Cecil Reed
Atlanta, Georgia
When did you get your start in Art?
At the age of 7, I loved to draw from magazines and books. The visual artist Bob Ross was like my childhood artist mentor. He made painting landscapes look as easy as making pancakes. This was very intriguing to me. By the time I was 15 my parents knew I had a gift. I was a big fan of Tupac Shakur and DMX. They let me use chalk pastels to draw them on my bedroom wall. They told me if it didn't look right that I had to remove it. It stayed on my wall until I graduated college in 2007. I am now in my 30's and have a fully functioning business CREED Art.
How would you describe your artistic style?
My style is simple and direct but with a taste of realism. I only use acrylic paint, and I plan on incorporating other mediums shortly. I like to capture images in their purest form. I want the viewers to focus only on the subject with no distractions.
Where do you draw your artistic inspiration?
To take a blank canvas and turn it into a beautiful piece of art is inspiring. I'm inspired by looking at a masterfully crafted piece of art and understanding what it took to get there. It doesn't matter who the artist is, the only thing that matters is that it's beautiful. This inspires me to create beauty.
On fun projects:
My painting of Jimi Hendrix was nothing but pure fun and has been very successful to date. This project was the largest painting that I have completed thus far. It is 6ft x 4ft. I only used three colors of acrylic paint throughout, my plan was to go crazy with it, and that's what I did!
What are some risks or sacrifices you have made in pursuit of your craft?
It is very tough to pursue your dreams of being an artist when you work full time with a wife and kids. It’s all about time management though. Some days, it's either you paint and run the risk of hearing your wife complain about not spending quality time with her and the kids, or you do not paint at all. There are many days where I am just so eager to paint, but I don't because I don't want it to look like I'm choosing art before family. The situation is real and can be very confusing. My goal as an artist is to add substance and value to our lifestyle. Being neglectful is never the intention. I have an understanding with my wife now that will allow me this time. But just know that an artist mind is always on the hunt.
What has been the most memorable response to your work?
“Wow! OMG, did you paint this?”
Who is your favorite artist?
I have several very talented artists that I like. One, in particular, Kevin A. Williams, he has mastered the anatomy of people. His ability to mix mediums and the message behind each of his painting are extraordinary. Another artist is Frank Morrison, his graphics and attention to details is what amazes me. His illustrations are fun to look at because they capture moments in time. These two artists are so great; I feel they forced me to change my approach as an artist. I've changed the way I capture images, and the type images I capture.
What’s next?
I don't have projects lined up. I enjoy being at peace and in harmony. In those moments, I tend to come up with my next masterpiece. I call each project I tackle a masterpiece because it challenges me to overcome myself, it teaches me something new, and it gives me a new vision to see things differently.
What is your dream project?
My dream project is the one that I do that sells for 6 or 7 figures. To me, that is a dream project. If not, as an artist why do we paint and create? I believe we all as artists will paint for the joy, for a stress reliever or mainly just because you can, but at the end of the day, it’s for wealth or a form of income. God has blessed me with a skill set, and with that, I have developed a hobby, and with this hobby, I hope to be someday financially free. From what I hear, all it takes is that one project to get you over the hump.
What quote or motto do you live your life by?
We were all put on this earth for a reason; we all have a particular set of skills. I believe we should discover ourselves. Don't wait until life passes us by, and don't accept doing what you don't love. Be Happy, be free at heart and be who you were meant to be.
For more on this artist, please visit theArtistCreed and follow at @creed_art_