Meet Ricky Terrell | Visual Artist & Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ricky Terrell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ricky, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I decided to pursue the career as a Visual Artist and Designer because it was something I’ve originally wanted to do my entire life since I was 4 years old. I never thought I’d actually do it though because I come from a family that’s old fashioned and wanted me to work in a field that was more “financially stable” in their eyes and they didn’t know that you could actually make really good money from being an artist. When I stepped away from that narrative, I decided to start drawing but never picked up a paint brush until a year and a half after I’d left the military and was left to cope with invisible scars that come from combat and serving in the Army. Art pretty much saved my life. It’s my diary, it’s how I vent, its a safe and healthy coping mechanism for any obstacles I face in my life. I was also struggling to get a 9-5 after the military. The jobs I did land were terrible and Art was always somewhere around me calling me to pursue it so in 2019 I left my last 9-5 and I never looked back. It’s the best decision I ever made for myself to become an entrepreneur and develop my brand and artistry. I really can’t envision my life without Art.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Sooo my art is abstract but I don’t like boxing myself. I make art that anyone can feel but I make BLACK ART. The world needs BLACK ART. I feel like the intricate backgrounds that push my central images to the forefront of each painting helps the work stand out in its entirety. Most people who have seen my work can walk in a room and immediately recognize my art as soon as they see it and I love that. I layer and layer my backgrounds as a venting process until I feel like I’ve gotten it all out and then I focus on the main image. I’m mostly proud of the fact that I’ve stood strong doing this for 6 years and because of my consistency and resilience, it’s led me to have some great experiences in the art world. I’ve done over a hundred exhibitions/art & gallery shows between New York, Chicago (where I’m originally from), and now Austin Texas. My proudest moment was meeting Angela Davis and hearing how she loved my work and her signing the back of one of my paintings. This happened in May 2022 at the Austin Justice Coalition Black Art Matters show and I’m still in shock from that moment lol.
Being an artist full time has never been easy but it was always worth it. I think there’s a level of crazy and confidence that every single artist has to have in order to go after their dreams and truly believe that they can do it. I overcame a lot of challenges on my own at first and then I developed and beautiful circle of friends that uplift and encourage me and that keeps me going everyday.
The lessons I’ve learned are that: you cannot compare yourself to ANYONE, that’s the quickest way to your creative demise. You have to keep going no matter what if you want your dreams to come true. You cannot do it all alone so build a solid team. Numbers don’t matter, social media will have us forgetting all of our accomplishments if we get sucked into it so it’s important to celebrate yourself daily, every small and big win matters.
I want the world to know that I’m a combat veteran who found a way out of a really dark place through my art. My life has been one for the books and to survive everything that came to end me, I want others to know they can do the same. I want the world to know that I got it all out the mud, I taught myself everything I know and I’m still learning something new everyday. If people can look at my work and get a sense of self and fulfillment then I can say I’ve done my job very well. All I want is for everyone to experience what I create on canvas and the crazy that goes into making clothes and being a creative in general. It’s really a rewarding and beautiful lifestyle to say the least.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wanna shoutout my circle of friends who are a pillar to my success because of how much they motivate me. Deja Survillion, Dwayne Jones, Erika Davis, Santana Bradford, Eboni Hodges, Ashley Goodloe, Taylor Goodloe for recommending me for this article, Andre Beverley, and Tianna Speaks.

Website: www.abstractedbyricky.bigcartel.com

Instagram: visualsbyricky & sorryimlatebrand