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

Hi Jermaine, 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?

A few years back I decided to take a big risk. I wanted to have an Art show but wasn’t sure about what I need to make it happen. I had to find a location and figure how to display my artwork, when finding a location it had to be affordable for me. I’m so glad to have friends that believed in me and had a venue that I could use at a great price. Even after get the venue I still had one problem, that problem was myself. Believing in myself and knowing that my art was go enough was something I had always had issues with but once again having people the believe in you will help you get to the next step. Once I got pass that I had to start planning and creating some type of market plan. Here is another risk I had to take, Creating my own marketing plan, art show set-up and find vendors that would like to be apart of the show in hopes that is all works out. I had to create flyers, drawing floor plans for the set-up and reach out to local small businesses to ask them to be apart of the show. For me all this was taking a big risk, because with all that being plan I still wanted to come out on the plus side at the end of the night. Having to pay for everything in hope that that you make you money back was big, then set an entry price for tickets was another risk. Asking people to come out and pay $20 and then buy some art was for me another risk, I could set this show up and no one comes out to see my work because the door price would be considered to high. I set the price and had everything ready to go for the show, Vendors in place, art hanging for the ceiling, drinks available and a couple working the door and helping with other things. The art show was successful and it help with my mindset when it came to doing another show. I take the risks because I had a ton of people that believed in me and I need to challenge myself to do something I had never done before and push my limits.

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

My name is Jermaine Griffin Im from Atlanta, Ga. Art (painting) has always been apart of my life, I have always looked at things in a artistic way. When I paint I normally use acyclic paints and some of my work would be considered abstract. One I can remember looking something and thinking that is art and it becoming part of my life is looking at flor plan with my grandpa and dad and drawing cartoon characters. Years later I started an LLC and put my artwork out for the world to see. Along with that came some problems, like how to get people to see my work, what to charge, how to ship it, Do I need a website, will friend and family support me. One thing I am proud of is putting on an art show with little to knowledge off how to do so and figuring it out, paying for everything on my own to make it happen. Once things I would like future clients to know is that I put my all into every piece of art I do and that every thing is done with love. My main focus is show young kids that if you put the time in you can make your dreams come true.

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

I think that society has started supporting artist but the one thing that I know we all deal with is people not wanting to pay “The price”. We need people to stop asking for discounts are trying to find a cheaper version of what we have. If it is out of your price range then just say that and I’m sure there will be no hard feeling. In alot of case Im willing to work with someone that is honest up front with rather than someone that tries to get over on me. Continuing to support local artist in all ways possible will help the ecosystem that they work within, sharing posts and information about artist goes a long way.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding thing for me as an artist is the look on a customers face when they get the finished product. Nothing compares to that for me, creating to art is great but even when I doubt myself the look I got when they see the work is conformation that I did a good job. Also for me letting my kids see the painting and asking them what they think about it, is another rewarding aspect. Kids don’t look at things the way adults do so I love to ask what they think about something.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.maniacartdesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maniacartdesigns/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManiacArtwork

Image Credits
All picture taken by me