Meet Whitney Tates | Fine Artist & Muralist

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

Hi Whitney, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
One of the top things I value is honesty and authenticity. In terms of personal relationships, it’s obviously (or sometimes not) the basis of strong friendships, familial bonds, and romantic relationships. But something that’s lacking in the world of business and entrepreneurship is honesty. Working with an authentic voice as an artist is extremely important to me. My mission is based in concepts of self-awareness, growth, and human connection. If we’re not honest about the things that matter, we might as well not care. So in order to foster the changes I want to see in the culture of art as a business, I have to be very up front about my struggles with imposter syndrome, creative block, and financial stress. It makes me human. And people truly connect with that and give me that honesty in return.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Part of being a creative is struggling with the belief that you are anything other than ordinary. I’m not sure I have anything that sets me apart from other creatives, but I strive to be truthful in my storytelling. I am in the middle of (re)discovering my style and developing a voice in my work that tackles elements of otherworldly human senses and existence. One of the things I’m most proud of is my voice as an artist. For the past five years, I made it my goal to only paint Black women because that’s something I thought was missing in the work I grew up learning about. I’ll never forget hearing from someone at my senior art show, “Where are all the Black people.” I didn’t realize it, but I had erased my own existence from my work because I didn’t see it as an option.

To get where I am today as a professional artist, it only took a leap of faith and trust in myself and the community around me to support me. It was actually easy and simultaneously the hardest thing I ever had to do. But I had reached a point in working a corporate job where it was the only option. I had no choice but to jump ship and swim to a different reality. I’ve learned that if I continue to follow my intuition, that voice that tells me when to say, “yes” or “no”, I will always be taken care of. I’ve learned to not worry about where my next paying gig will come from. Ultimately, I’m not here to make money, I’m here to share messages that wake you up from your 9 to 5 slumber. There’s more to life than what we’ve made of it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First things first, we’re making a list of all my favorite places to eat and drink: Indigo Indian Bistro, Bestea, Zaap Thai, Dripp Donuts, Rhino Coffee, The Korner Lounge for drinks and trivia night on Wednesday, Pop’n Pizza for comfort food, Well+Fed for some vegan nachos, and

My favorite thing to do in Shreveport is to go to the riverfront and watch the water. And since it’s nearby, we’d go to the Shreveport Aquarium to visit the baby alligators and stingray. And if it’s a summer Saturday, we’d have to stop by the Shreveport Farmer’s Market to support local growers and get some delicious food and treats.

Finally, going to the many, many, art galleries in the area is a MUST. R.W. Norton always has a great curation of work, plus a beautiful garden with blooming Azaleas in the Spring time. artspace, The Agora Borealis, & Big Sun Studios are always in my rotation. On top of the art galleries, if they’re visiting in the Spring/Summer/Fall, there are PLENTY of festivals to check out.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents have always been supportive, if only a little worried, about my career choice. They fostered my creativity as a child, from buying my first piano to signing me up for drawing courses. Without their support and love, I would not have the confidence to take on the shaky career of full-time artwork.

Website: www.wetpaintarts.com

Instagram: @wetpaintarts

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