Being raised in the city that never sleeps gives me the drive to fulfill my dreams everyday. I’m a New York based artist that’s on a journey to find myself and to use my talent to make myself an entrepreneur. I have growing “Tee.Kay.Elle” a somewhat company/name that I show case and sell my artwork under. I have plans to make that name big in the art world. I come from a large artistically talented family so art has influenced me from a young age.
Being the oldest of seven children has made me a born leader and go getter. This has also made me accustom to always encouraging and uplifting those in my personal and business life. I’m a hard worker ,but I’m very active and free-spirited so 9-5 jobs don’t work with me very well. I love to adventure and discover new things, which I guess is the true spirit of an artist. I like to express my artistic creativity in different ways such as drawing, painting, photography, modeling and the list goes on.
I’m a proud Christian, so I chose my steps cautiously because in art there’s no limit or rules. I’m the type of individual that believes and appreciates rule and order to an extent. I cherish history, old school methods and traditions. My artwork is influenced by history, cultures, and the modern era’s like 1930’s, 1940’s & 1950’s. I grew up very close to my grandparents who taught me that money isn’t everything. My career goal isn’t focused on the money that it may bring me, but the satisfaction and joy of making my dreams happen in reality.
I had a rough up bringing but I’ve channeled the hard times to push me instead of put me down. I started painting to express what I was going through as a young girl becoming a women and the trails I started to face during those times. By being a woman, I wanted my work to be female oriented so others like myself could relate. I started off in fashion, learning how to sew from my grandmother who was a life long seamstress. I studied fashion designing in the “High School of Art and Design” and took college study classes in the “Fashion Institute of Technology.”
As time passed my passion for fashion faded because of the cruel world the fashion industry is. I decided a world like that isn’t made for me. During late summer of 2009, I got an internship in one of Chelsea’s comtemporary art galleries called the “Cueto Project”. That’s when I slowly started getting more involved in the art world, I started to look at my paintings and drawings as more than just a form of expression but a source of income. What’s better than getting paid for doing something you love and having it be appreciated by others.
Since my career road has recently shifted at the moment I don’t know what I want to exactly besides being happy and successful. I know soon enough I’ll have a plan set, like I always do but right now I’m dipping my toes into new water. I’m not from a rich family so working and having money is important but I’ve realized stressing over something like money only keeps you hungry and mad for more. I’m blessed with talent that most person wish they had and money didn’t buy, so I’m going to live my days focused on the positive and enjoy the one life I have.Tomorrow is not promised so I remind myself as offend as I can to smile and live my blessings today.
