We recently connected with Leonard “Graffiti” Johnson and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Leonard “Graffiti”, thanks for joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

My last actual “job” was working part time at the Apple store in 2012. Since then I have been working for myself as a full time creative. I have always had an entrepreneurial, hustler’s spirit and have never really fit in with the routine flow of corporate America. After leaving Apple I decided the only way I would truly feel fulfilled in life would be to follow my own path and build my career my way.

The initial decision to pursue self employment was scary, and still is even after all these years. When you don’t have a consistent paycheck guaranteed to you every week it makes you have to literally work for every dollar. Everyday I learn something new about myself and my career path and have to make adjustments, sacrifices and risky decisions. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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?

My name is Leonard “Graffiti” Johnson. I got my start in the entertainment industry as a music producer and graphic design for local artists, DJ’s promoter’s and brands. As my talent and knowledge of the entertainment industry advanced, my personal brand emerged into a full-fledged creative branding and multi-media lifestyle company; Life is Dope.

Connection, visual design, branding, multimedia journalism and an ever-present ear to the streets are the methods of operation that have helped me carve my own lane as one of the prominent voices of culture, community and media in Colorado.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is being able to mold your life around your own vision and not be confined to societal structures and walls. To me, being a creative means building your own reality thru self expression and purpose. I always go back to one of my favorite Jay Z lyrics, “Remind yourself. Nobody’s built like you. You designed yourself.” Even through all of the ups and downs, struggles, doubts and obstacles I face on a daily. I still find fulfillment in knowing I am the leader of my own journey.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I feel the best way for society to support artists and the creative community is to accept and embrace creative thinking. People are quick to label others “crazy” or “weird” for thinking creatively, when in reality creative minds are the ones the help shape the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thatsgraffiti.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/thatsgraffiti
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThatsGraffiti
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonardgraffitijohnson
• Twitter: twitter.com/thatsgraffiti

Image Credits
Photos by: Blake Jackson https://www.instagram.com/_blackson_/ Cam Margera https://www.instagram.com/cammargera8/