We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Android Oi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Android below.

Alright, Android thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I learned what I can do first and foremost by studies in many different techniques and mediums in college. But that being said, there’s no specific end to learning. Along with knowing technique and fundamentals, you explore the metaphysical world with simple life lessons in creativity and experimentation. Knowing what I know now I don’t believe that I would do anything to speed up my learning process. In order to even have a learning process you first need to be focused. If you are focused and committed to learn something then you are on your right path.
I believe the most essential skills that I have learned are, composition, the five elements of light, and color theory. I believe that in art, at least, one of those fundamentals should be incorporated.
Life will always send you these “obstacles”. It is up to you on how you handle it and even define it as an obstacle in your life.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a born and raised New Yorker that felt like they had an existence inside of them that needed to be visually present. I had an interest in making art at a very young age in grade school trying to replicate the pictures in my comic books. I had already accomplished two murals by age 14. During these years I also began to venture into graffiti as well as started to write my own poems. Graffiti was the start of the thrill though. Being at a young age I believed that now, the world can start to see. I started to write all over NY but this is what ultimately lead me to graduate high school and go to college for art. After high school I attended a small, two year institute, where I learned all the essentials and foundations of proper art making, which I hold dear to me still today. I went beyond the abilities I taught myself and touched mediums from charcoal figure drawing, pen and ink, to oil paintings to give you an idea. I also had the pleasures of being in the graphic design department which was in my curriculum. At these times being able to meet other creatives I also took my graffiti love and moved on to stenciling on the streets. This got even more exciting because it takes time and you can leave an actual picture or (and I use “painting” loosely) a painting behind for all to see with more of a statement. Moving on after the knowledge I acquired from this two year institute and graduating with an associates in graphic design I then took these skills and attended The School of Visual Arts In Manhattan. This is where I utilized my studies and immersed myself into fully expressing myself on canvas and poetry. After my extensive studies and submerging the exploration of my inner self I then graduated SVA with a bachelor’s in illustration. Even today people critique my work and categorize it as fine art, but after attending SVA I continued to know inside that I have something to say and illustrate it as a story within a painting. Through my art I want people to understand what I am feeling and then question themselves. I want my audience to question the things I depict, like love. There are so many works out there on the positivity of love. What about the anxiety of love? What about the fear of? You have the anxiety of other peoples free will and they can turn around and hurt you at any moment. I incorporate a lot of my poetry into my art. There is usually a poem attached to it on the back. I desire for my audience to feel my heart, understand my pain and hear me sing to them with a sense of hopefulness when viewing my art. I want to be remembered by my heart, sensitivity, creativity and all the the things I have to offer that still have not happened yet. Ok, sorry for the rant….. So I throw myself into the art world and continued for years undertaking in residential and commercial freelance murals, freelance painting and portraiture, freelance graphic design, as well as create and explore with my personal art on canvas. Moving on to my next chapter in my life I become a father in my late 20’s. This is where I hit a cross road of where I see and think my life should be. I see myself still as an artist and I did continue to paint and work freelance gigs, but I put aside my stencil street art. I made the decision that it is more important to be there for my son rather than take a risk and get arrested. In addition, since it was embedded in my head from family to have steady income, I got a 9 to 5. I worked for a toy company that built and produced devices and toys to help everyday living for disabled children. I had the pleasures to be in a work shop and learn mold making, use cnc machines as well as lathes. But things became stagnant and I wasn’t really getting paid much. There was still something missing. Why can’t I find an outlet to create and make money off of it? So I started to learn how to tattoo and never stopped. I’ve been now tattooing for 15 years and have a good clientele. I won’t bore you with the little details, but life starts to unfold with addictions, separations, and custody battles, all the while keeping a job and making sure my art proceeds in growth in all skills and mediums. Without much to say it became me and my son verses the world. It was hard at first being a single parent but I got a little more of a hold of my life and with the help and understanding of my parents, they stayed with my son when I had to be out promoting or networking for my art. I’m now in my mid 30’s and I committed myself to show the world my art and hear what I have to express. I go back out to the streets and started to wheat paste photos of my canvases for people to see. I did this with full force along with submitting these painting into galleries. I’ve been exhibiting my work here in New York for almost 10 years now. Being the ambitious person in art that I am, I come across a mural company called Mural Painter Inc. and asked for a job. I started off as an on call weekend mural artist, moved to Office Manager, and now currently the Head of Operations. I control all jobsites from location in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago along with other states. I’m proud of the person and artist I have become and am grateful for all my accomplishments. Now in my early 40’s I control a mural company, have art exhibitions in galleries all over New York which two were featured and promoted on Fox5 news and Time Out NY. I have sold artwork all over the US, in Montreal, and London. Over the years I have developed a huge clientele tattoo following, and I have been published in UP Magazine and the 40th anniversary edition of The World of Interiors. I feel like I stand out from most artists because I tackled many different trades, mediums, and visual styles while still sending out a message. Since I am multi disciplined I can blend with others, blend in different type of social settings along with properly execute anything I want.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My resilience can come from many angles in life but to pin point one it had to be from relationships, especially the one with my son’s mother. We had a child together and not too long from that she showed signs of addiction that I was at first unaware of. This caused problems and the very idea of even creating a family. This put me in a situation where there was plenty if not all distrust. I had to stay strong for my son and fight for what is right along with what is safe for him. I was determined to get custody which I did. Due to these incidences along with then sooner or later going out and dating there has been a lot trial and error and heartache. But even then, I stay secure in who I am and how I show my love.

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

My goal and mission in my creative journey is to have this all make sense. To understand why I was chosen to have these talents, creativity and sensitivity to express myself.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: android_oi
• Facebook: Andr Oid OI