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

Hi Guy , thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Without risk there can be no glory is my daily reminder that I live by to the extent that I have it tattooed on my ribs. I took a major risk leaving the comfort of home at the age of 17 just after graduation to pursue my dreams of becoming a great artist. The risk of leaving home when my parents didn’t support my dream, they wanted me to go to school get a degree and get a job, and not in art. You see when you have caribbean parents the goal for their children is to secure a government job with a good pension.

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 am an artist to my core. I live and breathe art, live by the brush, die by the brush is my brand, my belief. I wake up thinking about art and go to sleep thinking about creating art.

Over the years as I evolved my art has evolved 8 months ago I lost a dear friend who was also a collector of mine. My new series Give Us Our Flowers was birthed out mourning the loss of my friend. The current series shows strength, resilience in individuals and families rarely celebrated. The intention is to give people recognition, love and respect everyday. Essentially telling those you care about that you love them and value them. Too often people pass and we wait to honor them with flowers after they are gone. Through art I am giving people flowers on this side.

I feel in love with art while attending a class trip in grammar school going to the museum and I’ve had blinders on ever since. At 13 all I wanted for Christmas was a drafting table because all the great illustrators had drafting tables, I awoke Christmas morning to the best drafting table ever, and I spent ever waking moment in my room over Christmas break drawing comic book characters.

I am most proud that I listened and believed in my 13 year old self of becoming an artist in New York City. The journey was a series of zig zag paths with forks in the road. But I always knew that someday I would succeed.

I am not just an artist I am also a collector, because I understand the sacrifices, I make it mission every time I sell a painting to buy a painting from up and coming artist. I believe in supporting living artist because the dead ones don’t need the money. My home is filled with works by other artist.

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

Being an artist there are many rewarding aspects for me. One of the most rewarding aspects in my early career was seeing my name on the gallery white walls in black vinyl letters at my first solo show in New York City nearly 20 years ago. To this day I still have those letters. Another reward is my amazing collectors, and seeing my work hanging in there office or home.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

My current view on NFT, Not For Them. I am not a huge fan but I support the creativity.    

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @guystanleyphiloche
• Facebook: @guystanleyphiloche
• Twitter: @guystanelyphiloche

Image Credits
image credits; guy stanley philoche