We were lucky to catch up with Coby Mack recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Coby , thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Hello, I’m Coby Mack, from Brooklyn New York and I am an artist based in Atlanta, GA. My main art mediums are Acting, Photography, Directing, and Writing. As a kid, I always had big dreams. It started off with acting/performing; I would see some of my favorite films like School of Rock, and just about anything with Will Smith and I was instantly enthralled with it all. My mom started me off with modeling as a kid, and then I eventually transitioned into doing acting classes and then theater. Being on the stage gave me a sense of being myself that no other place could give me. Even though I was playing a character, I was able to tap into parts of myself that I maybe otherwise didn’t feel like I could express. That and writing were my means of getting out of my head and just releasing. With writing, I saw it as an extension of myself for allowing my creative expression to thrive. I was always very imaginative; I read up on a lot of Mythology (Percy Jackson was my ENTIRE life) as a kid and was into all things fantasy/sci-fi so I found myself making my own stories. It allowed me to just put whatever popped into my head on paper and honestly not worry or care about what anybody else had to say. As I went into middle and highschool, I’d say that that’s when my interest in Directing/Photography came about. After years of acting and writing as a child, I felt really stuck in a way. It was like I had these huge big budget ideas but I wasn’t really able to show it to people how I had it in my head or even anything visually. That’s when my interest for picking up a camera and seeing what could be made out of that really started. I remember so vividly this little mock trailer me and my bestfriend did for a project in middle school; it was so low budget and probably CRAZY to look back at right now but the joy of filming /editing something ourselves and kind of just making it happen… I will never forget. In my senior year of highschool/freshman year of college I got into photography seriously and while to myself for a little I took it as a hobby, it’s become so much apart of my identity as an artist. Through picking up a camera and my IPad I’ve finally, found a way to let people see the ideas that I’ve had in my head.. A lot of my work has honestly changed so much from when I first started; I used to say I had no interest for all of the “photoshop” esque workflow but look at me now!! Without it , my work wouldn’t even be truly a representation of me. It all makes sense some how; timing and how things happen. To be honest, in the last two years, a lot of these passions of mine I’ve kinda had to find my way back to. I remember as a kid, I used to feel like time was my biggest enemy; Now I’m learning to work with it. Its not easy being an artist and trying to just listen to your voice only but after a while… I’m locked in again. It’s been such a full circle moment learning how to balance it all, but it’s more than worth it to learn how to. I’m embracing my artistry in every way now these days and I’m not afraid to let people see every part of it. It feels like the beginning again.

Coby , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

In addition to all of that, the thing I’m most proud of is the growth I’ve experienced in such a short amount of time. I’ve learned to just accept myself and art for what I want it to be/love. As artist, I know we all can relate to getting in our heads about our work. Sometimes just one little comment can send us into a spiral and other times it can be our own thoughts. I think you have to lose yourself a little along the way sometimes to become the strongest that you can be. More than anything I am so so SOO grateful for the amazing community of friends/family that I have by my side and OF COURSEEEE all the gorgeous people that supports me. I promise you’ll never know truly how much it means to me. Y’all all keep me going and I promise I’ll make you guys proud 🫶🏾!!

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

I think the best way through all mediums of art is to let artist go through their individual seasons and truly express however/whenever they want. I don’t think people will ever know truly the weight that artist put on THEMSELVES alone so just imagine having a bunch of other people’s opinions come into play. It’s so beautiful to hear different people’s thoughts/suggestions. It might allow somebody to look at something in a whole different way that they never would’ve initially; but let’s keep it cute and nice! Some people are more resilient to words being thrown at them than others; If your intention is to bring somebody up/help them then use the right words to do so.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Making my dream come true and having people see that happen along the way to inspire them to do the same. It might be cliché, but I think a lot of people have dreams that they abandon due to so many things; others opinions, their own disbelief in themselves and sadly what society tells them is possible and isn’t. I’m here to say that any and EVERYTHING is possible if you put your mind to it. We’re all figuring this thing out so why can’t your dreams come true just like theirs? We’re all on different timelines; when something happens for another person, don’t get upset that it isn’t happening for you. Work on your craft and make them see why you’re here in the first place and not going anywhere!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cobymack/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cobymackkkk
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@coby890?si=2oc4HycBvAYjEBm_
• Other: Photography IG !! – https://www.instagram.com/macklenss/?hl=en

Image Credits
Pink alien image – Ajalai IG; https://instagram.com/ajalaii?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA== Photo of two girls in room – Alyssa & Danielle IG’s; https://instagram.com/exitm00n?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA== https://instagram.com/cometalyssa?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA== Man with Locs + Blue filter – EJ IG; https://instagram.com/elijahamir__?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==