We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sterling O’Ray a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sterling, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been a creative individual. It is the largest characteristic that overrules my existence. If I didn’t have a paintbrush or pen in my hand, then I had a camera. If I did not have the camera then I would have eyeliner and vice versa. That is the way it was, and that is the way all these years later it has evolved. Growing up, I never saw myself becoming a doctor or a dentist like others my age. Being completely honest, the internal complexity of how the human body operated scared me. Through my eyes, the outside human form itself was art that needed to be captured. I considered all possibilities of artistic careers such as fashion designer, makeup artist, art director, and fell in love with the idea of becoming a storyboard artist for a very prestigious film company. I took that idea and ran with it! And to this day, I have been able to combine all my passions into one thanks to an expanded artistic skill set and a burning desire to share it with the world.
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 Sterling O’Ray and I am a triple threat. I specialize in my craft as a surreal fine-artist best known for my acrylic and oil painting collection “Garden Party” featuring several of my favorite flowers alongside my oil piece “Madame Versailles” which was on display for District 8’s Arizona congresswoman. On social media, especially the TikTok world, I’m a beauty influencer keeping up with the latest trends, sharing my makeup recreations, hairstyling tips, and more with my digital audience. I love that I get to partner with a few of my favorite brands such as Pley Beauty by Peyton List, Bésame cosmetics, or Revolution Beauty. Since I love movies I might draw inspiration there. For example, I’ve recreated Priscilla Presley’s wedding look. And last but certainly not least, I am an aspiring filmmaker who is passionate about telling a great story on the silver screen. Last summer I earned my Associates in Media Productions from Glendale Community College and am currently on the way to my Bachelors at Arizona State University. From there I plan on directing my first personal short film. A western paranormal under my name titled “Shadow Valley”: the chilling story of Marshall Oscar Cayne Dale out in West. There is nothing that I love more than being given the chance to work on set with likeminded individuals, further advancing my portfolio, and bringing our innovative visions to life. In the meantime, my knack for video editing has helped bring to life “Dreamscape”, the animated “Pink is the Color of Romance”, “The Well” series, “Down Swing”, and “Voices of Our Veterans”. Someday I hope to have an even bigger collection of shorts that will really make an audience feel.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
To me the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is sending my final product out into the world for all the enjoy. It can sound cliché but taking a step as simple as that can inspire others giving them the courage to do the same. And it will be here on this planet long after you are gone. I get that little boost of serotonin when I think “Wow! I did that!”. There is beauty in creating art and not just the kind where you stop to admire. It is the kind that enchants something deeper. Igniting a spark from deep within the soul. Our world needs artists who will demonstrate the kind of boldness and leadership that will compel others to take action. Often times artists don’t give themselves the credit they deserve. And when you are generous with your creative work, it prompts your followers to do the same thing.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
When the pandemic started I remember how people used social media as an escape. At that time in my life I had dropped out of art college and moved from Denver, Colorado back home to Arizona. In the midst of feeling a little lost, I decided to download TikTok. This was way out of my comfort zone considering my feelings for the app changed drastically. It sort of became the new YouTube but with short clips. I figured I would be that one percent of the population with zero TikTok presence. But boy was I wrong! One video turned to three, five, sixteen and before I knew it my media consistency had taken off. That is the secret for those who want to do the same: consistency. My audience began to grow and so did my collaborations with beauty companies. I remember a package arriving to the door from Bliss. And inside was all sorts of brand new clean skincare. I felt like a little kid on Christmas Day inside with fresh ideas flooding my head and was SO excited to create my own exclusive content like all the creators I watched on the internet growing up. Not only did content creation re-spark my love for film, it gave me a new project weekly without judgement. Not downloading the app or immersing myself into a new territory would have made my life very different. So, take that risk! Who cares what others have to say or think. And the reward will come later.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://smoratemp.wixsite.com/sterlingoray
- Instagram: @silverlingg
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@silverling9187
- Other: TikTok: @silverlingg Sterling’s S.M.O Art: https://smoratemp.wixsite.com/smoart?fbclid=PAAaYzB6k2eWZSFyx2mmQ1Hb5xnfQiw4oFYLockf5KBmoXs-uOO0OYv5v1K0g
Image Credits
All Shot By Sterling O’Ray