Meet the Collector: Deon Browning

Interview with Collector Deon Browning

INTRO

Allow me to re-introduce myself - by way of my newest collector: Deon Browing. Deon came into my circle and instantly claimed a seat, not just any seat, a front-row seat. The portrait pick-up turned into an easy 30-40 minute conversation that felt as if it only consumed seconds. As we stood in the dining room/studio of my home, conversed and head-nodded, ahh ha'd and practically hive-fived it was clear we would be picking this conversation back up in the near future. Onlookers wouldn’t have known if we were making a deal of sorts or conducting a rap cypher, or selling a painting, haha, the vibe was just that dope. 

Speaking of cypher, head nods and “ah-ha’s”… the coming months would bring conversations about community, hip-hop, police brutality and spirituality. What I am describing is the kind of connection an artist can only dream to have with a collector, as it is often said, people don’t just buy art, they invest in the artist. So I often find that I am not only selling my work, I’m selling myself, physically in the form of Art and in spirit by way of my beliefs and what I stand for.

So on this brutally hot summer day, I find myself driving past the block in West Philly, where this collector and I, once met, decades ago. Then I was just a toddler being raised by a hard-working father and mother on Allison Street. We explore this history more later in our convseration. Let’s just say this ride to his West Philadelphia office, where he serves the community through his Law Practice felt surreal. To say, we’ve come a long way… just doesn’t go the distance. 

In our hood. Here we are. About to meet to discuss Art, Legacy, staying grounded in our community, "buying cars” (insider) and Jay-Z lyrics. 

Mood: Let’s Go! 

INTERVIEW

MP: What was your first piece of artwork?

Collector: A print, of someone…. a man with his daughter in his arms. It showed nurturing, and being a dad to girls, it spoke to me. MP: where did you get it from? Collector: I picked it out of a catalog during an event at someones home. 

MP: Your introduction to Art? ...

Collector: … It was a logical progression. There were awareness points, think a baby touching his nose… I grew up in a music studio, and always had an innate appreciation for Art. Whether with music artists or visual artists, my feelings toward things of art was not in the way of most. My first emotional connection, was probably when speaking to Lewis and seeing their anniversary painting (a past commission of MP’s). Sometime later, while playing a game of poker where your brother Damon was among the group, our back stories came up in conversation, and I realized that the artist behind the work I had come to admire was my neighbor as I child. I vividly remembered your family, and the night your house caught fire and burned down. I remembered how my grandmother felt towards your mother and father, and I was pretty certain she prayed for the family, which included a then 5yr old Serena, now MsPassionArt. My connection to the art became that much more personal. I knew I wanted something but did not know what. In time, the perfect time, it became clear that I wanted a painting of my Grandmother commissioned. 

MP: … oddly enough, the artist selection came before the painting/portrait idea. There is something quite amazing about that to me -

MP: Have you ever been to an Art Museum?

Collector: Yes. I’ve been to art shows and poetry readings. However, at the time I had no real appreciation for the artwork. I was just there to support a friend who as performing. 

MP: Here you are now, not only with an appreciation, but the start of a collection. Do you remember what you felt when seeing your first piece of commissioned artwork? 

Collector: Relief. There was so much pressure for it to come out right. Things pertaining to my Grandmom is one area where I can really show emotion.  I remember walking over, and seeing her, and as soon as the pressure released in that moment I fell in love. This is the closest I will ever get on earth to having her next to me again. This is BIG. The introduction to your art, the relearning of our history, her praying for you, you painting her….it feels like a ‘Full Circle’ moment. 

MP: …  as BIG as it was to Deon for it to be right, it was for me to get it right. 

MP: What would you say is missing from the art world?

Collector: Me. My experience. (this - this energy) West Philly. Us. 

Deon Browning went on to commission a second painting, “3 KINGS” honoring his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. That story is for another day and time, maybe a podcast to come. For now, his answer to my question of “What is missing from the art world” has me back front and center, refreshed of my purpose and mission. Speaking of missions and purpose, I’ve heard Mr. Browning say on several occasions, that he doesn’t feel as if he is successful (yet)…. though he happens to leave out the 'yet'. I beg to differ. Deon, I pray, not that you reach success, but that you continue to grow in the success that you have already earned. BrowningLegal Group is a gift to the world and we need you to continue to Preach Brother, Preach (wink-wink) 

Meet the Collectors: Lauren & Kyra

There was a portrait sale promotion running strong. A rare occasion because I have always found it difficult to marry the two; art and sale. Now, in light of the amazing energy, stories and client-friends I met through this Mother's Day Special, it will now be an annual event. Being able to continue to meet and grow with amazing art collectors, like the dynamic duo, Kyra and Lauren, is truly a highlight of being a painter. Now, you too, get to share in their awesome tale of Love, Family and Art, through this blog, 'Meet the Collectors'.

While commissioning a painting may seem relatively straight forward on the surface - send a picture and deposit and await your painting to be done, woo-lah! But, its almost anything but. Dreams and visions are shared, ideas are bounced back and forth, and sometimes 24 email replies in, you might close the deal. Ms Lauren, rolled all of that energy into her initial communication and emotionally blew me away. Someone without my visionary soul may have thought Lauren to be a little cray, when opening the 18 paragraph long email (I may be exaggerating a tad bit) or when browsing the dozens of images she sent of her family. Images, not to be painted per say, but just so I could get to see their personalities and interactions and car selfies :) What I DID SEE was LOVE. Now with a knot in my throat, and tug on my heart, I knew this commission would be happening and by any means necessary. 

