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

DeMetra, 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?

You know… my son asked me, “Are you happy?” and my response was, ” I’m grateful & blessed, but I cant say that I’m happy.” He then stated, “So when are you going to start painting again.” That hit me extremely HARD. Here it is May 2022 and I haven’t painted ANYthing since August 2021. Backstory: I got Covid Pneumonia Sept 2021 and was sick until January 2022. I was not painting at all and when I got better health wise, my mental was taking a beating from life because i was still dealing with the side effect from Covid called confusion. And when i tell you that they named that side effect correctly… whew! I was forgetting a lot of stuff and would literally be confused. I could answer in my head but the words would come out jumbled up. So it was a lot to mentally handle. Due to me being sick( the pneumonia part), I wasn’t able to paint, so my finances took a huge hit. I’m an artist, but my artwork isn’t selling for thousands of dollars… YET! lol so I was depressed and drained. When he asked me that question I DID in fact had to go get a 9 to 5 to make ends meet and I absolutely dreaded logging in to that job every single day. That job made me realize… I AM HAPPY when I am painting and creating. I HAD to do what I needed to do so that I can get back to a no 9-5 zone. I… DeMetra Dixon.. am in NO WAY meant to work a regular job lol. Don’t get me wrong… there is nothing wrong with working a 9 to 5 but its just NOT for me. Especially with it having NOTHING to do with being an artist & creative. Now, if it was in the field I adore, that would be different. I would love to work a 9-5 in the art world because it would be beneficial to my career as an artist and creative. Me number crunching other people’s money all day isn’t helping me creatively. I want to wake & create, not wake and log in to a company that don’t even know that I am an artist. So yes, I am my happiest when I am painting and creating.

DeMetra, 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?

To start, let me say that I believe that from birth, I was destined to be an artist! Let me explain. My name is DeMetra Paulette Dixon and my nickname is Dee. If you take my first name and flip it you get artemeD… which I write out as ARTemeD and pronounce it as Art in me Dee. With my middle name, if you remove one letter it spells Palette. So… I was born an art palette lol A living breathing art essential. ARTemeD is also my artist’s signature.

As a child, I kept coloring books, crayons, loose paper, pens, markers, and anything else that allowed me to express whatever I wanted to. I would color and draw pictures for everyone. My mom has always had me around art. One of her close friends is a well known artist and as a child, I remember going to art shows and exhibits. I remember seeing all different kinds of art pieces and sculptures and meeting all these unique individuals, I had no earthly idea that I would grow up to become an artist, Absolutely no inkling. I just thought it was something that I loved to do and really enjoyed. In school, I always took an art class but I honestly was always bored in art class so I never fully gave it 100%. In college, I dropped out of the art program because it was sooo boring and wasn’t keeping my attention. I remember doing a project and failing because I couldn’t explain why I used the colors I used on the sculpture I made. The professor wanted a detailed explanation and I was just like… I used them because they look good together. Looking back on it as the artist I am today… I get what she wanted and almost 19 years later, I can finally explain to her why I chose those colors.

By me exiting the art program, I became self-taught. Yes, I am a self-taught artist. Every piece that I create, I try do something that I have never done before. If I want to learn the basis of an idea that I have, I will research and get an understanding and then create to the best of my abilities. I have to have great discipline with teaching myself something that I have never done. At times it can get frustrating BUT i always prevail. I always find a way to do things and in doing that in becomes my own technique. Discipline is a must. You are forever learning ang growing in your craft, so yo have to stay focused and willing to learn from others.

My business name is Krooked Crown Artistry and my mantra is “My crown may be krooked, but its mine.” I call all of my pieces jewels and gems because that’s what they are. Precious jewels and gems straight from my crown (mind). My mantra simply means that no matter what you go through, your crown may not always be straight but its on your head and it yours. Crooked or not, wear it regardless and wear it gracefully. I use a K on crooked instead of a C because this is Kingdom energy,

In 2016, I was approached to be a model and brand ambassador for a hair company. I went to school with the owner, so it was someone I knew and she knew that i use to always draw. While have a conversation with her, I expressed that I had been thinking about painting and wanted to try it. The encouragement that I received from her and the the other model was ah-ma-zing. So… I started painting and it became my career in 2016. At the time in Dallas, Tx, she had a shop in Deep Ellum and I would sit in front of her shop borderline on the street and just paint. It was so freeing. With the modeling, I would always introduce myself as an artist first. Working with her and modeling helped me to get my name and face out there amongst many people in the industry. The very first celebrity I painted for during that time was 21 Savage. Fast forward some years, I have also painted for Tyler Lepley, Jada Cheaves (Jayda Wayda), and even Young Dolph. In between, I have done a couple of art shows and have even had my own solo art show.

