Meet Chantel Sparks of Bad Apples: Skateboard Clothing and Accessories in Downtown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chantel Sparks.

Chantel, before we jump into specific questions about your art, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I remember this moment vividly… I had just finished submitting college applications to transfer into a university. I shut my laptop, laid in bed and started BALLING crying. For days. I knew if I had transferred to a university for what I was studying – kinesiology- I’d regret it. I’d hate myself. At that moment I realized I was selling myself short, I was giving up. So, I pulled a Kanye and dropped out of college.

Since I was little I’ve had dreams of being a huge mogul in the art and entertainment industry. I didn’t know exactly what at the time, but I knew that’s where I was headed. In 2017 I started to put all my energy and efforts into art- and here I am. An artist getting interviewed for a magazine.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I decided to go against the norm, break boundaries. Though I believed in myself, I had made a HUGE life-changing decision, and at a young age. I was only 20 when my heart woke me up. Imagine being the only one of your friends who dropped out of school- to pursue art. I was literally the only one who it seemed like I didn’t have a ‘secure future’.

Over time I stayed true and followed my intuition, though. I believed in myself despite all the self-doubt. And luckily, I have a strong support system. My family and closest friends see me- my talent, my grind, my hustle. They saw it the day I decided to drop out. They were more like “finally bitch you never go to class anyways”. Shit, they push me to keep going when I’m not pushing myself.

We’d love to hear more about your art.
Painting is my specialty. Though I can paint on ANYTHING, I really love painting on skateboard decks. It’s just different, it’s edgy, it’s out there. Really, that’s a cover-up. It’s simply out of the ordinary- and that’s everything Chantel is.

I create these paintings (both canvas and skateboard) that are the centerpiece of people’s homes. I got big plans for a clothing line coming up as well.

My most proud accomplishment is putting myself in the art community and making a name for myself. I’ve participated in art shows, sold paintings, published a coloring book (which you can find on amazon), worked on film sets. I’m really doing this shit. It’s superb.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Hmmmm my FAVORITE childhood memory?

There was this one time, I was listening to Celebration by Kool & The Gang on this dope cassette player. I was walking around the house blasting it in my headphones singing at the top of my lungs. And my mom screams my name from the top of the stairs, “CHAN!!”. I thought I was in trouble. She tosses down two gold dollars and says “That’s for being happy.”.

Pricing:

• Skateboards : $160
• Coloring Book: $9.99
• Canvas Paintings: TBD

Contact Info:

• Email: badapplesskaterco.com
• Instagram: @tyra_chantel
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Flowers-Colour-Chantel-Sparks/dp/1092638741/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2WVBS33RK2ERL&keywords=tyra+sparks&qid=1573194512&sprefix=Tyra+sparks%2Caps%2C198&sr=8-1

Image Credit:
Rafael Saud – @rafaelsaud

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