We recently connected with Derron Ridley and have shared our conversation below.

Derron, appreciate you joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

To most, Art is an expensive painting on a canvas by a complete stranger. Lets be honest, you have no idea who the artist is that is responsible for the painting you just bought from Ross or At Home. it may have been something as simple as it is your favorite color. Doesn’t change the fact you wouldn’t know the artist even if they were standing behind you in the checkout line. That’s what i want to change about art. Most of you reading this have absolutely no idea who I am. Well let me introduce myself, my name is Derron and my brush name is Twigg. I’m an artist and owner of Planet X Global L.L.C. My goal with this interview is for you to get to know me as a person and understand what Art has done to impact my life is such a positive way and that its more than because it matches your couch They say: “It’s not considered a job if you are doing what you love!” I mean, who wouldn’t want to earn a full-time living from their creative work?! Its all I think about day and night, 24/7, 365 days a year. My dreams are big, really big and they all center around one thing; My rich life as a full-time creative.
As an artist, I am an open book and each and everyday I write a new chapter in this book we call life. My artistic journey began on August 11th, 1987 in Atlanta, Georgia. I grew up on the southside in College Park. I’ve been drawing since I was climbing trees and playing in club houses. As I became older, I was engulfed with college life. Before long, I’d replaced my paint bottles with alcohol bottles and started a decade long fight with alcohol, and was getting my ass kicked! I’m not ashamed to admit it because there may be someone reading this article that is going through what I did or knows someone who is. I want you to know, you can win this fight! I did. Since birth I was equipped with the secret weapon to release the chokehold alcohol applied around my throat. For me, that weapon is ART! Beginning January 3rd, 2023, I hit alcohol on the chin, laid him out and I became sober. I picked my paint brush off the ground, wiped away the dirt and stains the past left and never looked back. As of this interview I have been clean for 5 months with signs of stopping being absolute zero! I owe it all to the gift of creativity the Lord bestowed upon me and he has continued to bless me since. My paintings began to sell, my social media presence is beginning to increase, was a part of an Art Showcase at the Omni Hotel at the CNN Center here in Atlanta, the opportunity to do this interview with CanvasRebel Magazine and literally as we are doing this interview I have received confirmation that I was accepted to exhibit at the upcoming Pancakes and Booze art show in Atlanta, July 21st, 2023!! So yeah, not only did art save my life it also is the reason my rich life is becoming more of a reality than a dream.
We all have different aspects of what a rich life is. Live YOUR rich life. Take it from me, YOUR rich life is not the same as the person next to you. Now I have already crossed being my own boss from my bucket list. Like I mentioned earlier, I dream BIG. I have the forehead to prove it. I dream of having a show on Netflix. “Art Is Life and Life Is Art” is the name of my show. Bring Art to the frontlines, you know. Show, I mean really show, how emotional vast, diverse, extraordinary, interesting, and beautiful Art truly is, because again, Art is more than some paint on a canvas. My rich life is, alcohol free, being financially stable, traveling the world, immersing myself in different cultures and walks of life, my feet and easel planted seaside on a black sand beach painting the sunset, gorging on art at an international level, my parents not having to work another day, a legacy built that lasts generations upon generations to come. Art is the key ingredient that cannot be substituted to me becoming a full time creative. That is what Derron, the artist and Planet X Global is about.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Sit back and let me paint the picture of a dream that has now become Planet X Global. It all started when i was in elementary school. Back when Trapper Keepers were cool and you weren’t if you didn’t have one. I started drawing Looney Tunes characters but my dreams went from commercials to full fledge movies one day helping to do some painting at an Aunt and Uncle’s house. I even remember the shoes I was wearing that day, a pair of white Reebok Souljas (How the fashion industry has changed since). I was in an upstairs bedroom painting, they’d picked out a really nice shade of blue for this room and for some reason i feel in love with the color. Now I have always been the type to stand out and i really wanted to paint something else with this color. So,I painted my shoes! By this time I am a sophmore in High School. I wore the shoes to school, they are all hard and crunchy since i used house paint to paint them, lol. Regardless, classmates loved them! they had never seen them in that color. “Where did you get those?” they would ask. Thats when I knew I wanted to be an artist. Even to this day I would love the chance for NIKE to let me design a special edition line of Airmax 95, They are my favorite pair of shoes ever!! I wear glasses so i want to come out with my own line of glasses, created by an artist and have a partnership with Lens crafters. So, I set up my “Base of Operations” in the basement the of my mother’s house and began operating under the name X-Clusive Designs. Take a trip back in time when people were getting paint jobs on their cars like Willy Wonka and wearing the Nascar jackets. Now I own and operate Planet X Global L.L.C. There was still one thing, what would make me stand out above the rest? My answer, Versatility. Most artist have one or a very few strong points, or their artistic talents have limitations. My goal with Planet X is becoming the most versatile, creative presences on Earth! Remember, I dream BIG! I do original works of art, commissioned pieces, I teach Sip and Paint events, furniture, business branding, clothing and apparel designs, online store, online marketing and advertising, home décor, I have even painted interiors of cars, small custom paint jobs, you name it I can do it! What makes me most proud so far on my journey to my rich life is the simple fact, people enjoy my art and I love my craft! I literally built it with my own two hands.