I don’t know what sets me apart form other creatives. My artist name alone does that lol. Maybe my humbleness. I have been told from other creatives that I don’t know how dope I am. I wear many hats… I am a visual artist. I sculpt. I sew. I do mural work. I host paint parties for adults and children. I am a creative director for photoshoots and videos. Oh yea… I never mentioned that I have been in a few local music videos, and I am a co-host on a podcast with my sister called 2 Peas-N-A-Podcast (plug) lol but believe my biggest flex is that I am a energy painter. My energy is crazy (in a great way) and I release it into my work. You can literally feel it when you touch, hold over even just be in the presence one of my jewels/gems. I take pride in knowing that my energy is A-1 and people literally want my presence with them all the time. Hmm.. maybe I need to see about bottling up my energy and selling it. Shhh… don’t tell anybody my idea lol and if y’all do, just know I, DeMetra Dixon of Krooked Crown Artistry said it first in 2022! lol My energy is immaculate and very contagious. I’m just different. I know many people say that they are different, but I truly am different. I don’t know how to explain it. I just know that I’m not one dimensional. I am like an onion.. There are SO many layers to me. and yup… I may even make you cry sometimes lol

I take pride in my everything that I do. My name is attached to it, so why wouldn’t I?. I am my brand. I speak for my work before anyone even knows what I do. I can say though… when i do tell someone that I am an artist, I almost always get… ooooh, now you make sense. lmbo I told yall I am different. smh lol

I am most proud that my son has been able to watch me and see me accomplish a ton of goals. He has seen the ups and downs and the ins and outs of being an art entrepreneur. Although he is not interested in the art world AT ALL, he understands it to an extent. I know that I have so much further to go but I am proud of the woman that being an artist is making me. I am currently back in school to become a child psychologist so that I can introduce art therapy to the world. I know… I now.. its a thing already, but DeMetra Dixon of Krooked Crown Artistry hasn’t gotten ahold to it yet (inserts big smirk). I’m just super proud that I get to inspire children and even my peers to follow their dreams and do or become whatever and whoever they want to be. I don’t want to ever be put in a box and labeled as a one dimensional being or artist. Like i stated earlier, it so much more to me. Like, I wish you all could hear me saying all of this so that you can hear my passion behind these words. I have so much to say but y’all will be reading a novel if I keep on lol

Just know that my artwork is super authentic. They are one of a kind jewels/gems. At the moment, I only do originals, so NO ONE will have the same jewel/gem as you. I put my heart and energy into everything that I do. I do not create for anyone when my energy is off because I don’t want it to get trapped within the piece and transferred to whomever and wherever. I think about the longevity of my pieces. Majority of the pieces I created years ago are still relevant today. Timeless. I LOVE what I do with a passion and I want to encourage children to follow their dreams of being a creative. There is more to this world than sports (where I come from sports is the focus). I want to build and leave a legacy. I want the world to know who I am now while I have breath in my body so I am trying to make that happen.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

As, I previously stated. I am back in school to become a child psychologist. I want to introduce art therapy to households. Mainly catering to children. I lost a child, a little girl in 2006 and it took me years to grieve through that loss. Her name is Chrysalis Hope Dixon, Chrysalis is the stage in the caterpillar’s life when it is in the cocoon preparing to become a butterfly, Chrysalis means to protect, cherish and give wings to fly. I named her that when I realized I was going to lose her. I named her Hope first, then Chrysalis became her first name. I want to start a nonprofit organization honoring her… The Chrysalis Hope Foundation. I want to cater to the creative needs of the less fortunate children. Even though I know that what’s meant for me is for me, I cant spill all of my detailed plans. Just know that I want to make a difference in the less fortunate households and neighborhoods. That is my drive. With the Chrysalis Hope Foundation, I want children to know that no matter what they dream to become they can accomplish them. NEVER EVER QUIT YOUR DREAMS, Hope gives them the drive to accomplish and become whoever they are meant to be. While they are apart of the TCHF, they will be protected and cherished with encouragement and love and we hope to give children everything that they need for their dreams to grow their own unique wings and fly.

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

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is making people happy. I have so much love and joy to give that is literally is imbedded in any work that I do. I am ecstatic to know that if even it is for a moment, I made someone’s heart happy. This world we live in is rough and joy, laughter and smiles are need like never before, To hear someone say that something I created brought them and/or continues o bring them joy is an indiscernible feeling. Now don’t get me wrong… money is great for my services, but it is about the experience that I am giving. NO ONE IS ME and that is my super power. I am a whole vibe, A complete experience. If you ever meet me in person, you will love me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www,KrookedCrownArtistry.com
• Instagram: @KrookedCrownArtistry
• Facebook: Krooked Crown Artistry
• Twitter: @DeMetraDixon_
• Youtube: Krooked Crown Artistry
• Other: Confession: I struggle to maintain my social media by myself, but I have all of these. Most are new and either don’t have or barley have anything on them. The main one I use is my Instagram but Im working on getting it all together correctly lol