Today we’d like to introduce you to Darius Brooks.
Darius, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I grew up in College Park, Ga. I fell in love with art at an early age. I remember seeing my mom drawing me and my sibling’s name in bubbled letters. I was always fascinated by that, so I picked up a pencil. From there, as I grew Cartoons like Dragonball Z and Pokemon were popular so when I was finished with my class work I would just get some paper out of the teacher printer and get to draw my pictures. There was always someone that could excite the picture better than I am, it pushed me from there, I met a friend in McNair Middle who use to draw featured artist from the XXL Hip Hop magazine. I soon stopped drawing cartoons and went into drawing my favorite rappers, middle school was a different atmosphere, oh’s and ah’s were replaced with you can’t draw better than such and such. I had to learn to shake that cause someone was always better than me when the content was the same. Came to high school, I was more interested in creating art on clothing and focusing more on creating from my mind because your imagination is limitless. I went on to pursue my passion at Clark Atlanta University where I grew into a better version of my self. I stumbled onto a Mecca of art and ink called City of Ink while attending CAU and again, I was inspired and challenged in a way where I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I then realize that the starving artist was just a myth and you could make a living through art. You can catch me now making otherworldly art as I like to call it because I like to take my viewer on a journey keeping them drawn in creating emotion and seeing what kind of perception it draws up for them.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I create the kind of art that makes you feels like you can do anything. I have my symbolic work that draws you in a ask you to look deeper within yourself and draw out those emotions that make you feel completed or even gets you to see how you feel. These pieces can range from benign subtle and tranquil or erotic and intense. I create a multitude of black characters from super hero’s to these godly eccentric figures. I like creating empowering work because in today’s society I think the people who need the most focus are women and children. Women should be able to feel secure, strong, vulnerability, peace and I feel that same way about children. When people see my work I hope that it communicates there deepest emotion, I want to look at that piece and say I see me I am a hero, that’s me I am enough. My work is a reflection of the things I hold true, I feel like we all should feel like we are capable of whatever it is we desire, I want us to feel like it’s ok to cry, it’s ok to not know but I’m trying cause sometimes when I’m working I don’t know where I’m going but when I get there I’m so glad I didn’t quit along the way because I would have created the pieces that I have.
What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
Get out there and get social. You owe it to your self to let the world know what you do. You’re a diamond in the rough if you stay in the house. Get out there and shine you are great, you are enough, and anyone would be glad to have you around. There are always events going on I know I struggle with being social but that’s such an easy fix with social media we live in a digital age where if you want to know something you can just search things aren’t word of mouth anymore. The first step is getting out it might be hard but the effort will be worth it.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can find my work on Instagram at Darius_kbeanz, the website will be back up soon. Also, #artbykoolbeanz.
You can support my work by sharing it. I feel like there’s an audience for everything. Also, word of mouth, I create murals, teach, I do sip and paints, I want to try out face painting. Just know where ever I’m blessed to have the opportunity to be we will all have fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: Artbykoolbeanz.com
- Phone: 6783496215
- Email: artbykoolbeanz@yahoo.com
- Instagram: Darius_Kbeanz
- Facebook: Darius Koolbeanz Brooks
- Twitter: Darius_KbeanZ
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
