We recently connected with Haji P. and have shared our conversation below.

Haji, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I absolutely love being an artist. But sometimes it makes my brain hurt. In fact, most times it makes my brain hurt! Now that I’ve become a “professional” artist, creating feels a little more forced. I feel like I have to stick to the styles that get likes and sales. Which I know isn’t totally true, but I get trapped in my head about it, and it makes it messes with my ability to create freely sometimes. I keep telling myself that I’d rather just get a regular job, and do art on my free time – but I’m not built for that.

Haji, 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 HP Fangs. Well, not really….my name is Haji P. Actually… my real name is Greyson. But that’s lame. It took me both of those names and a trip to a mental facility to get to HPFANGS tho. It’s still weird to me how I became any of those things. About seven or eight years ago I was a regular dude who worked as Foster Care trainer, who also sometimes drew pictures of things biting other things’ butts. And before that, I was a rapper. Yeesh! I’ve gotten to do a bunch of things since. I’ve designed labels for beer companies, put up large art installations for the city, menu art for restaurants and a bunch of other cool crap 10 year old me would be hyped about.

It’s wild tho, since I’ve become a “professional,” I feel like I spend a lot less time doing the art and more time elsewhere. I do a lot of speaking at schools, putting together community art events and teaching private lessons in my studio. It’s all still hella fun stuff that I’m lucky to be able to do…but I definitely wish I could find more time to get back to the doodling part of the process again!

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

This isn’t a very nuanced opinion, but it’s a pretty factual one…the best thing anybody can do to support artists is to share their work. I think as creators we understand that everybody may not be able to purchase our work, but a like and share goes a long way.

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

Listen, I’d be lying if said I didn’t wish I could make enough money to buy a baller house in the middle of a tropical mountain, BUT until that happens…I honestly just love making art that gets a cheap laugh and a smile out of people. It sounds hella corny, I know. But that cheap laugh and smile was enough to save my life when I started drawing, so I know exactly what that’s worth.

Contact Info:

• Website: hpfangs.com
• Instagram: @hpfangs
• Facebook: happyfangs
• Twitter: @hpfangs