Today we’d like to introduce you to HPFANGS.
HPFANGS, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Maaaan, listen! You know what question I hear on permanent repeat and always sends me into a doom spiral every dang time!? “How long have you been doing art?” Like, I know the question comes from a genuine place, but that’s really not the question people want answered, and the answer to that question is hella fractured; because I started drawing before I could spell “cat.” I continued drawing into my early elementary years because I hated being bored. I started having real feels for art when the world fed me the Muppet Show, Charlie Brown and Keith Haring. I don’t think I realized in the moment those things were driving a passion….it just looked like a world I thought I was supposed to be a part of. That’s when I started carrying a pencil on me all the time. So I’d always have something to catch an idea with.
By the time I was in middle school, I was a cartoon and comic junkie. So naturally I was recreating everything I was taking in; but again, it was more about escaping boredom than anything. Highschool came around and I’d moved to a new state. Now I’m the new kid. Big afro, big teeth, braces and Black Bugs Bunny t-shirts. Looking like a whole militant goof. So I mostly kept to myself and doodled in the classroom. Then I became “that dude who be drawin’ a lot.” At that point, I was just fulfilling the role I was assigned. Even then, that’s still not when I “started doing art.”
I eventually linked up with a likeminded group of friends, but they were all into making music. So I abandoned art to make raps. Music took me all the way from college into adulthood. I’d made several albums, toured, met a lot of cool people and had a ton of dope opportunities. I kinda figured that was gonna be the horse I rode into the sunset on. Until my (at the time) fiance and I decided to start a family. I didn’t really want to be a rap dad, so we moved back to my college town and I started working in youth development. I picked up the pencil again while waiting for my daughter to be born. I was really hyped about having that skill to share with her.
Fast forward a couple years, life started lifing. HARD. After attempting to drive my car over a bridge, I found myself having to take that grippy sock vacation for the first time. While I was there, the only thing I could really do was eat applesauce or draw, and I don’t care much for applesauce. I drew everyday, every minute I was in there, and drew everybody around me. It was probably the first time I felt peace in a long time. When I came home, I posted a lot of what I drew on instagram and got a lot of positive feedback that I wasn’t expecting. I can’t front, it felt good. It propelled me to actively want to make art everyday. It became a catharsis. A way to settle my brain. THAT is when I “started doing art.”
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I feel like I’m supposed to have some banal musing like, “The road’s been rough. Like crocodile underbutt.” But nah. No complaints here. I make art because I genuinely enjoy making art. That feeling isn’t tethered to expectations of money, influence or some other third thing. I create for the joy of creation. Sometimes it’s dope, sometimes it sucks, but I always have fun making it. That mentality helps alleviate the struggles of creating.
If anything, I’m my own struggle. My enthusiasm always gets the best of me. I’m insanely hyper-ambitious. I love to work and I never don’t have a thousand targets I’m trying to hit. Problem is, when I get into that mode I start losing sight of everything around me. I’ll overcommit to projects, isolate myself, and burn the candle at both ends until it ends up burning me out. I don’t sleep. Actually, it’s more like I can’t sleep. I’ll be up for days at a time trying to flush all the ideas out of my head. In the moments I do allow myself to decompress, I’m so wound up I’m basically a walking wrecking ball. Balance is not my strong suit. I’m working on that part though. Sorta.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I like bright colors, dumb jokes, and visual noise. I’m not sure if that really sets me apart from anybody, but those things are definitely my jam.
As far as the question, “What do you do?”…I don’t know, I’m still trying to figure that out. I draw. All the time. Everywhere, and on everything!
I hella love art, and one thing I try to make sure I do is thoroughly immerse myself in it. Not just as a person who creates art, but as somebody who finds place in every infinitesimal facet of it. I’m an art teacher (both middle and high-school). I host a number of different art events. I travel to different organizations to speak about art and I use it as a means to affect change. Mainly tho, I’m an aggressive supporter. I try my best to make myself a positive contributor to my art community. I’d like to be able to return the same amount of love that’s been given to me.
“What am I most proud of?” That’s super easy. I’m most proud of being Pigs dad. I could try for the rest of my life and never make a piece of art greater than my daughter.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
“Success” is a sham. It’s mostly just a plot device. A MacGuffin. I will say this though; I get to create art all day. Ten year old me would be super hyped if he knew that he’d be getting paid to do the same thing boring adults told him not to do. I’ve made art that’s changed policies. I’ve made art that’s been in presidential campaigns. I’ve made art that’s been in bars. I’ve made art that’s been in bathroom stalls. I’m proud of all of it, and dumbstruck every time I get an opportunity to make more art.
I’m good. I’m thankful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hpfangs.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hpfangs
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hpfangs/
