Today we’d like to introduce you to Quincy Ray.
Hi Quincy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m originally from Columbus Ohio, I started as a caricature artist, working for a company called Kaman’s Art Shoppes at Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio.
After a few years of working in Sandusky, I was promoted to a manager position in Cincinnati Ohio at an amusement park called Kings Island. There I trained and managed a group of a caricature artists. This was a summer job so during the winter my Company sent me to Knotts Berry farms in Buena Park California to do caricatures for a few months until it was time to go back to Ohio and work for the summer.
I really liked California more than I liked Ohio so I quit my job to find work in LA. I drove to Woodland Hills and crashed on a friend’s couch until I could get settled. (Shout Out Ben and Cher)
I found work at Hollywood and Highland, and the LA Zoo as a caricature artist. After over 10 years of being a Caricature artist, Even though I was really good at drawing caricatures I felt I was not truly expressing myself. I wanted to work for a major company like Disney or Nickelodeon or somehow find a studio or company and be a part of something bigger.
So I started looking for what I thought to be a real job. I was able to get an interview with Jerry Leigh and started work as a graphic artist. I was fired after a few years I can’t really remember could of been one year but on my Linkedin, I put three years to make it look respectable. Next, I found work at MGA to do illustration work and design style guides for the BRATZ. I eventually quit that job for another job. I worked, at various companies, Like Alpinestars, FOX ent. Loungefly and FUNKO while also learning the ropes in, fashion working for Karl Kani, Carl Jones, of Cross Colours and for years I repeated the same pattern. Going from job to job quitting getting fired or getting laid off. One of those jobs was at Disney. I worked as a senior Character Artist. I was laid off from Disney. But continued to freelance as a Disney Character artist.
I had to admit I was not comfortable working in an office. I actually hated working in offices and did not do well with office politics and over the years I noticed that a lot of the artists I worked with were always working on their own projects and trying to find a way to become an independent artists, myself included. I realized that I gave up my freedom to work for a company when I left the zoo many years back. But I did not want to draw caricatures traditionally.
I started experimenting with different styles of doing caricatures by using ink charcoal watercolor and eventually acrylic paint. I was not so obsessed with exaggerating features. I wanted to flatter and find the beauty in people. So I guess I do the opposite of what a caricature traditionally is meant to be. But I still stylize and do not go for photo real art. I love to create using minimal shapes and colors. It was hard getting back to being my own artist. I had many setbacks trying to replace a biweekly paycheck and salary with hustling every day to find work. I was making way less money for years and also had a major setback when covid arrived. But now my vision is being realized as i am frequently being booked.
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?
It has not been a smooth ride. I do not want to do traditional caricatures so coming up with a new style took a few years. I would drive to DTLA during art walk and draw for tips while trying out new styles.
It was expensive trying to find materials paints and paper that could serve as a canvas but not actually be as big and heavy as a canvas.
I had to source papers and find a way to travel with paint and supplies.
The paper and supplies are expensive.
When things seem to be going well I had to stop because of covid. So many people canceled their live events and I had absolutely no gigs.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Pop portrait artist and a pop art illustrator.
My illustrations consist of minimalist portraits of famous icons and pop culture figures from the 60s 70s 80s and 90s.
I also do live pop portraits, I paint people live in 6-8 minutes with acrylic paint in a unique pop art style.
I invented this style and I am the only one doing it.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
One of the most important lessons I have learned along my journey is to love myself. And by that, I mean subconsciously thinking of myself in a highly positive manner. Creating an inner strength and beauty that causes me to create and express myself at my highest level. And at the same time not reflecting my self-doubt or insecurities on others.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.etsy.com/shop/GiantPencil, https://www.illustrationx.com/artists/QuincySutton
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quincysportraits/, https://www.instagram.com/quincyray_/
- Email: [email protected]
- Other: https://account.venmo.com/u/Quincy-Sutton-art
