We were lucky to catch up with Derek Douglas recently and have shared our conversation below.

Derek, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

One of my most meaningful projects to date was a project that I did for a venue in Las Vegas called “Level Up” inside the MGM Grand Hotel. The project was curated by Austin Spencer and I was surrounded by so many artists that I have looked up to for years. I truly felt like I was out of my league from a talent standpoint and I was beyond intimidated.

With a total of 14 artists, the venue was covered in a total of 16 murals which included 13 four sided pillars and some larger walls. After the project was completed, Austin and I collaborated on one more large scale mural and I teamed up with You Killed Me First to cover the live gaming area with a pretty fun wheatpaste boombox installation.

The project is meaningful to me for several reasons:

1. It was the first time that I had worked on a lift. I am not the biggest fan of heights, so initially this was pretty terrifying. Since that project, lifts and ladders are a part of almost every project that I tackle.

2. It was the first time that a corporate venue took a chance on installing my art. Once my art was on display at Level Up, the calls began coming in from other properties in the Las Vegas area.

3. I got to collaborate with several artists on the installation including the Cult 33 collective of There She Is, You Killed Me First and Dan 45. Austin Spencer and I also collaborated on a Johnny Cash mashup portrait as well as a large scale Astronaut DJ wall.

4. The project gave me the confidence in knowing that I could work on a large scale, which has allowed me to push my work to levels that I’d never even dreamed were possible.

Derek, 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?

My name is Derek Douglas, but I am typically known as the artist named “SNIPT”. I am a Las Vegas based artist that began displaying work on the streets through the use of stickers and paste-ups. Initially my work consisted of pop art mashups that eventually made their way onto canvases and into galleries across the country. Over the last few years my work has expanded to a larger scale where the majority of my work consists of public and private murals.

Stylistically, I work almost exclusively through a mixed media technique that includes collage and paint. I consider myself a pop artist that flows between analog collage, composite portraits and digital manipulations. Application and installation wise, I am as comfortable on a canvas as I am on a 5 story building.

I always have a hard time finding out what sets me apart from other artists, as I don’t work in a typical medium such as paint, ink or graphite. When I take part in a mural festival or a group show, I quite often feel out of my league, but perhaps my varied approach to art is what makes me stand out.

With the career that I’ve built to this point, I am most proud of being able to escape the daily grind at a desk. I’ve been able to chase my passion while working alongside of some of my best friends. Being a professional artist is truly a gift that I never take for granted and I hope it’s something that I’ll be able to do as long as I live.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is that I can take an idea that would eventually be just a passing thought and turn it into something that can live forever. Some of my best ideas have come while dreaming or sitting at a stoplight. I’ve learned to always keep a pen and paper handy while also giving my “notes” app a lot of use.

When I take that idea and execute it in a public location as a mural or a canvas, the interaction with viewers almost always makes me smile or allows me to take constructive criticism to apply to future pieces. Being an artist gives you the ability to always grow and evolve.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Career pivots are something that I’m very familiar with. After graduating college with a Bachelor of Arts degree, I did what any burned out 22 year old would do: I chose a career path that had nothing to do with my degree. The industry I selected was internet marketing and consulting. I stayed in that field for around 15 years before taking the leap into Cyber Security. Myself and my partner at the time, were the founders of a cyber security firm. Prior to COVID, we parted ways and I made the decision to open up my own specialty coffee shop named Golden Fog Coffee in the Las Vegas Arts District.

As my art career was running simultaneously with the ownership of the cafe, I realized that I needed to make a decision as balance between both was difficult. 2 years later, my wife and I made the decision to sell the cafe and I took the leap to become a full time artist. I haven’t looked back since. As you can see, between Art School and where my career is now now, the journey has come full circle.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sniptlv.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snipt
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SNIPTart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/snipt/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sniptart