We recently connected with Creativ Storm and have shared our conversation below.

Creativ, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I first realized I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally when I was in my senior year of high school. As I took interest in Style Writing / Graffiti growing up I would often explore the city with my friends who loved it just as much as myself. We would skip classes to look for new work and take pictures and just enjoy seeing the work of our favorite artists. Ultimately that would land me in trouble and in doubt of graduating on time. With the guidance of my mother I transferred from a school that didn’t offer any art programs and classes that interested me to a school that gave me better opportunities. During my time at this new school I would meet an art teacher that took interest in my artwork when I was not confident about it at all. With the teachers inspiration I would began to draw signs for my school. The resources that this school had introduced me to the technology side of designing also. With this newly found way of creating I began to get more interested and what these programs had to offer. I didn’t have any plans on going to college after I graduated when I first got to the school but after my experience there and receiving an Honor Roll award for Art from the Chancellor I knew that another path was on the way. I then went on to study Graphic Arts and Advertising in College.

Creativ, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a Brooklyn, NY native that got into art through Style Writing / Graffiti. It was something about the colors, designs, and places that I would see it that intrigued me. In my neighborhood I lived by two elevated train lines and a freight line. The area had a lot of Graffiti to see. I always wondered how the artists at the time were able to do it. By the time I started to go to school outside of my neighborhood I would see that there was even more Graffiti to check out. I would observe my friends making this art as a spectator until I decided to try it for myself. Being true to the art form of Style Writing / Graffiti isn’t an easy task due to the risks the artist take. Although my involvement in the culture would cause me to get into trouble my mother embraced my passion for it and invested in me by purchasing my first airbrush set. She said “If you’re going to do art at least make a business out of it” and that stuck with me. From then on I’ve been making custom artwork for people locally and abroad. Eventually my talents would take me to college where I studied arts and advertising all the while working as a visual arts and technology specialist at an after school program. This taught me how to incorporate art into educating the youth and would land me a job as a Teacher Assistant.

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

Working with the youth helps drive my creative journey. If I didn’t have someone to inspire me as a youth I wouldn’t have known my potential to be creative. I use my position as an educator to reciprocate that. My goal is to inspire the youth to believe in themselves and for them to thrive to achieve their goals.

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

The most rewarding aspect of me being a creative is the positive feedback that I get from the people I admired growing up. Their input and praises lets me know that I’m moving in the right direction to push our culture forward.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @creativ.storm
• Twitter: @creativ_storm
• Youtube: @creativstorm

Image Credits
henrydanner.photo