We recently connected with Rex Mohammad and have shared our conversation below.
Rex, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
As the one who’s usually the only one in whichever room being the only whomever with my qualities, I’ve encountered a lot of opportunities to practice my methods of success. Usually the story plays out that I take a seat, open the sketchbook and start drawing, which does reveal that yeah, I’m the artist. But the tale goes deeper, and I don’t force it to become that way, just that it does, that I absolutely stick out because of what I do, how I do it and why,
It’s still a beautifully shocking phenom to myself. Yet it still gives me the same space to practice my methods of success. One, it’s important to be humble, gracious and elegant about recognition. Or lack thereof. Two, it’s vital to persist with honesty, as in, I must keep doing what I do how I do it because I sincerely want to. And three, it’s most important to have fun. Life is what you make it and call me crazy, I like having fun!
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m an artist, illustrator, and talking head. In that order. All to say, I create images in various media and say intriguing, funny things.
It all begins with a drawing and leads into a discussion. Drawing has been a critical part of my life, from social to personal, and now I’ve made a full-steam ahead career with it. When I work, I focus on portraits of people and animals, usually really fast, at markets and events, all done in a colorful and endearing style. When I’m in my studio, I pursue more figure-focused work, and since my littler years, I enjoy making sweet, sexy, cheeky pinup art. When I’m with friends, I’m a guaranteed living printer for wild, wacky ideas. My primary goal in creating art is to express what I can’t say otherwise. My secondary goal is to build a nice little life out of it.
Currently I take my speedy portrait service on the road here in Houston, tabling at just about anywhere I can. I absolutely love to collaborate with other creatives; in fact this interview was a side-effect of a recent collabo with a great local talent! I am also available for commission work so please feel free to reach out to me with what I can make for you!
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?
Retrospectively, I think the three things I carry that have been most impactful in my journey have been my thoughts, my feelings and my behaviors.
That may sound broad, but my point in saying that is to be able to make any sort of life you want, and this is my advice to people in their beginnings, keep a good acceptance of your thoughts, a good handle of your feelings, and a good leash on your behaviors. Accept that you will think a big lot of things, be able to healthily live with your feelings, and behave as your best self, even if you don’t think you’re there yet.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
The book that has stuck out to me the most in my mind canon is Candide, Or Optimism, by Voltaire. It’s very funny for an extremely deep cut from the 1700s, but most specifically I cling to it because of one line by a teacher character who says, “We live in the best of possible worlds.” Also that character has a really nasty fate early on in the world of the book.
It’s important to be optimistic, but also terrible things will happen, but also wonderful things will happen. It all keeps going, with us, against us or without us. That’s my outlook. And also I take that with a grain of salt.
It’s absolutely important to take a moment away to laugh.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @RxMOArt
- Facebook: Rex Mohammad
- Twitter: @LoveRexxxy
Image Credits
All photos are of my creation and editing
