Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Julius Pearson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Julius thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
The first time I wanted to pursue my artistic path professionally was back in 2015, when I just got fired from my job. Not at the exact moment when hearing the words of “parting ways” was the moment, but it was a snowball effect that led to it. When I did get let go, it was the same week my daughter was born (and yes they knew I had a child on the way). It was just a difficult time and, as I was supposed to be in full joy about being a new Dad, but at the same time, I’m like, wait, I need to feed this kid! Things were getting really rough as it was hard finding a job and some jobs that I did get didnt pay well at all with what I was used to. I did manage to find a decent paying job but finding child care was a huge issue, so I bit the bullet and left that job to watch my daughter. Just being home changing diapers has become my full-time life. I was always into art but never took it seriously. One day, I just sketched something and put it on Facebook which I had never shared any art on social media before. The feedback from it was kinda cool. Someone sent me a message asking why I don’t take it seriously and full time. I did not know how to even start a path to selling art, so I was told about doing local art parties. I wanted to know more information about this so I did some research. This was all with the height of social media rising. I made an art Instagram page and put a little artwork up and applied it to those local shows. I did not know that doing that would have the outcome of me having my own business years later. I started doing these shows and networking and, best of all, selling art! Choosing this artistic path has given me more opportunity than any job I have ever had in my life. I got to travel and show my work internationally, such as places like Tokyo and Amsterdam. When things started moving and I started seeing my ideas coming to life, I said to myself “this is it” , I’m gonna let this grow into something great.
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
How I got into the art world was an adventure. I started doing small (but big to me) local shows.These shows would be in empty apartments, basements, pizza shops etc. No matter the pace I was there with my art and networking. The turn out for these events will be huge. It was a crowd who just loved art in a way that made us feel comfortable. With big galleries and the process of just being a scene, this was an opportunity of advantage and learning. In my art, it tells stories that tackle personal and also social issues in the form of decoding. I love explaining my work to people. The expression on people’s faces when I break it down is priceless. I started using my art and experience of hosting to host paint and sip events and also juice and painting for children. I also collaborate with other artists for creative photo and video shoots as well as cover art for projects. I started my LLC business called Neo Lucid Dreams and a mixed media service. I work with others in artistic fields to create amazing projects. I’m currently working with an animation studio to make a pilot episode of a cartoon series that I wrote and also working with someone on a comic book project. As artists, we need each other more than ever to collaborate. What sets me apart from others is that I will use any resource I can to help with development. When I work on a project with someone, I will help that person grow. This is something I noticed when I was on the other side of doing showcases or a gig. It is that you are just used for the moment, which I understand, but there’s so much more in an artist’s field that one can always grow. Everyone who I work with I basically met in my early days of starting this art journey. I have developed them into different fields they did not even know they could do. I wouldn’t call them clients, but more freelancers. I have so many ideas that I want to do and I can not do it with other artists. That is why I started Neon Lucid Dreams. It’s like everyone wants to live their dream and some do, but sometimes you are not in charge of your own dream, so I created a platform that gives you that space to take charge of your dream.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding thing about being an artist is when someone connects with my work. I don’t want you to buy my art because it looks cool ( yes, that is also complimented) but to hear someone explain why they are buying my work is amazing. It’s a huge reward when someone has an emotion towards something that I created out of the blue, like you don’t understand how crazy that is. A gentleman one time wanted one of my pieces so badly, I was showcasing it in a store and a painting of mine was hanging there for about two weeks. He went to the store to buy something and saw my painting and said he had to have it. He somehow got my number and until this day I have no clue how he got my number. I got this weird text message saying “I need your painting, call me”. I call this number and he just goes off about how my painting reminds him of his childhood of when times were right and his relationship with his mom etc. I wasn’t free to do the exchange because my grandmother had just passed away that week. So I told him to just give it to the store and he denied he really was admitted to meet me. I had to make an understanding that I was making a moment for someone with my art and my grandmother was the one who actually taught me how to draw. I took it as a sign and met with him and it was a great exchange and amazing conversation. The last thing he told me was that when he dies he was gonna make sure his kids take the painting because I was gonna be big around that time.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I was still working a full-time job while on my art journey. My job didn’t get in the way schedule wise, but the energy that it took from me was a lot. There would be some days when I came home wanting to work but I would have a bad day and that would just take the motivation away. I know that my art gives me more opportunity, but at the same time, this is New York City and I need that secure income. The cycle of work was just consuming and now that I started on the art route I had no desire to give my energy to a job that I could be easily replaced. 2020, the year of years with no explanation, changed the whole narrative and I was out of work, but also was not motivated to create art because it was just confusing times. When I finally got back to work a few months later, my job let everyone go. That was the point that I realized I didn’t have control of this and I needed to do my own thing, so 3 months later I got my art studio and from then on it has been a journey to being here, now starting my LLC and even partnership with Raw artists.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Myfavoritecoloris_
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
@stoneimmaculate @doxforever @muvemediallc