Today we’d like to introduce you to Randy H.
Hi Randy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Portsmouth, Virginia on Oct 31 and raised in Macon, GA. As a kid, I developed a love for paint and eventually turned it into a business selling t-shirts and paintings to neighborhood friends, teachers, and parents. My shirts and paintings included characters I created: Parker Cloud, a seven years old charismatic kid and three talking clouds, Billow, Bink, and Swiggle. After graduating high school, I later majored in fashion design and marketing receiving a Bachelors in Fine Arts in 2007. In 2010, I created Dreamers Avenue, a company that is committed to promoting positivity and friendship by utilizing my main characters. My story of becoming a Graffiti Artist wasn’t as traditional as most. I picked up the spray can in 2014 and fell in love with it and eventually, I became obsessed with it! I would ride around looking for walls or spaces to place a Billow on. Billow is what I call the “money maker”. He’s always Happy! His smile makes you smile. Nothing can dim his light. He’s very energetic and the ladies love him. There’s nothing else that makes me feel more a part of history than tagging a wall or taking a space that’s vacant and turning it into a landmark. I love my art and the power of art. I love how it serves as everlasting communication in communities. “It’s my job as an artist to illustrate the times and uplift the people in it.”
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Struggles? Aw man! How much time we got? Lol…I’ve had a plethora. When you’re young you have ten hearts…right? You take all kinds of risks and things just don’t work out the way you thought. I’ve had people steal from me. I’ve had people take my ideas. People will make proposals, I’ll show up and they don’t hold their end of the deal. I’ve put all the money up and didn’t get the money back. People sleeping on you, of course. I’ve even had a well known Atlanta hip hop artist and activist reach out to me for a project, had me flying out, creating special shirts for him thinking I was going to get a major opportunity, just to have his assistant (whom he is the one who told me to contact her) say “I don’t know who you are” when I was finally able to reach her. That one really hurt me. I know obstacles, I know passion and struggles. I’ve learned all the struggles I’ve ever had were preparing me for the wins I would eventually have! I wouldn’t want any other way. I’m thankful for it all! Wins and losses. I’m thankful for it all.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am Creator and Graffiti Artist of Parker Cloud. My artwork is a robust representation of positivity. “A positive attitude awakens inner strength, energy, motivation, and initiative.” We’re living in destitute times, the people need encouragement and the children need imagination. I created Parker Cloud because I wanted to create something meaningful that promotes friendship and love, getting people into better spirits. I paint murals, do art workshops, and sell comfortable, creative socks with my characters on them. I think what sets me apart is the fact that I took something like Graffiti, that has such a negative stigma! And promote love and encouragement with it. I’m most proud of my passion for painting bringing the people together or helping them through dark times. Look around. The Hood is fuxked up and dirty and this leaves a certain negative spirit on our well beings. “ART HAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM, TO ILLUMINATE, TO EDUCATE, INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE.” It’s important to do it in spaces that have been left to be forgotten. A lot of the spaces I’ve painted were considered a waste spot and being able to turn it into a space where people congregate, take pics or gain encouragement from is a blessing. The stories and confessions I hear from viewers when they find out it’s my work is amazing to me. It’s a blessing and I’m forever grateful for.
What are your plans for the future?
As of now, I’m focused on brand awareness and partnerships… Partnership with my community, communities alike and brands that I respect. I want to drop products and pieces that people admire and love.
I would like to collaborate with artists I admire but I’ve learned that art and artist can be two different entities. Most of the artists or brands I’ve admired were jerks once I meant them. It’s All Love though, I ain’t trippin.
Imma blow. It’s all a matter of time! I want to continue to focus on perfecting the craft and enjoying the dream.
Pricing:
- Socks $12 (#theonlysockswewear)
- Shirts $30
Contact Info:
- Email: Randy@parkercloud.com
- Website: www.Parkercloud.com
- Instagram: @Parkercloud or @cloudtalkn
