Today we’d like to introduce you to DRL Toons.
DRL, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
All of this started in Middle School. I started drawing pictures for girls that I liked. By the time I got to high school it got the attention of the art teacher. The art teacher and I clashed immediately. I should have shown her a lot more respect but as a cocky teenager I rebelled against her. Needless to say, I was removed from the art class.
Now that I’m older, the blessing in disguise was I was able to draw my pictures for the entire class. In the principal’s office. Uninterrupted drawing whatever I wanted to draw as long as I was staying out of the way. Which was fine with me… Before you know it, it was time to graduate and the principal calls me in and tells me that won’t be happening for me. I was blindsided by not being able to graduate with my class.
However, not being able to walk down the aisle at graduation and receive a diploma a few months after graduation. The high school sent me my diploma in the mail. 2 weeks after that I was living in the basement of my mother’s house and for whatever reason she had a bug up her ass that day and decided to kick me out. I only had one phone number to call and that was a staff sergeant in the United States Marine corps.
So off to the Marine corps I went Parris Island, South Carolina. When I got there I was quickly identified as someone who was creative. Creativity is not apart of the daily life in the Marine corps. So I had to figure out how to do that and still do this thing called art that I love so much. So there was some type of contest who can design the best flag for their platoon. So of course I jumped at the opportunity to do that and we won. That was really the highlight of my Marine corps experience in boot camp. In the fleet Marine corps I would do eye jobs drawing on things. Even created our section and our deployment handbook and a deployment patch. International art who knew?
After that, I moved back to North Carolina and ran into an opportunity to help the American idol Fantasia barrino in high point North Carolina. After a successful run with that situation, I moved on to create my own company. This is the company that I’m currently building now.
I guess the biggest thing I do in North Carolina is the John Coltrane international jazz and blues festival. I also do a lot of smaller projects to help out in the community. I also teamed up with a non-profit so we can mass communicate. The message of reading is fundamental. Art has played a huge part of my life, but without the training of the Marine corps I don’t think I would have had the tenacity to move mountains. The art world is a complicated place, especially when most people don’t respect the artist.
In art we will do the billboards, the flyers, the hats, the cups, the mugs, the tickets, the T-shirt designs, the laminates, the lanyards, etc. And a lot of the times we don’t get the money nor the credit that we deserve for being able to create these things. Therefore, a lot of artists give up and work 9 to 5 jobs while the educated college graphic designers join companies and quietly sit in the background for a paycheck.
I’m trying to build a narrative of artists working together. You don’t have to like each other but if you can all work on a project that is profitable and worth it. That should be a goal that that you reach for in the art world. But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I’m stuck in the part of the country where only a small population feels this way about artist.
Currently we are doing children’s books for adults. Understanding that reading is fundamental as I get older. I just want to empower young adults and to read and comprehend and understand that life is not one way. If there’s something that you have to say, say it, write it down, publish it, put it out there. If you are dreaming of a podcast, do not hesitate to use your phone to start one. The problem is most people think that people care about their feelings and the truth is people. Truly will show you quicker than they can tell you.
The books are available on magcloud.com search for DRLtoons
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Sometimes you just want life to be fair and for the talented people to actually progress. But most of the time we know that it’s who you know and they will give someone with a lot less talent and opportunity than someone they don’t know and give them the same opportunity. And graphic design your pictures. Tell a thousand words so the images alone should be strong enough to get you jobs, but that is simply not the case.
Funding your own business and your own events become a juggling act sometimes, but it’s worth it.
The biggest challenge is funding, but as you get older you figure out how to use your credit to your advantage. I guess the biggest thing is staying motivated. You have to believe that something is going to happen when it doesn’t look like anything’s happening.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a graphic designer I guess professionally for the last few decades I guess… People call me different things in all due respect.
Being an entrepreneur is the best thing that’s happened because I realize that I can draw pictures all day. I have to find the right people to sell them too.
My biggest accomplishment is that I’m able to design my own book series. Create them from start to finish. Create concept art so when the day that it all comes together I’ll be ready.
What sets me apart for most people is I don’t need a computer to get my ideas out. I can actually complete an entire thought from start to finish. I can actually put aside time to make money and complete the task at a high level. I am highly motivated to do what I do. USMC
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I only take calculated risks. That’s only the smart way to do things. For example, if I throw a party at a nightclub. I will make sure that all the bills are paid before the party starts to me. It’s hustling backwards to still be collecting door money to pay the DJ and security. All of that money should be profit.
I’ve also learned you have to be very selective about the team that you’re building. That’s the most risk-taking. I do trusting people.
Pricing:
- Logo prices depend on what you want
- Flyer prices depend on how fast you want it
- Royalties 18%
- N.i.l deals / negotiate
- Festival branding / 24k+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.drltoons.com
- Instagram: @DRLtoons
- Facebook: @drltoons
- LinkedIn: @drltoons
- Youtube: @drltoons
- Other: Magcloud.com search drltoons
