Today we’d like to introduce you to Cole Douglas.
Hi Cole, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I started my art journey a few years ago my senior year in college after facing a career-ending football injury. I was distraught but determined to instill a paradigm shift in my perspective. Art began as a mode of healing through this tumultuous time, and I quickly learned how it could be a meaningful and beautiful tool for healing one’s self. Fast forward a few months, and the pandemic hit and so did the largest civil rights movement in American history. After seeing so much turmoil on my screens, I sought refuge in the arts (photography and painting). The seeds were sown then and years later, I’m just beginning to reap artistic flora. Today, I’ve worked with several galleries and art spaces across LA and SD to help further my professional art career. Looking forward, I’m continuing to develop my abstract art process and continue showing in galleries!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Something I still struggle with is the premise of legitimacy in my work. There’s a certain elitism that exists in the art world and it’s very easy to feel intimidate, but I’m learning daily to believe and bet on myself.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an abstract painter (think Frank Bowling, Basquiat, Twombly) and a street photographer (think Phan Ho).
My abstract work centers around race, identity, masculinity, and flowers. I view my art as a process not progress meaning that I approach my work with intentions but no preconceived notions on the final result.
My photography follows a similar approach where I enter an environment looking for what my eye is drawn to, constantly searching for that shot to move me.
I’m most proud of being a self-taught artist. While I have had many people help critique me, I haven’t had any formal education and have taken the time myself to learn the applicable techniques for my art forms.
What sets me apart is the fact that I’m myself and create art that is true to me. My unique life experiences have allowed me to hold many equally unique stories and experiences.
What matters most to you?
Seeing people happy and being themselves. This is so important yet understated in contemporary society. It is, for some reason, expected that we be unhappy, fake people with no purpose. It’s very important for me to help people (where I can) be themselves and be happy whether that’s through art or long walks on the beach.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coledouglas.art/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Coletherenaissance/?hl=en
Image Credits
Juan Miche Rosales
