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

Quincy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

As a new, young, illustrator and designer, I sometimes feel overlooked, especially in a market that’s so saturated with voices and amazing artwork. There’s a tendency for people to put you in a box or make assumptions about your work and who you are, whether it’s based on your appearance, your background, or the content they expect from you. In this fast paced world I think sometimes people see the beautiful finished pieces, but they don’t always understand the time and energy put into each piece of art.

It can be frustrating, especially on social media where the competition is so fierce, and it often feels like you have to work twice as hard to be seen or taken seriously.
It’s also difficult to keep an audience when the content you create changes, especially if people followed you for one particular style or type of work. The algorithms often reward sticking to a formula, so when you deviate from that, there’s a risk of being overlooked.

Last year I created a video using an app that I discovered one day scrolling through social media. I thought it would be fun to create a short video using the app in a drawing style that was very casual and did not look like my other work. That video ended up going viral and getting 11 million views on instagram over the next few weeks. It was great because with the exposure, I gained a lot of followers but after a year or so the following went back down. I believe it was because people realized it wasn’t my usual content. I think it’s natural to take that kind of hard because you blame yourself for not making the specific content those people might want to see.

There’s also a lot of pressure to conform or fit into trends to gain visibility, but now I’m more interested in building a community that understands my work and appreciates it for what it truly is. It’s not always easy, but I find strength in my journey, knowing that every step forward is part of my growth as an artist.

At the end of the day, I want my art to reflect my personality and my growth, not just what will get me the most likes or followers. It’s about finding the balance between staying true to my evolving artistic voice while also learning to engage with my audience in new and meaningful ways. It’s challenging, but I believe that those who genuinely connect with your work will grow with you. And ultimately, I’d rather have a smaller, supportive audience who understands my vision than try to fit into trends that don’t resonate with who I am. Holding onto authenticity is much more important than trying to please an impossible algorithm.

Quincy, 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 Quincy Harding and I am a Black and Native illustrator and designer originally from Massachusetts. Growing up in a family of creatives, it was only natural that I fell in love with art. My home was like a mini art studio—thanks to my mom, a designer herself, we had a room overflowing with art supplies. Whether it was painting, designing, or creating, I was always surrounded by inspiration. Art became part of who I am.
My formal journey kicked off after high school when I attended the Rhode Island School of Design, earning my BFA in Illustration. Since then, I’ve made the leap from Massachusetts to sunny San Diego, where I’ve been fine-tuning my craft, pushing my style, and building my small business. My artistic voice has evolved into what I call “Moody Glamour”—a fusion of fashion, beauty, and bold, stylized women. It still holds the textured essence of my traditional work, but now I mainly create digital art.
In addition to selling my work online and at local markets around San Diego, I’ve ventured into airbrushing and started offering one-of-a-kind pieces alongside my digital art. My career’s been an exciting ride—I’ve worked on public art projects, murals, and collaborated on designing clothes and products. Last July, I even hosted my very first solo show back in Massachusetts.
Through my work, I hope to inspire people to embrace their authenticity and empower a new generation of women, youth, and anyone who connects with my art. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m excited for what’s next!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of the most rewarding moments of my art journey happened during my first solo show in Massachusetts. It was such an exciting and nerve-wracking experience—planning, promoting, and showcasing all my work in a space outside of social media. It felt like a huge leap, finally seeing my art come to life in a gallery, where people could experience it in person, not just through a screen.
After the show, I was flipping through the guest book, reading people’s comments, and one message stood out to me. A woman had written, “Thank you for creating brown and dark-skinned women…”
I’ve always been intentional about depicting women of color in my art, giving them the space to be celebrated, glamorous, and unapologetic. To know that someone not only noticed but felt personally uplifted by it was everything I had hoped for. In a world where people of color are often underrepresented or misrepresented, especially in the realms of fashion and beauty, it was incredibly rewarding to know that my work was contributing to changing that narrative.
That message was a powerful reminder that my art isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about representation and empowerment. Moments like this fuel my passion to keep creating, knowing that what I do can resonate with people from all different backgrounds.
Another gem I found in the guestbook was a comment that read, “All hail Quincy” scrawled in a kid’s handwriting, complete with a doodle of an anime girl. I couldn’t help but laugh—it was definitely a more lighthearted, but still rewarding, moment I will never forget.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I find myself fueled by a curiosity to learn and achieve. I want to explore every avenue of creativity—whether that’s diving into different mediums, collaborating with other artists, or taking on ambitious projects that challenge me to grow. My goal is to see it all and do it all. In a way that sounds superficial but it comes down to really just wanting to be the best person I can be and eventually share what I’ve learned with the world.
It’s like I want to almost “crack the code” of life—a code that often feels elusive or doesn’t seem to exist at all.
I also realize the path to achieving this ambition isn’t always fun. And it can sometimes be overwhelming trying to take on every opportunity that comes to me. Feelings of doubt, burnout or failure if I can’t juggle everything all at once. It’s easy to compare my journey to others, especially in a world where social media showcases only the highlights of success. Yet, I remind myself that every step, even the challenging ones, is part of my incredible adventure. Despite the difficulties, I firmly believe that the effort will be worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://quincyharding.com
• Instagram: @quincyharding_art
• Facebook: @quincyharding.art
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quincy-harding-51154b158/
• Youtube: @quincyharding
• Other: tiktok @quincy_harding

Image Credits

none