Story & Lesson Highlights with Hunter Blaze Pearson of Malibu

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Hunter Blaze Pearson. Check out our conversation below.

Hunter Blaze, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I am a very routine oriented person, so for the most part, my first 90 minutes have been the same every day since I graduated high school. I get up at 7 and make myself oatmeal with peanut butter, a glass of milk, and whatever fresh fruit I have in the fridge. By about 7:45, I’ll be done and have washed the dishes. Then it’s time to head into my studio. Lucky for me, it’s two rooms away from the kitchen haha. I’ll usually just sit down with whichever project I’m currently working on, put on some music or a podcast, and it’s off to the races.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Hunter Blaze Pearson and I’m a fine artist / illustrator from Malibu, CA. I came up in the custom shoe world, designing pairs for customers like Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo before pivoting to focus mainly on fine art paintings. I work in colored pencils, acrylic paint, and epoxy resin to create surreal worlds for the viewer to explore and unlock through each new piece I release. I love to explore the dichotomous nature of life by combining light and dark imagery to display the beauty our world holds in its whole. As an Illustrator, I’ve work for bands and brands like Jack Daniel’s and Maroon 5. In this capacity, I am devoted to creating work that is as eye catching as it is functional for the brand. I feel that bringing a fine art touch to an everyday item is one of the greatest uses of my skill. Because of this, I love to take on the challenge of illustrative projects from keychains to murals. Needless to say, art is an inexorable part of my life and I will continue pursuing it in all forms for decades to come.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My mom has been the strongest influence in many facets of my life, including how I see myself. She was and still is a great mom, but particularly as the mother of an artist, she knocked it out of the park. She was an artist growing up, as well, and as soon as she saw my interest in that direction, she was a full supporter. I never ran out of sketchbooks, pencils, paints, or any other creative material. I was also encouraged to try different classes or explore new materials at home. This gave me the confidence to believe that my work was valuable and I had something to contribute to the world. That confidence has bled into the rest of my life and made me the man and artist I am today.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I don’t know that I ever truly wanted to give up entirely, but I’ve had some seriously dark periods in my creativity. As everyone knows, fine art is a very unstable career financially, and after one extended drought in sales, I felt it was time to explore other careers. I got a job working construction, thinking I would work on art after work and on the weekends, but of course it was far more time consuming and exhausting than I expected. My designated art times became less and less frequent over the months. It was a fulfilling job with some great people, but it really highlighted my need to continually create. Luckily, an opportunity came around for me to be a part-time art teacher at Malibu High and Middle School. This has allowed me to stay creative all day, inspire creativity in the next generation, and have plenty of energy to work on new art when I’m home! I personally feel that I’ve had a creative boom since then and I have to credit my time as a carpenter with reigniting my passion for painting.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My best friend and I have actually had this conversation several times. I believe that everyone ultimately picks something in their life to try to be the best at. Of course, we don’t all succeed, but our actions outline where our priorities lie. Based on this premise my best friend and I have decided we want to live the most well rounded lives possible. That means I won’t be the best artist in the world (I don’t know if I’d be in the running even if I gave it my whole life haha). Instead I want to be a great friend to those around me, create beautiful work that resonates with some people, explore the incredible world we live in, be there to help people in times of need, and as a Christian, to be the best follower of Jesus’ teachings that I can. In these endeavors I hope to live life to the fullest and use my gifts in whatever way God sees fit.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I feel very fortunate that I can honestly answer yes to both. From a young age, I wanted to be an artist and loved creating sketches and paintings any time I could. At the same time, my Mom, Dad, and many of my friends and teachers suggested that I follow that path as well. At times, I have considered if this was just an identity that was thrust upon me, but I always come back to the realization that external influences aside, I just really love making art!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hunterblaze.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunterblazepearson/
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@hunterblazepearson
• Other: Tik tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hunterblazepearson