We recently connected with Rashad Ali Muhammad and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Rashad Ali thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

Two significant things my parents did right that impacted my life and career were to focus on a positive mindset and the importance of personal development. I remember a quote from my mother to this day: “Stop the stinkin thinkin.” (She’s also where I get my penchant for rhyming lol). She focused a lot on thinking positively or at least not dwelling on negative things. As an adult, that has helped me focus on the things I can control and shift my outlook on situations that may be daunting. Among the many books my parents had me read, Rhinoceros Success is one I also mentally refer to (I even adopted the rhino as a spirit animal). The main takeaways are: rhinos are always charging forward toward their goal — once they build momentum, it’s hard to stop them, and they have tough skin that helps them easily brush off any problems (haters, negative situations).
My dad imparted the importance of harnessing the power of the mind. He consistently shared resources like The Secret (the Law of Attraction), and Your Wish Is Your Command. Both these resources and a few others have shaped how I approach creating a winning mindset. I regularly use the lessons from these lectures to attract and manifest great opportunities in my life.

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?

I’m a multidisciplinary creator. My business name is RAM Creates because I work in a wide variety of art and want to give myself an opening for any future creative endeavors. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in graphic design from American University. I currently work full-time as a graphic designer and take on freelance clients here and there.

Early in my career, I needed other creative outlets that weren’t dictated by clients. I started with fashion/editorial photography in 2012 and moved solely to fine art in 2016. My fine art has centered on mixed media, and now I work primarily in analog and digital collage. Collage excites me because it combines intention, investigation, and innovation, dissecting established references and reassembling them to create new captivating notions.

I’ve amassed a lot of outstanding accomplishments over the years as I expand my creative craft. Just this year, I won a grant for NFT artwork I created that started from my exploring the NFT space. Never did I imagine I would win an award for my collection. The other major accomplishment this year is being selected as a resident artist for the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA. It will be my first public studio, and I’m exceedingly excited about what the future holds for my creative endeavors.

Speaking on the future. A dream I had been sitting on for some time was to create my own clothes. So I took a sewing course in early 2022 and have been making my own outfits ever since. The main goal was to create my own patterns/textiles to make custom outfits. However, from the positive responses I’ve received from my initial pieces, I’ve been putting more energy into building a fashion brand.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is connecting with people. As my parents always said, everyone has a story to tell, and I enjoy chatting with people to hear their stories and seeing how that may spark an idea or deeper reflection of my own story. I love getting feedback from viewers that say my artwork struck a chord within them and gave them a visceral reaction.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I recognize I have a natural knack for pivoting. It’s built into how I think. When I started my art practice, I came into it with the mindset of innovation — doing things other people aren’t doing or at least doing them in a new way. That mindset is part of what fuels my creative endeavors. I continuously explore new ways to create, just to fascinate myself. I figure if I devour art and inspiration and I can make something that blows my mind, I can just imagine what viewers are thinking. I love seeing the sense of wonder, amazement, and intrigue when people look at my art in person.

Contact Info:

• Website: ramcreates.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/ramcreates
• Facebook: facebook.com/ramcreates
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/ramcreates
• Other: tiktok.com/@ramcre8s