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

I will admit, lately art has gained some traction, some following. Yet, its still missing something in order for it to be truly as effective as it can be. The RESPECT for art and artists is at a minimum. For this interview I wanted to find some extraordinary artistic expression around the city, shine the Artistic light on Atlanta. Once I did, you can immediately tell the respect for the time and effort of the artist is nowhere to be found. Trash scattered all around, vegetation growing untamed but even with all that the sheer power of art is there. Using trashcans and just caring about the environment are the obvious necessary steps but what about the others steps? Start with our youth. I want to propose a plan to the City Government of Atlanta, one where we find a way to make art relevant to our youth. Lets face it, Social Media controls how people live their lives! There are countless Recreational Facilities and youth empowerment groups in existence today. My plan would involve utilizing the local communities, starting artist groups, having periodical exhibitions and talent shows. Things to show the our youth they are ways to express yourself without using violence and anger. Think about it this way, the top songs being played over the airways. The reason, that artist found a way, even if its only for a few minutes, to unify hundreds of thousands, even millions of people. What does that mean? the song is relevant. I truly believe that same formula can be used to make art relevant as well.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

In todays world, your social media presence is becoming more vital with each passing day. To the point to where some companies ask for your social media outlets if you are applying for a job. How many followers does this person have? Do they have any influence out there? Here is the question they should just come out and ask, is anyone paying you any attention? Social medias reach even extends into the dating game. Sad? Yes, but true. These are facts. Lets face it. A video of a work of art being created wouldn’t fair well against a twerking video. Again, sad but true. I am not knocking anyone just stating facts. With these in mind, building a presence is tough. It was one thing that Planet X was lacking and the competition is strong, especially in a trying to stand out in a city with the weight and caliber of Atlanta. You can look at how to videos online, because everyone has the recipe. The reality is, it worked for their situation. believe it or not even twins live a separate life. We might have the same pair of sneakers, but we walk differently. When you are building yours presence, don’t post for likes. Post for YOU! If an artist post their latest piece, one can get thousands of like and the other may only get 100. Want to know why this ratio doesn’t matter? The answer is so simple, only one person needs to like it enough to buy it! Fun fact “The Red Vineyard” is the only painting Van Gough ever sold!! Lose the I need likes mindset, its holding you back i promise. The likes will come when more people like you as a person. One thing all the how to videos and influencers say that i do agree on is being consistent. Everything you post doesn’t have to a masterpiece. Post what you like, its your page. Bring the artist, the person to the front. Be YOU.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.planetxglobal.myshopify.com
• Instagram: @ Planetxglobal_l.l.c
• Facebook: @ Twiggdaartist
• Other: Email- [email protected] July 21, 2023 I will be in the Pancakes and Booze Art Show in Atlanta Please feel free to contact me through my website of any of my Social Media Outlets