Lauren and Kyra's task to me, paint their family portrait, not as they humans they are but as mice. Yes, no spell check needed - Mice. I was to not only paint their family, Lauren, Kyra, Elijah and LorenBello as mice, but as mice that would also clearly resemble each person. A gorgeous, caramel complexion woman, with long tresses and librarian glasses.... and the wide smiled Kyra with the curly locks, the handsome boy who loved baseball and his older brother whom was extra-chill. She believed that I could not only make the mice look like them, but feel like them. And oh, also, can I do it in the resemblance of the book "Country Mouse, City Mouse". A book the pair felt spoke to their experience. YESSSSSSS, as artists, this is what we do. And as dreamers this is what collectors do, and it is amazing truths like these that is the reason I created this blog. People should know these stories behind the artwork we create. The world should be aware of the artist that thrives in us all, in particular the new creative force of the collectors. 

That studio pick-up, Mother's Day weekend was filled with tears and gasps and sharing. I shared how I had been sick and almost reached out to them to say I wouldn't make deadline. How I had been working on a painting for my own mother that I had not finished in time for the precious day because life had got in the way. BUT, something beyond me, pushed me to finish this one painting. Something pushed me to want every fence plank just right and every mouse filled with life. In that moment, hearing Lauren's story in the quiet of my living room, I learned why. Why I am an artist. Why we fight the fight. The couple shared with me later that when they left they felt like they had a baby in the back seat as they drove the painting home. They shared how their children cried when they placed it over the mantel. I would like to share something with them now. Lauren and Kyra you showed me that while most see love as just a feeling, we can also SEE love, because I saw it, when seeing the both of you together. So now you guys must remain together forever, for you are part of the definition. 

Meet the Collector: Izola's grandson Donte

The "New Art Collectors" aren't spending disposable income on art. They are making a conscious decision to spend their hard earned coins from their 9-5 earnings, part-time side jobs and entrepreneurial efforts on real art (and the artists) they believe in. They are single mothers and young bachelors who have graduated from the paper prints their parents took pride in. They are investing in original artwork. They are part of a movement and whether they know it or not, they are creating future wealth for their families. 

Meet Donte and his grandmother. 

It began with a phone call from a friend and supporter, "My homie want to get his grandmom painted, I'm gone bring the deposit to you".... no actually before that, came a picture via text, with the message "can you paint this?" - haha. The first thing I saw was this large white circle on what otherwise was a picture of a beautiful older woman. The "white circle"?, the glare from someone taking a picture of a picture with a flash dead front and center, lol. My reply, "of course... but can I get my hands on the original picture?". Many portrait commissions begin this way, in the age of what I am calling "the new Art Collectors", less than perfect images are passed off to artists such as myself in hopes of gaining the perfect painting.

Donte, a thirty-something yr old blue-collar worker, local football coach and dad, is not an avid art collector. You wouldn't find him surfing local art galleries for what and who is new. You will find him chauffeuring young boys to baseball practices, Sixer's games or tournaments on the beach. Now, commissioning his very first painting, he wanted the best. He soon delivered a picture, a physical picture of his grandmom to me. There she was, in my hand, big momma style huge fluffy curls, and a smile that said "I lived", and by lived, I mean.... lived through. The clients requests included: can you add roses? and maybe a dove or two? and the background, can it be the color I just painted my living room wall?......yet, ends the normal way, 'but just do what you want, I trust you'. (This is where all my fellow artists will share a small giggle) 

The painting begins. I spend a few days in the studio, anticipating Ms. Izola's (whose name I didn't yet know at the time) arrival onto the canvas. There are some people who don't take on their identity until the final brushstroke. She came through instantly, within the first hour she was there, on the canvas, looking at me, almost as if saying..... "now, get this right young lady". In the days to come I painted her, talked to her, and sung as I painted. Ms. Izola made a huge presence in my space, her spirit was strong. So much so, I can remember sending a text message to my client many months after he already had her back home, asking the question (which I already suspected I knew the answer to) - your grandmom prayed for you a lot didn't she? / how you know? / I just know...

Interview with the new Art Collector:  

MP: What was your first piece of artwork?

Collector: Yours. Well, I purchased a few things for decoration, but I don't even know who made them. My grandmom was my first original. Actually, I have these Miskeen t-shirts that Bariq (Bariq Cobbs) painted for me years ago. I cut the artwork out of the t-shirt and framed them. They're hanging in my home too, so you/yours was the second. 

MP: Wow, Bariq. yes he's dope. and that was dope of you to recognize that as frame worthy art.

MP: What does having the portrait of our Grandmom in your house mean to you?

Collector: A lot. This was my grandmom's house, and it makes me feel like she's here. It gives it a homely feel, it makes me feel like she's here, watching over me. 

MP: Does you artwork ever spark conversation?

Collector: Yes it does. Questions about my grandmom, who painted it, why.... etc. Mostly, people talk about how great it looks in my space and what a good job you did.

MP: wow. ok, .... last question Donte, do you remember what you felt when first seeing it? 

Collector: Speechless. I knew what to expect from seeing your work, yet, I didn't know it would look just like her, so realistic, as if she was right there

MP: Do you remember tearing up? because I remember, like many of my clients, you came after work, covered in some type of dust, and hat pulled over your face.... yet, the teary eyes, they peeked through. So, do you remember... crying? 

Collector: I might have 

MP: You did.