LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA
TALENTS: Artist, Creator, Sketches
What artists do you look up to?
Artists that inspire and motivate me are Andre Walker, Robert Peterson, Ashley Cole, Justin Richburg, and Nessie Blaze. I used to want to be good at drawing but after seeing these artists artwork, I want to be a beast. I want the photorealism of Andre Walker and Ashley Cole. I want to express concepts like Justin Richburg. I want to use an infinite amount of colors to illustrate a portrait like Robert Peterson. I want to grind like Nessie Blaze.
How would you describe your art (sketching, drawing, painting, etc.)?
I have three main ways I do my art. All begin with a nasty rough draft of a person or scene, just to get it out of my head and on paper/ tablet.
Digital Portraits: I use digital paint or copic markers to create realistic portraits.
Vector Art: I use Adobe Illustrator to make my sketches into a cartoon and to give it a clean look.
Crayon Portraits: I use crayons to draw people. I enjoy this medium the most because experimenting and discovering the many ways to create depth and value through the exploration of colors is magic.
I know you draw a lot of celebrities. Have any reached out to you regarding your artwork?
I receive likes, comments, and rarely a follow by some of the celebrities I draw. Most notable engagement from a celebrity is when they share my artwork on their respective account. I appreciate any recognition because I am usually listening or watching that celebrity perform while I am drawing them. They are giving me energy to draw them. It is dope that I am feeding off their art to do my art, which is making art of them. For example, if I am drawing Kendrick Lamar, I am only listening to Kendrick until I complete the portrait.
Which celebrity is next on your list to draw?
Maybe Dave Chappelle or Allen Iverson. I really don’t know. I usually pick who I am going to draw based on the difficulty of drawing that person and if that person actually “affects” me. Basically if I can feel their energy, then I will consider drawing them. Sometimes, I will draw a rapper or actor because a friend suggested it. Sometimes, I am going through the highs and lows, a song randomly plays, and it has that uncanny ability to describe my feelings and I must draw that music artist.
Do you exhibit your work anywhere? If so, where will you be next? Do you have a website where people can buy your stuff?
I currently do not exhibit my work, but I am working on showcasing my artwork at Trapxart LA. My website is www.evan-martin.com or check out my Instagram, @evanski35 to request custom work or buy prints.
Did you take art classes as a kid? What steps did you take to cultivate your craftsmanship?
As a kid I did not take art classes. However, I did draw or “doodle” any and everywhere. I always wanted to just sit and create art all day long so anytime I am sitting or waiting, I either take out a piece of paper or my tablet (I take it with me Everywhere) and I draw. I draw on the train, bus, on my lunch break|, even in lines at the bank or DMV.
My favorite part of an artwork is the process. First, I find the music track that describes my feeling to get me in the zone. Once I am in the zone, I am no longer a slave to time, hunger subsides, the world around me cease to exist and I am in harmony with my art. I swear I am in another dimension. True beauty. To get better at my craft, I trust the process and draw subjects that challenge my ability. Usually it’s woman’s hair or concept drawing. For women’s hair, I would pick a celebrity with a “tough” hairstyle. For concept drawing, I will draw a zombie basketball player or cartoonize rap lyrics to convey a message. I also explore different methods to approach a style or type of drawing.
What advice would you give young artists who want to pursue art full time?
I do not do art full time yet. I teach it and I freelance on the side. Nevertheless, I will work on my art until art is my work. With that being said, my advice is always give thanks to God, create every single day, and learn to accept failure. Failure is not negative. It is growth. No one is perfect, but seeing and knowing your mistakes can lead to making better choices.
