Today we’d like to introduce you to Destiny Grant.
Destiny, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Throughout my life, I have always been creative. While growing up, I took art classes in school and over the weekend. After high school, I focused on my studies and somewhat abandoned art. I graduated from California University of Sacramento and earned a BFA in Interior Design with a concentration in Architecture. Once I returned home, I did what every college graduate thinks their supposed to do, I started working at a design firm as an intern with the hopes of eventually being a full-time hire. After six months during my review, I realized this was not the field for me, I freaked out, quit, and got a regular job as a nanny.
My new job kept me afloat, but I wasn’t making enough to get a place on my own nor was I feeding my creativity. I knew I had to do something and fast so my first realization was “I know how to draw”, somehow I completely forgot and I abandon my artist for at least six years. I found a really old sketchbook of mine that had my name ironed on with an image of Tinkerbelle on top, that’s how old it was. I started carrying the book with me and used it whenever and wherever. Out of the blue, a colleague’s dad of mine invited me to set because he knew I was creative but in no way did he know what I was going through, so this invite was a miracle in disguise. After spending a few hours on location for a pilot, which would later be known as Jane the Virgin, I realized how much I really enjoyed the energy on set and I wanted to experience that feeling again.
Two weeks later, I was invited to the set of a movie that was being produced by YouTube and my production career began. It’s crazy to think that was already six years ago and how I’ve worked my way up the ladder within the Art Department. I am now in a place where the two worlds collide so perfectly together and I couldn’t be happier.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I wish the road was smooth, but I secretly feel if it was I would not be who I am today. My biggest struggle was remembering who I am and what my talents were. Sometimes living in a society that forces you to have it all figured out, you can start losing your magic when dealing with everyday things and progressing in a career you may not be sure about. My second most important struggle has been living in LA and having the ability to afford the lifestyle as an artist. Art supplies are not cheap but I always remind myself the money I spend now will be worth it in the future. I have to constantly remind myself money will always be there if you are willing and able to receive it. Nothing in life is a handout.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Dienasty is not only my artist’s name but it is something I believe and live by. I am an artist who is creating something that will last forever. In the terms of nasty to me, it means something that is sooooo good it’s nasty. The art I create is from my personal experience as a black woman and I hope the viewer can enjoy my perspective. I plan on creating art until the day I die and my focus now is helping more artists of color to show their work on screen. I recently had a piece of art on HBO’s Insecure and that is something I plan to continue doing for myself as well as for others. I feel we are not represented enough in a world where our stories are constantly being told and I would love to be apart of the shift.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dienastyart.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toliveandienasty/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/dienastyart
Image Credit:
Irais Cardenas, Sinead Fleming
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