Sometimes we forget to follow our dreams because we are so caught up in what others will say. We slowly die inside letting others dictate our next move. While researching topics about today's blog, I came across this quote, "The secret of living is giving, if you follow your
dreams then you will have something worth sharing with others, hope,
inspiration and a meaning to live, and that to me, is a great
contribution."
The young lady I am featuring for the month of February is such an inspiration to me. I have known her since my freshman year in college and never knew she could draw... let alone create a masterpiece. She decided one day to be happy and follow her dreams of becoming an artist. Her talent is truly "something worth sharing with others, hope, inspiration and a meaning to live"
Today I challenge you to only focus on you and your dreams.
April Fitzpatrick
1. What got you interested in art? Have you taken any art
classes?
My interest in art began as I child. Being the only child
those were one of the many ways to keep me occupied. As time went on, i stopped
due to lack of support and being trained to achieve only in the academic arena.
So, I did! Blah! I have taken a couple of courses in college, just a couple. My
creative mind and expressive spirit was born through gifted courses while in
elementary and middle school.
2. What was the hardest part of pursuing your career as an
artist? How did you overcome it?
The hardest part was going against society. I would get
asked what I did or what I wanted to become and I would say I paint or I'm am
artist. Even when I would speak to other artist, I would often get a
discouraging eye or the "surviving artist" story. I overcame it by
praying and producing. The more I said--God maybe this is just a hobby, the
more I grew, the more I painted, then people took me serious. I spoke life over
what I felt I had been called to do.
3. Where do you find inspiration for your paintings?
Most of my paintings are inspired by the African American
experience. Taking those negatives and using color to create positives. I also
study other artist and the themes they capture. And sometimes I just get up and
paint.
4. Can you remember one of the first things you painted?
What makes it memorable?
I painted elephants in the mist of a sunset represented by
time and color. It was memorable because it was at this point that I knew I
could inspire and reach people. My line sister was complaining about grad
school and sleep and I decided to paint it for a little inspiration.
5. Why the name Hopeful Kreations?
H.O.P.E.ful Kreations. It came from my slogan while
competing for Miss Tougaloo which was initially Catch the H.O.P.E. I had
experienced troubling times during my tenure in college, that I had not faced,
only suppressed. As a senior I decided to face them. I had also gone to Africa.
So a mixture of old and new, failure and success, love and hate, I knew that
after it was all said and done i needed hope. Although I didn't win a crown, my
crown came from serving the people through words. Several people had come to me
afterwards expressing how I had inspire them with my courageous spirit. So that
acronym stands for Helping Out People Everywhere. Once I started to paint I
just added the ful and Kreations serving as a mission to inspire.
6. I’ve noticed a lot of your paintings feature women with
natural hair. Your hair is AMAZING!!! How long have you been natural and what
are your favorite CURLY girl products?
I have been natural since 2010. To be honest I have no
favorite! I'm still learning and trying to see what fits my hair best.
7. Where can somebody reach you if interested in purchasing
a painting?
They can email me afitxpatrick@bellsouth.net Call
601-572-4053 Follow on Instagram @hopefulkreations
8. What, in your opinion, is the hardest step in creating a
masterpiece?
My hardest step would be capturing an event/expression/
theme and actually deciding which I will do and how I will express it. So much
runs through my head on a daily.
9. What would you say to somebody who wants to pursue their
career as an artist but is discouraged by everybody telling them to “Get a
regular job.”?
You have to start first, believe, be obedient, be willing to
sacrifice, invest in yourself, have patience, and never stop. All things I
struggled with and still have to examine. The world will sell you things
because that's what it is suppose to do. But dreamers must take a step out in
faith and truly question your purpose in life and what mark will you leave
behind. These are the things that keep me going.
10. And finally, I would like to give you this opportunity
to share 4 paintings and tell us a little about what each means to you.
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Take a Bite Out of Love (Love is a scary thing for me for
several reasons, so I just make fun with it until it bites me)
The African experience. ( I am proud of my heritage! Those 5
weeks in Africa made an impact on my life that I'm forever grateful for.)
The piece is rarely new, a commissioned piece. ( I never cease to amaze myself. When I feel the most afraid and overwhelmed, I produce awesome pieces. And this in particular captures the life of someone, their likes, interest, and fields of study. I think it's important to remind people how great and purposeful they are.)
I'm Afraid, Don't Be (living in a fast lane...trying to
understand life...and making the best of it)
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