We recently connected with Sumo The Artist and have shared our conversation below.
Sumo, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
I am my happiest when I am in creation mode! I think any artist working in their respective field will go through time periods were getting a “regular job” is an option on the table. I tend to contemplate the idea when I am seeking a fresh & productive work environment, looking to learn or exercise a new skill that will only add to and enhance my artistic career, and of course when I may want to manifest financial growth in my life. I have always been known to fluctuate between “regular jobs” and my art, while also being known to stop working somewhere fast if it does not fuel me artistically. Although I say that, i have definitely worked in spaces that do not fuel me in that way, yet I work because…bills, right? Then again, it’s only so long before my spirit can no longer take that as well. In order for me to be an asset to any regular job, I would have to be in a position where I am able to thrive as a creative within the field. As far as the thought process, I’ve had to learn that i must set a positive intention for why I even want to pursue a job. The last time I had a thought about getting a job, I truly believed in myself when setting the intention of: “I will only work somewhere my artistic strengths will be highlighted and expanded upon”, and since then, ya girl been thriving!!
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?
Eye am the Queen of Intentions.
I began my craft as a writer. Way before me and the brush and canvas got acquainted, I was a wordsmith. I used words to transmute feelings, expression, things I didn’t want to express and definitely grief. High school gave me the motivation to paint. I attended a school where we did not wear uniforms, so I began painting on my clothing to create “new clothes” and have my own sense of curated flyness vs looking like everyone else. As a painter, the first items I sold were ceramic floor tiles I happen to come across in my mom’s garage. They were honestly just collecting dust, so these became my first canvases as This Is Intentional. From 2014-2016, I really was just dabbling in art, but once I graduated and shot off to college, everything began to elevate. This is where eye found me. From fashion shows to custom orders, I took no time to get my name and business known on campus. After only two short years as a student, I took a leap of faith, dropped out and began doing art full time. College gave me a real insight into entrepreneurship, being that I did everything on my own as far as promotion, marketing, in-person connections, networking, and creating the art! Also, building from the ground up in a city like Memphis, you learn the hard way, which only in turn makes you better. Dropping out also allowed my clientele to expand vs only having an audience of my “peers”, and this helped me transform into the artist I am today!
In the beginning, I was able to provide my clients with custom, hand painted, 1-of1 art of any kind. Acrylic became my new “pen and paper”. By this time, I was still writing for myself here and there, but my art was beginning to speak for me. As my expression began to define itself, my audience and clientele was doing the same. This is when a new level of entrepreneurship came for me. I’ve always been an artist that’s able to put myself in certain positions and opportunities, so I started applying what worked for me during college to my new full-time artist lifestyle. From hosting my own fashion shows, to being a featured designer in someone else’s, being a vendor, and even featuring as a live painter, I began letting my brush skills do the talking for me and haven’t looked back since.
As a business owner going on 9 years now, I’ve come to learn that it is very intentional that eye am known as ‘This Is Intentional’ aka ‘The Queen of Intentions’, or as JIGGY would say “The Utmost Intentional One”. Over time, I have learned the power of and even have morphed into the epitome of intention. That’s who I am today and what I am here to leave a legacy about. From a surface level perspective, “it’s giving” full time painter, amazing with color and expression, but to those that have come to know me, from clients, to friends & associates, “it’s giving” INTENTION SETTER (not trendsetter), because to be engulfed in my presence is to be intentional in all aspects of life. My greatest accomplishment as of today would be my debut in New York Fashion Week 2021 as a featured designer. Since I started as a painter in fashion, it blew my mind to see me get myself to such a prestigious moment in my designer career. Another astonishing accomplishment of mine includes having an image of me & my divine cat, Currensy, painted as a mural on a wall in my hometown! This happening was all orchestrated through divinity because the artist that painted the mural drove 8 hours to the city with no plan or direction of what he was to paint for the community themed mural festival, and in the end, he decided to share MY face with the community as a prominent artist to know. This event showed me just how much spirit is always looking out for me and my creative efforts and is reminding me that eye am doing something right and am on the right path towards my destiny.
Since 2019, I have found my niche as one who is a “messenger of intention”. I use my art business to share the importance of healing through intention setting, and at this time in my life, that is translated through a variety of mediums. Although my commissions are always open for painting requests, I now serve intentional ‘inner g’ to my community through safe spaces and events centered around plant and sound medicine, mindfulness, and mind, body and spirit wellness. These are the things that are most important to me right now, and I only hope to infect those with a like-minded mission with a passion to learn about and heal in the same capacity. Using color to translate and transmute is forever my life’s purpose, and as I continue to learn who I am, eye will continue to add to who I am, what I do, and how it translates to the community as being intentional.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Absolutely! The main motivation driving my creative journey every single day is honoring my brother, my angel, Brandon, who transitioned from this realm on September 2, 2019. Symbolically, it was beginning to feel like 2020 was going to be “my year” artistically, but after his passing, I had and still have a hard time creating in a sense. Losing someone so close like that almost took me out. My art was the only thing that provided me with sanity and a space to grieve. For a long time, I was not able to create, but just knowing my art was and is always there for me when I’m ready keeps me going. I’ve been working for myself as a creative for a minute now, and one of my biggest goals is to take care of my peoples. This goal was literally a constant motivational conversation between my brother and I, and I know I am still here to do just that. We would always say “we don’t know who gone make it first but MAN, we can’t wait to take care of mom duce!”, so it is my forever mission now to hold myself accountable and do it for the both of us.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
HAVING THE PUREST INTENTIONS! It is so rewarding to know myself and know what eye-n-eye stand for. We live in a world where being influenced by others and everything else is like taking the easy route, and I’ve never been one for that. I believe in hard work and setting intentions. For 8 years, this has been my formula, and it hasn’t failed me yet. Another rewarding aspect of being an artist is my/our sense of vulnerability!!! In order to curate art with meaning, it has to source from within, whether that’s from self or inspiration. Being able to communicate through art or creativity of any kind is a superpower.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thisisintentional.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sumo.theartist/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/somij.archer
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThisIsIntntl_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_jB4ZGM4sfxqoyO5HFpY2w
- Other: + Mindfulness Services: https://thisisintentional.wixsite.com/healwint/ + Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisintentional/ + My MUSIC: https://www.thisisintentional.com/music + @Perform901 Weekly Poetry Open Mic: https://perform901.com/about-polaris + & More: https://linktr.ee/SumosIntentions_
Image Credits
Shot by Trendin | Tavis Harvey (2020)
Shot by Harris Visuals | Shea Harris (Puff-N-Paint 2022)
Shot by Kam Darko Visuals | Kam Darko (TONE – The Folklore: A Night of Story Telling)
Shot by FilmByAnaMarie | Morning Thyme (“All Eyes On Me” Designed by Morning Thyme)
Shot by Su | Sumo The Artist (‘GYRATE’ Cover Art)
Shot & Styled by Pink Plaid Vintage | Mary (INT Studio)
Shot by Su | Sumo The Artist (‘ESOTERIC’ Acrylic on Wood)
Shot by Su | Sumo The Artist | (‘Santana’ Cover Art)
Jerry Cahilll Art x Paint Memphis | October 2021