By Staff
What inspires you to create art?
Inspiration to make art comes from wanting to pursue my passion. Creating artwork is a gift I believe I was blessed with, and it’s my duty to put this gift to use while I’m here. Also, loving what you do makes it something that you don’t need much inspiration to fulfill.
What does success look like for you?
Success for me looks like being able to continue the path that I’m on and making a living while doing it. Growing up, being an artist never seemed like a real option, more like a fun hobby to pass the time. The “starving artist” cliche was always lingering in the back of my mind, never taking the thought of it as an actual career too seriously. It took everything I had in me to go all in, and success for me is to continue this path while providing for my family.
Tell us about your new project about Henrietta Lacks.
This upcoming spring, I will be painting a mural in east Baltimore celebrating the life and legacy of Henrietta Lacks. I was awarded this project after months of competing against other artists while learning about Henrietta. I became one of six finalists and our final sketches were judged by stakeholders as well as family members. For those not familiar with her story – she is known for being the source of ‘Hela cells’, a line of cells that produce infinitely and have been used in research and medical advancements around the world. She’s one of many hidden figures in our history that deserves to be highlighted so that others may learn about her lasting impact that continues to this day.
How do you stay motivated in such a competitive industry?
Staying motivated is something that comes with the territory, The creative industry is similar to others in a sense that it is highly competitive. I believe regardless of what industry people pursue, being motivated to compete has to be a part of their mission otherwise you can find yourself being left behind on important opportunities. I have always been quietly competitive since I was young, so being the best at what I do is something that ignites my work ethic. Competition makes us all better, because you never know what the next person is capable of, so it’s important that I continue to give it my all while creating.
Tell us about your Modelo project.
I have been honored to be a creative partner with Modelo for the last 3 years. I’ve created T-shirt designs, hats and beer tap handles among other merch for the DMV/Baltimore area. The annual project is a part of their “Modelo Custom Shop” which is a mobile art experience that travels throughout major cities across the US, partnering directly with local artists in each city. Each year, I activate 18-25 two-hour events at local restaurants and bars that serve Modelo, giving out free custom shirts and hats with my design on them while personally embellishing each one on-site. Now that Modelo is the number one beer in the country, it’s even more amazing to partner with them every year, and something I always look forward to.
What can we expect from you in the next five years?
In the next five years you can expect a greater focus on producing original artwork. As an artist who paints a lot of murals, they tend to take up a large chunk of the time I spend creating because they are such big projects. From preliminary submission sketches to working with multiple stakeholders, the process to even begin a mural can take months on average. Even though I enjoy the process and the compensation from bigger works, there is nothing like being in your studio and coming up with an original idea that you can project from your brain onto a blank canvas, then bring to life. As an artist, there is no better feeling – turning a thought to something tangible to share with others. With that said, I have been creating a new series of works titled “Verses”, where each painting depicts my interpretation of a verse from the Bible. So far I have one completed, with seven or eight more underway. I believe it is my best work yet, and am excited to share this new collection with the world in 2025.
Social Media
IG: @sptheplug
SP THE PLUG, LLC.
