hollywood in both the art and entertainment worlds. Still I’ve held steadfast to my faith and let my talent speak for itself. That in itself, has taken YEARS of discipline and healing.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being a creative is my endless imagination. I see the world in such a vibrant and energetic way. I feel like being a creative is a superpower. It allows you to go places you never thought possible; both physically and mentally.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Recognizing the contribution of artists and their work in meaningful ways and physically supporting US is the best way that society can support artists and leads to maintaining a sustainable creative ecosystem. I don’t think people truly understand how integral creatives are in their life. From the TV you’re watching and the shows, the art hanging in your home, the phone you carry every day and the apps you go on, the chair you’re sitting in and the even the keyboard I’m typing on, ART is UBIQUITOUS! The world does not run without creativity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cvisualsllc.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/christeddypaints
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@christeddypaints

Image Credits

CRV Productions, Roberto Hannibal III