We recently connected with Derwinisha Alford and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Derwinisha, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

This is an excellent question. GTFCREEP LLC was first thought of as “Creepy” due to being bullied in high school. People would say “Derwin, you’re so creepy” because I was observant, watching everything. That was 2013, it wasn’t until early 2015, that creepy was shortened to Creep and I created the first logo. Fast forward to 2017, my senior year of high school, I took an art class and it totally peaked my passion for abstract art. I would draw these peculiar faces and they stuck. One day I was thinking to myself “combine the faces with the name Creep” and that’s how it came about. Late 2017, one of my close friends, Alton said to me “you need main characters.” I created main characters and I began to build, I launched Creep into the physical world March 2, 2018. From there, I needed an instagram name. And GTFCREEP came about from a conversation with a fellow artist, Josh Simmons. His instagram name at the time was “Dookie Boi” and I asked him “why?” His response was “it has to be something that sticks”

Creep eventually evolved into GTFCREEP LLC because the instagram name stuck so much that people would call me that when they see me in public. From 2018 to now, my brand and I has arrived to many destinations, milestones and eras.

From idea to execution is a God-given journey. You must enjoy it, what we think is our best is laughed at by God. He has plans even bigger. All I had to do to move beyond the idea phase is execute and execution is just simply work. All things come in due timing.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Derwinisha Alford, a 24 year old self taught artist from Louisiana. I specialize in abstract/mixed media art that expresses the duality of life.

It wasn’t supposed to be painting, poetry was the passion. But God had other plans for me. After taking that art class my senior year, my spirit led me to the paintbrush. And the more I painted, my spirit led me to mixed media works which is like poetry on a canvas. I’m able to express my inner thoughts in a way that’ll provoke more thoughts. My art is the question and the answer, it just depends on your perspective.

I like to focus on topics like self love, healing, transformation, boundaries, finding God, building a relationship with God and the journey and discoveries of life.

I would like my supporters to know they aren’t alone. Everything in my art is a reflection of my personal hardships, lessons, and experiences. I’m grateful when we can resonate with one another. And I’m forever thankful for all who have poured into my evolution.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I was sitting in my room calculating how much money I’d need for initial investment. I went on jiffyshirts.com to see how much a bulk order would cost. It rung up at $978. I had no idea where this money would come from. Fast forward 3 days, I’m in the car with my sis and I see a red cardinal, I ask my sister what it means, she said “you’re gonna receive some money”

That same day we went to New Orleans, to my grandmother and I kid you not, she handed me $1,000. I didn’t even ask for it. That was my first interaction with God. But at the time, I said it was the Universe blessing me.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

May 2021, I separated from my ex-husband. I had nothing, I left with the clothes on my back and a pack of diapers for my son. I flew from North Carolina back home to Louisiana, and I started over from scratch, rock bottom.

There was no space for GTFCREEP LLC, no matter how much I needed art as a form of expression and a release. I didn’t have the money for it. I barely had money to take care of myself or my child. I was doing hair as a side hustle, and working at McDonald’s to get back on my feet. A really close friend, Aaija gifted me some canvases, actually 6 canvases and I was finally able to paint. I had my first art show since the separation, October 2021. Which was YanaFest. I started the painting we now know as “Uncertain Perfection” and I finished it live painting at Vegan Friendly Foods bringing in the New Year, 2022! I was so conflicted about this piece that represented exactly where I was in space and time. Finding the courage to step out on faith, trusting God, evolving, letting go of fear, creating life again…. that I gifted it to Cornelius. I told him he could have it.

The famous saying, “God works in mysterious ways” is so true. The next day the art started circulating on instagram and people were interested in knowing who created the piece. It’s now one of my best selling prints.

From that moment to now, I’ve been building myself and my brand back up.

Contact Info:

• Website: gtfcreep.com
• Instagram: gtfcreep
• Facebook: gtfcreep.com
• Twitter: gtfcreep
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@derwinishaa.3943