Today we’d like to introduce you to Terrence Hammond.
Hi Terrence, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a 25-year-old street artist, illustrator, and creator. My main medium of practice is spray paint that I used to paint murals, street art, stickers, and more. This, combined with analog and digital practices, I illustrate flowers, characters, graffiti letters, graphics, and surrealistic nature pieces. All of my art and creative practices have stemmed from skateboarding that I have been doing my whole life. Skating drove the creation of my brand Ascension Clothing Co. in 2018 with over three years of successful business. Skating has also helped me travel across the world to many places including Tokyo, Japan, and Barcelona, Spain. It was through these experiences I got to experience real street art across the world that perpetually influences my work and aids in its evolution.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life is never smooth and that’s the core of why I create. In 2018 I lost my best friend and great grandma “Ma”. Growing up, she always spoiled me and made sure I was riding my skateboard. As I got older, I was able to give back to her in ways as simple as taking her to do her grocery shopping or go have lunch to get out of the house. After her sudden death from cancer, I was 21 years old left with a house, responsibility, and a dream that someone else had believed in.
Four years later and I find myself having overcome sleepless nights, constant work and college classes, and a growing business that survived through it all. Despite all of these challenges, the biggest one is yet to come as I start my journey as an independent artist, skateboarder, and small business owner.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As an artist, my name is Doomed Movement, I like to paint murals and street art but I don’t limit myself to just this medium. I love making stickers, drawing graffiti letters, characters, and digital illustrations. I make my own set of rules when it comes to style as well. A lot of what I like to draw includes flowers and other natural elements (the love of flowers came from my great-grandma). Sometimes I leave them natural in what I’m creating, and other times I add trippy, graffiti elements to my pieces.
I also run Ascension Clothing Co, a collective of skateboarders and creators that collaborate in their own unique ways. I started Ascension back in 2018 in my garage with a dream of creating exclusive and authentic goods. We do this by traveling the world connecting cultures from places like Tokyo, Japan to Barcelona, Spain. Through skateboarding and art, our goal is to inspire others to do what they love everyday and Leave The Ground Behind.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I believe in something like karma, where you get what you give, and to me risk is no different. If you are willing to risk the things that make you comfortable, in return you will gain more than you lose. Yes, you might still fail at times, but having the humility to step back and analyze why you failed is almost more valuable then simply succeeding.
Having just quit my day job to pursue what I believe in has been the biggest risk I’ve had to take in a while. The risk in this situation is higher, “I don’t have that consistent income anymore, will I be able to pay my bills?” I ask myself. But risk can also be as small as painting a new concept or style that I’ve never tried before. Risk is necessary for growth and you just have to be willing to get knocked down and stand right back up.
Contact Info:
- Email: doomedmovement@gmail.com
- Website: ascensionclothingco.com/doomedmovement
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doomedmovement/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/ascensionclothingco/
Image Credits:
Photos by: Hannah Stewart, James Catino, Sam Roblin, KC Nadolny
