We were lucky to catch up with Tenisha Bullock recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tenisha , appreciate you joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?
I have been drawing since I was a little girl. Any place I could put a marker, pencil or pen to I would draw on it. My grandparents raised me so I started living with them starting around the age 3-4. Both grandparents were very religious so we attended church three times at least a week. My grandmother took eye to my talent before I knew I had talent in drawing. A few years had passed by and I remembered being in elementary at the time. My grandmother started to send me and my siblings to church conventions in the summer time. This opened up a new light to enter into competitions. My pastor from Greater Dry Ridge Baptist Church started to place my name into church competitions each summer for the conventions. I placed 1st and 2nd place every year. This started to build my confidence through out my middle and high school years. I was on my last year at Mendenhall High and was asked to draw a person for her graduation. I did not expect anything from here because I had been doing art for so long for free. It took me a week to complete her request. Upon graduation day I gave her the final drawing and she gave me a pack of Reese with ten dollars. In that timeframe 2006 ten dollars was some money to a high school kid. I ripped into the candy and couldn’t wait to spend my ten dollars at the flee market that weekend. The excitement and rush of receiving ten dollars and a bar of candy when you did not expect it was a overwhelming feeling. It made me feel like my art was meaningful and that day built my confidence even more to keep pursuing my talent.
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.
I am a small country girl from Pinola, Mississippi. I am a small business owner that runs transportation in Louisiana. I have fifteen trades under my belt and currently working on my Bachelor degree in Fine Arts. I love helping people and do classes at local libraries on weekends teaching kids the basic of Art. My heart goes out to the elderly and I provide services for free to those who need house or yard cleaning. Rides, groceries anything you need just let me know and I will take care of it. I feel that our purpose in life is to lead, teach and help the next person as Christ did. Plant good seed and do right by others no matter how someone treated you. However, I have been drawing and sketching since I was 3-4 years old. I got into Art by pressing forward. It didn’t matter what other jobs I got into. It did not matter the problems I faced. I made sure I made time for my passion, Art. My artwork has meaning and a lot of people relate by the story behind the paint. I am a life coach and have been through a lot in my life. Loss of both grandparents, mother, children, abusive marriages and relationships. I did not break but used my pain to give clients inspiration and hope in their current or past circumstances to channel negative into positive to help someone else swim when their glass got half empty. What stands me out is the uniqueness of the story, the creativity of my mind to touch people on a different level through paint. I am proud of my accomplishments and my discipline within myself. One main thing I want readers to know is that giving up on yourself is not an option. I wrote my first book called, “ It’s Not How You Start This Race” on Amazon. To inspire people to keep the Most High first in all you do and as a living witness everything will be handed to you in due time. Do not ever give up on you no matter what you go through in life because every dark cloud has a silver lining. I hope to inspire others that achieving your goals can be achieved. Lastly, write your vision down and read it everyday as if you already have it. I promise you that you also will be successful in whatever you choose to pursue.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist often varies from person to person, but I find great satisfaction in : The ability to convey thoughts, feelings, and perspectives in unique ways through my art. The impact my art has on others by Inspiring, moving and provoking thought into people. The creative freedom that gives me the liberty to create without constraints and to bring new ideas to life. The most important aspect to me is the legacy. I want to leave a lasting impression on the world through my art. Lastly, my personal growth to enjoy the continuous journey of learning and mastering new techniques and styles as I finish my Bachelor in Fine Arts. I do believe that art is a powerful form of communication and self-expression, and being able to share that with the world is immensely fulfilling to me.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)
My outlook on NFTs are that it is the digital world’s brushstrokes on the canvas of the internet. Each token is a splash of code that captures a moment, a meme, or a masterpiece, forever etched into the blockchain. They’re the autographs of the virtual realm, where the signature of authenticity is not ink, but an algorithm. As an artist signs their work with a flourish, so does the blockchain with its immutable ledger, turning pixels into something more precious than gold but digital provenance. To me this metaphorical approach likens NFTs to art and emphasizes their uniqueness and the permanence of their digital signature. It’s a way to express the transformative nature of NFTs in the art world and beyond.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Neek Bullock
- Facebook: Neek Bullock
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sugarfootdelightful9923?si=W0Te5Bj5_AssW1NPd
