We recently connected with WALTER BROOKS JR and have shared our conversation below.
WALTER, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I develop my confidence and self-esteem from not having. Growing up with a single parent mom, who could not buy everything that you wanted. I would go home and draw it. So things that I seen and wanted for example: a Michael Jordon tennis shoe, I would go home thinking about the shoe, wishing that I had them. I would have to figure out what materials I had at home to use. Rather if it was a cheap or expensive pencil. I used it to draw the tennis shoe even if I had to use another color, even if the color was not same as the shoe. And as time went on for example: if I had a friend that could draw better than me, I would go home and always try to draw the same picture they did. My sister, brother, and teacher would let me know that my drawing looked good. And that’s what built my confidence and self-esteem. Always trying to challenge myself.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My business name is STANDUPGUYSLLC. We specialize in doing portraits and realistic things that people might want etc.…I’m basically a one-man business. And I strive on making sure people get quality work for their money. Just showing people that you can take something that you love to do and make it into a profit and business with it. I’m an all-around artist. I’m gifted and I never went to school for what I do. I feel that I can paint and draw anything someone puts in my face. The main thing that I specialize in is detail. And if you pay close attention to my paintings, you will see that the littlest things are what I capture the most because that’s what I love to do. I love to see people smile when I present them with a picture that I’ve done for them. It makes me feel good and it keeps me going.
Well I just had my first “CUSTOM ART SHOE PARTY” in May 2023. It went very well. I never took a L (knocking on wood) as far as profit for something I tried for the first time. Right now, I’m getting ready to do an “ART NIGHT” in September 2023. And the reason why I call it art night is because everything is creative and everything deals with some form of art in some kind of way. So, we tell people, we just being creative. The event is different vendors that’s coming out networking with other businesses. I have lash techs, make up artist, tattoo/piercing artist, clothing lines, custom bath apparels, jewelry/purses, and food vendors that will be out on that night. Each vendor is paying $175 for their table. But me knowing how it is to go to events and pop-up shops and not make no money. What I am doing special for the vendors is giving them 20 tickets to sell so they can make their money back and a profit before the day of the event. I’m giving back to the vendors so they can walk away feeling good. In December 2023 I will be doing my end of the year event, which is my second art show. It will be called: “ART SHOW#2(THE GRIND DON’T STOP)”. And you can go visit my art page on Instagram @theartofman2021 to see when I post the date.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The most three qualities, skills and knowledge that were impactful in my journey far as skill and knowledge, if you want me to be truthful. As far as this art career, I get my knowledge from when I use to see my father and mother get up everyday and go to work to make sure we always had food on the table and lights on in each home. Far as the business knowledge, far as the money, the promotion, and selling something came from me being on the corner every day. I felt like when I was selling drugs every day, I could use that same motivation in this art game. Just telling the truth. I always tell people; a lot of people can’t transfer from the streets to Corporate America because you have to have that will and drive to keep pushing. And most people don’t have that. Most people didn’t have the same up bringing as me, being from the streets and coming from a single parent home.
The advice that I would give people is; don’t second guess yourself. And just try to stick to the same blueprint that came out with you. Switch things up, from time to time. But don’t overthink yourself. And just try to be different at all times. And not do the same thing that everybody else is doing.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I want to say the person that helped me the most with overcoming my challenges is a guy named SWAT. He believed in me and gave me my first chance in selling some of my artwork out of a major store. And you wouldn’t believe it, it was Downtown Locker Room (DTLR) in Baltimore MD. Him just knowing where I come from far as the streets. And seeing some of my artwork one time that my cousin and I did. He gave us a chance to sell some shirts out of Downtown Locker Room (DTLR) and it was amazing. And it built our confidence. Even as my cousin and I went our separate ways. SWAT kept motivating me to this day. He introduce me to my first famous people I ever met and it all was because of my artwork. And I love him for that. And with that being said, SWAT if you are reading this I just want to say thank you and I appreciate you.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @theartofman2021
- Youtube: standupguys-thegrinddon’tstop
