Meet South Atlanta Photographer and Artist: Perah Rutledge

Today we’d like to introduce you to Perah Rutledge.

Perah, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My art pathway started when I was a little kid. My cousins and my older brother would draw and I thought that was the coolest thing ever. As I got older I got more into photography and art which eventually led me to a magnet high school (Tri-Cities High School). That is when I really got into art and photography. The classes were catered to specific visual and performing arts, so by the time I was a junior I started straying away from drawing and painting and getting more into ceramics and photography. I figured that those were my strongest abilities and I fell in love with them both.

Has it been a smooth road?
I never have a smooth road but I think that’s natural for any artist. You can’t be great without some types of challenges. For me, the greatest challenge was doing everything I was told to do. For some people, art is this set function with rules that you have to follow. That was never the case for me because I wanted to do what I wanted to do and I don’t like to be told what to do. So for a long time, I struggled with that because I felt like I was doing my art for others when really it’s my art and I should be allowed to do it the way I wanted.

Have you ever wanted to stop doing what you do and just start over?
There have been a lot of moments where I’ve felt like I just couldn’t do it and so I would quit and as I went along I learned that I wasn’t a quitter but I was just finding other ways to approach what I was doing. Yes, it did take time and that’s always okay, but for me, I felt as if I was a quitter. I learned from this experience that it’s okay to take a break from something and come back later because too much stress will give you problems and it will definitely show in your works.

What would you tell someone who is just starting out?
For anyone who is just starting out, just know that you can do anything and I mean it. You have so many opportunities out there waiting for you. Meet new people. Network and make connections. Be content in your work and don’t compare yourself or your work to anyone out there because no one can do it like you do it. I want you all to know that anything you do, you should do it for you and not anyone else. Don’t try to please anyone else, set your own standards, and do your thing. Even the small goals are worth achieving. There’s so much opportunity in Atlanta, it’s almost impossible for you not to get out there and showcase your work.

What are you most excited about these days?
The most exciting thing for my future is just knowing that I’m doing better than I could have ever imagined. 4 years ago I would have never imagined doing the things I do. That, plus the fact of how I know that I’m making my family proud in whatever career or choices I make. In my future, I think about graduating from college and just doing my art, and doing what makes me happy, that’s what makes me content and excited about my future. I’m always curious about the possibilities of what will happen in my future which is another factor that boosts my excitement about the future.

Pricing:

• Ceramic Hands $50 and up
• Prints $10
• Custom Ceramic Mug $50 and up

Contact Info:

• Website: https://surrealsteez.carbonmade.com/
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/holyblackbread
• Other: http://surreal-steez.tumblr.com/

Image Credit:
Erika Simmons
Dequadray White
Malik Hairston