What first got you into doing art?
Comic strips and cartoons really sparked my interest in art as a kid. I would sit for hours and redraw comics from the Sunday paper. I was also really into Disney at that time and planned to be an animator one day. When I couldn’t afford to go to art school, I walked away from art for a few years and picked it back up around 2002. That’s when I decided to pursue my dream of being an artist.

What motivates you to pick up the pen? And Why?
The love for it. My art is therapy for me in a sense. I do it to get through difficult times. It calms me, gives me purpose. When I’m working on something I feel like I can do anything. It’s food for my soul.

Are there any artists out there that you would say are your idols?
Oh absolutely. I have tremendous respect for Dubelyoo. His paintings are incredible and just inspiring. He is proof that you can be successful in the art game. Mike Thompson is amazing. When you see his paintings of Jam Master Jay, Eazy-E or Big Pun, you feel like you are looking into the eyes of those people. You no longer see a painting. Goldi Gold is another favorite of mine. Not only is he a great artist, he’s good people. He tries to help put others on and he works hard. Other artists I admire are Andre Moore, Dawud Anyabwile, Fabian Williams and Joshua Hooper. All of these guys are phenomenal. I could go on and on about a lot of great artists, but these are the people who really inspire me on a daily basis.

Do your surroundings influence your art? How so?
My surroundings definitely influence my artwork.  I do the majority of my work in my home studio. It’s filled with magazines that cover music, fashion, and art.  I flip through them when I need inspiration. I also have a collection of reference photos and just things that I find interesting. The most important part of the studio is my music. When I draw, I must have music playing. My rotation at the moment is Coldplay, Kanye, and Gnarls Barkley. All of which help me be creative and inspire art.

Are there any new projects that you are interested in starting? Or is there something new that you are working on?
A project that I’m interested in starting is more along the business side. I plan to launch an online store that will provide my art on a variety of products. I’m also working on a book that will feature my artwork. The book will have a lot of new drawings.

Random: What trend (fashion, media, music, etc) in the 2000s do you think we can do without?
I think we can do without the vocoder and all the gimmicks in hip hop. I think the masses who really love hip hop want to see it return to substance. The last few years have marked a downward spiral in the music due to the lack of talent and the need for labels to squeeze out a one-hit-wonder. If the quality of music was better, you might have more people buying it instead of downloading it. I always shell out money for a select few that I know will deliver a great album. I want hip hop to return to it’s glory days and inspire again, not leave me wondering why I turned on the radio.

How old were you when you first picked up the camera?
I think I was 10. I was given a Polaroid. I didn’t really appreciate photography until I saw the work of Gordon Parks. He made me want to be a photographer.

Is there anyone, in particular, that you want as a subject to photograph?
My dream subject would be Nelson Mandela. You can see the struggle and the redemption in his face. He is just a powerful human being.  Next on the list would be D-Nice. He is always behind the camera. I’d love to get him in front of the lens for a change and shoot him.


Finally, is there anything you want to say to the readers?
Follow your dreams. They can be a reality and don’t let anyone tell you differently. As long as you believe, it is possible. I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s true.

For more information on Tamika check out her website at joujouart.com

This entry was posted on Monday, May 18th, 2009 at 9:19 am and is filed under Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.