We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tracey Hawkins a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tracey, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

The First Dollar I ever made selling my Erotic art was from my Art prints. My cousin went on my website and bought two prints which are now some of my most popular prints. The order total I remember was $45. I was smiling from ear to ear. I was so happy. It helped me see that there is an audience for the type of work I love creating. I posted the artwork not really thinking anyone would buy it and in less than 30 minutes I got a notification on my phone stating I had made a sale. It was the best feeling ever!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Tracey H. also known as Infamous ArtBae, Peachy If You’re Nasty. I am a queer erotic artist and an adult content creator. I started as an erotic performer at the beginning of the Pandemic after losing my job in Information Technology, building and fixing computers. It was such a boring job lol. I was also selling graphic design services on the Facebook Marketplace. Soon after I had the idea to start doing these digital self-portraits of myself, In honor of the new self-love journey I was on. People really loved it! So I kept doing them. Next, I started putting the paintbrush on the canvas and using the splatters and paint drips as an overlay in Photoshop to make my work more personal. From there I met my first queer lover who really inspired me to be more courageous and encouraged me to start drawing and actually begin to paint more expressive work on canvas. It was like he unlocked something in me that turned me into the SAVAGE artist I am today! I sell my original paintings, art prints, canvas prints, and even my own line of art merch. NFTS are coming soon.
All of my work can act as a voice, comic relief, but most importantly a guiding light to the people who need it.

I am most proud of the fact I am not confined to a desk, and I can literally work and paint from anywhere in the world!

I want potential followers, and fans of my work to know that my art is not just NSFW, but it’s really a journey and the story of my shadow self. The parts of me that I had to hide, or even run from for most of my life. When you witness my artwork you are witnessing my healing.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My mission here is to make you feel uncomfortable with my art. It always has been. But I will ease that uncomfortableness by helping you INNER-STAND that feeling of unease, or excitement when you see my artwork is a calling for self acceptance and self empowerment. A calling for you to accept and empower those dark parts of yourself society has labeled as taboo. PUSSY POWER, women’s sexuality and pleasure (LGBTQ included) is not taboo or dirty how society has trained us to believe.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Something that I had to unlearn is a womans sexaulity is taboo, and is not a subject that should be explored or talked about. I remember on diffrent occassions where I tried to come out to my family about my attraction to the same sex. Anytime I tried to talk to my parents they would tell me I am too young to even know what I like. We never talked about sex yet alone sexuality in my house. It was always you have to like the opposite sex. THATS IT, THATS ALL! Coming into my womanhood, and into my artist journey. It was imparative that I unlearn this toxic narrative QUICK if I wanted to heal and use art as a way of expressing myself to the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: Traceyh.us
• Instagram: @infamousartbae
• Twitter: @infamousartbae
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-NOKW-vMaaaFGjHParyLWw

Image Credits
Images and Paintings were done by Artist