We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Wayne Flint. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Wayne below.
Wayne, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
During the past 6 years, pandemic, political unrest, racism coming out of the dark into the light, victims of police brutality, and active shooters all these things creating chaos in a civilized society. I was troubled and wanted to find positive inspiration to counter the negativity. I needed to honor the victims of police brutality and the lives lost through digital oil paintings to humanize them.
By honoring the dead, I had people reach out for images of their deceased loved ones which led me to emotional projects, allowing me to bridge the gap from the past to the present. I was commissioned to create paintings of grandparents that were never able to meet their grandkids-> combined in the same portrait. Deceased children that were victims of violence joining the current family in a painting. A teacher surprised her coworker with a painting of her daughter that was a victim of a hit and run now immortalized from a quick snapshot to a substantial memory. A grandmother who wanted her mother to be in the same portrait with her great grandchildren generations that was brought together by my artistry. A mother whose son died years ago and all she had was a polaroid picture that I had to illustrate to bring to life in the digital oil format-> and was able to reunite them. So many stories that have moved me and inspired me to create these meaningful works.
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 digital artist & book illustrator born in San Antonio, Texas. My inspiration is mental relaxation of wildlife in natural habitat, extraordinary people, touching life stories & achievements, the everyday struggle and heartache of life, minority/underrepresented point of view, impressionism paintings, and people with style. My brand is Digital Art that expresses love for humanity and reverence for the animal kingdom with an intentional cultural focus on African Americans’ contributions that impact all of mankind. This was an unintentional path that was discovered through physical adversity which provided a dual healing effect personally and for the culture. I like that I am shining the spotlight on the past, Highlighting current achievements, and the expression of nature’s beauty all generate an irresistible emotional response-happiness, sadness, love, and anger which is a remedy to counter the numbness of Life.
I work in the digital art medium using a customized digital tablet & adobe software. My works have been published in various magazines related to the art world & have exhibited several times @ shows & art auctions across the United States.
I’m most proud of being featured by Adobe Curated Gallery 26 features to date which have led to bigger opportunities and having my brand selected to sell in the Faire wholesale marketplace.
How did you build your audience on social media?
It was important to me to establish a social media presence that was 100% business. Facebook is a huge vehicle that I used my personal, business, and group pages to be dedicated to my creative artistry with no distractions from other topics or people- the mindset of 100% business is a theme throughout my social media platforms. I duplicated the same process on instagram and Tik Tok focusing on a handful of platforms posting a 100% artwork and no personal images. I also try not to oversaturate my work and post 1 or 2 a month to avoid my artwork being overlooked and expected. I do not post any work-in- progress so not to reveal all the details of my creative process. It’s important to lend some mystery and curiousity to my work. I maintain 100% control of my work by not allowing 3rd parties to share my work which prohibits others to profit off of my creativity without permission. I do limit the amount of groups I belong to decrease risk of art theft. I have establish easy, efficient way to sell artwork online instead of gallery exhibits and art exhibitions to sell work. It’s important to join Art organizations to establish self amongst peers like Portrait Society of America and Society of Illustrators
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspects of being an artist are: the emotional impact that my work has on my clients especially portraits of loved-ones. They trust me into their vulnerable space to create intimate project that is so personal and will last a lifetime. The ultimate thank you is when those same clients send me pictures and videos of their response and appreciation of my work- it leaves my speechless. I want people to feel the energy behind my paintings and be inspired by each work’s energy and motion. I am excited that I have philanthropic opportunities/projects that I enjoy to give back to my inspirations: helping people and animals. From a professional aspect, I am proud of my artwork being featured 26 times on Behance which has lead to major opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/wayneflint
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackdigitalart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackdigitalart
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artbywayneflint/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArtByWayneFlint
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/blackdigitalart
- Other: https://www.faire.com/brand/b_b21i7eu0ye
Image Credits
All image credits go to the Artist Wayne Flint™