Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rashaad Black. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rashaad , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

When I first started I believed that everything would come easy because I felt I was naturally talented. Being an artist to me was more about free expression and less about technical skills, but I was wrong. My 100th painting was different from my first painting. I am a self taught painter/digital artist and digital fashion designer. What I initially felt were happy accidents were actually skills that were being developed. When I truly grasped this I understood that in order to truly navigate the world of art and fashion, that I would have to learn the craft and develop the skill set to create pieces of art and clothing that truly spoke to who I was as an artist.

I think of things I would have done differently to speed the process up and truthfully I would not have changed the process at all. There were moments when I first starting creating digital designs to use on clothing and I would create some of items that were not aesthetically appealing. It was those moments that made me dig deeper and create products that spoke to who I was as an artist. I would not have changed a thing.

The most essential skill needed in what I do is perseverance. You will not sell a dress everyday, you will not sell a painting everyday, but you have to be brave enough to keep moving forward. In today’s world with the accessibility to almost anything I believe that giving up on your dreams becomes easier and easier. It takes will and desire to push through adversity and keep trying to move the needle even though it feels impossible.

The obstacle that stood in my way was me. There were times I was truly my worst critic and prevented myself from experiencing the success I do now.

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 name is Rashaad Black and I am a multifaceted creative that focuses of painting and fashion. I was born in Canton, OH, but Chicago is where I called home as a youth. After moving to Miami I became a professional artist selling my art locally at markets and directly to collectors. My most recent endeavor has fused my passion for painting and fashion as now I have a clothing line. One day during the height of the pandemic I was working on a painting and accidentally got paint on one of the shirts. Instead of becoming upset, I took the shirt and started adding more paint and this was basically the beginning of www.rashaadfashion.com which features my brand Rashaad.

As I mentioned before I am both a painter and designer. The journey in both fields has allowed me a new freedom of expression, one that most artists would dream. At www.rashaadblack.com you will find some of my art pieces that range in size for 16in x 20in up to 72in by 72in. These pieces are often the inspiration for some of the items on my clothing site. You will find some of my designs on dresses, shirts, jackets and most recently travel bags and accessories.

What sets me apart from the rest are truly the digital designs I create. I was able to infuse abstraction into a unique pieces of clothing. There is a wide range of unique items that are offered at www.rashaadfashion.com such shirts that tie into my NFT collections. There are travel bags that have unique designs printed on them that are sure to turn heads. One of the reasons that I believe that people should visit the site is that the items I offer cannot be found anywhere else. My clothing and art speaks to the individuality of a person and will set them apart. I am most proud of how customers find my products to be unique items.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

NFT’s are the future, but not how it is currently being presented now. My NFT art is available on platforms such as Mintable and Open Sea. I coach individuals on how to take their physical and digital art to create NFTs. However, NFTs are so much more than art. We will be able to one day present NFT’s as membership card. NFT’s will be means of selling homes in a more efficient manner through the use of smart contracts and blockchain technology. NFT will be the proof of authenticity for luxury brands. I will continue to sell my art on these digital platforms, but I look forward to the day where we see the bigger picture and embrace blockchain tech for what it truly can become.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

There is one singular goal in mind and that is to become a brand that is experienced by people from all walks of life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rashaadfashion.com
• Instagram: @rashaadfashion
• Other: www.rashaadblack.com Ig @rashaadblackart