Today we’d like to introduce you to -Wingnut-.
Hi -Wingnut-, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
That’s a lot to go through without enough room, so I’ll summarize it as best I can.
To start, it wasn’t easy getting to where I am today. Creativity and Entrepreneurship run through my veins, but the world unfortunately runs on money. Learning that at a young age fueled my desire for Success.
I have been into art since I was a child, just like most artists. As a teenager I knew I wanted to do something in art but didn’t know what. Then I decided to take a different route than most, I became a tattoo artist, and did this for over 20+ years.
Within this setting, I set a World Record, wrote a book on tattooing, won numerous awards for my work, and was featured in both national and international publications.
Deciding to shift careers in 2020, I gave myself the opportunity to devote uninterrupted time to my art, making it possible to hone in on fully growing my style and characters, “The Red People,” with the slogan: No Face, No Race, We’re All the Same.
I make these characters in a way that is able to touch on all types of subjects, while still being meant for everyone to relate to in some way, whether liking or hating it.
Adding to my resume, I am also an author. If I’m not painting or drawing, you will usually find me at the computer writing out some stories of “the Red People.”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My road was smooth by no means. I’ve done a lot, been through a lot, and have seen a lot.
Everything I’ve been through gave me different skills that have helped me get to where I am today. The 2 things that got me to where I am was a strong drive to succeed and the motivation to be the best at whatever I set my mind to, and without those I would have made it nowhere.
It isn’t easy to do all of this, and it didn’t happen overnight that’s for sure though I wish it did.
Although there were a lot of rough times, there have also been some of the best times of my life.
Starting with an old school apprenticeship for tattooing. There were no rules, you did what you were told and you learned what you wanted to learn. It was a fair trade and the only way to get this knowledge…let’s just say it wasn’t easy.
As for Art and “The Red People,” that was even harder.
Getting people to like a character through years of evolution isn’t an easy feat. No character was perfect in the first draft, it takes time and tons of hours working on the same character over and over until you basically become the character.
Think of a certain rodent and where that empire started, same concept.
I had to learn everything about doing shows, advertising, marketing, social media, and websites. There were (and are) a lot of long hours and lonely nights filled with filming, editing, posting, marketing, drawing, painting, etc. The list goes on without an end in sight and leaving no time to eat or sleep sometimes, or even be able to think when you’re working on something.
Being an artist I had no choice, I had to do all of this to get my work seen.
But if you want something, you will do anything to get it…right?!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a contemporary artist working in mixed media forms who created “The Red People.”
They are a character that represents everyone with the slogan No Face, No Race, We’re All the Same.
We all are red people… I’m a red person, you’re a red person, everyone is a red person.
With this character, I created something that was universal yet also carried a deep meaning with it. I wanted it to be something that resonated with viewers, and at times be something that would ruffle feathers inspiring new conversations and viewpoints.
I love getting others’ interpretations of my works and hearing that it makes them feel something. Happiness, anger, sadness, love, it’s completely different for each person.
Prior to 2020 I was already working on “The Red People,” during that time it was a pay-it-forward with kindness project. It started off with a small card that had the basic instructions on it. I posted about this project online, and sent out packages to those who wanted to join. People went out and did something kind for someone, then handed them the card for them to continue paying it forward to others.
This project made it to over 30 U.S. states and multiple countries all over the world. “The Red People” are something fun that people have come to love, but I never released them to the public until 2023 at Art Basel in Miami. This felt like the right time and place for my characters to officially be introduced to the world.
I received such powerful feedback, and it opened the door to many new connections, both from followers and serious collectors.
The more ‘The Red People’ grew, the more I realized their stories needed to be heard.… so I sat down at my computer. If a picture is worth a thousand words, I figured I could give a little more than that… and began to write.
I can’t tell much about it yet, but I do have some of their stories in a new series of books that I’m currently working on called “Don’t Judge Me” that will be available in the near future…check the website for updates and release info, along with a bonus story and some extras.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
The main resource I use is just going out and seeing the world, the people in it, and the way they live. The news, youtube, and social media do help in their own ways. I used to do a lot of other apps, books, courses and things, but after it all, I have come to the realization that this is my path and it’s unlike anybody else’s.
Having to learn what I needed to know the hard way, and then figuring it all out from failure.
You can learn things from others but the only way you will find your right way is from doing it the wrong way many, many times. Whether it’s through yourself, an app, a book, or anything else that can better yourself – use it, find it, and do it.
There have been things that at one time worked for me, but at other times I would never recommend. Honestly you have to go with the flow and the changes that happen, then find the best way that works for you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theredpeople.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artistwingnut and https://www.instagram.com/theredpeople/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artistwingnut/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artistwingnut/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theredpeopleworld
