Today we’d like to introduce you to B H Foxy
B H , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Philly and spent my younger days as an artist. Eventually I made my way into the corporate world, which isn’t really a good fit for a fox. I missed running around outside with the other foxes, and I missed being able to work on my art. Fast forward, and I made my way to California to spend more time enjoying nature. I also realized that I could help creative kids thrive by starting a nonprofit foundation focused on empowering young artists who would otherwise not have access to very costly arts education. My mission is to allow kids with natural artistic talent to fully pursue their craft without financial obstacles. A few years later and my foundation is fully up and running, providing support to young artists throughout the LA area. I love being reconnected with my creative side and providing a resource where creative kids can focus on their craft.
Alright, 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?
Starting a new venture is always is tough, even in the nonprofit world. There are a lot of rules and regulations that have to be followed, so I had a bit of a learning curve. We spent a lot of time and energy just getting everything setup and running, but it has been worth it when I look at where we are now. Funding is also a big challenge in the nonprofit world. We have been very lucky to have secured private funding early on from a family foundation I was already familiar with. However, growing our funding beyond that is a big task, as there are many nonprofits doing great work and all competing for the same funds from donors. It’s one of the reasons we try and focus on other streams of revenue for the foundation, such as selling our kid designed merchandise and providing paid art activities for private events.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My personal work is very abstract and playful, it’s all about color, shape and geometry. What’s more exciting is the work done by the creative kids in the foundation. We have kids that excel in all different styles, from animation and illustration to classical drawing and painting. It is so interesting to see what they will create next, and how they develop their skills with the lessons we provide. Watching an artists style evolve and refine over time is very interesting and rewarding. As these kids learn new skills, mediums and techniques they incorporate them into their art, and it’s really interesting to see the final results.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
In the nonprofit world, risk is a dirty word. We are focused on stability and transparency, with little room for risky moves. That being said, as a group of creatives, we love taking risks with our art. I always encourage the kids in our programs to think outside the box and not be scared to put the paint on the paper. There are no mistakes in art, and taking risks is what leads to the best painting, the most interesting new song, and the most groundbreaking show. Art is about bringing new things to life, which doesn’t happen without risk,
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bhfoxy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhfoxy/
Image Credits
Connor Clayton
