Rising Stars: Meet Kenbasa Harrell of Wake Forest

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenbasa Harrell

Hi Kenbasa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Sure! Like most people, I started drawing when I was a kid. I wasn’t the best artist in school, but I was one of those kids that people would ask to draw things for them. I never realized that there was a profession in that until I was in my 20s. As a self taught artist with a background in graphic design and a little help from some mentors along the way, I was able to build my own creative practice that I now call Soul Brush Creative.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road to finding yourself and finding your way is never a smooth one, especially for creatives. I’ve failed a lot to get to where I am. I still fail pretty often. But the failures fuel the fight towards the wins. In my early days,

I’ve made the mistakes that we all make with clients early on – not using contracts, not getting deposits, and biting off more than I can chew. But every one of those mistakes only taught me to handle things more professionally the next time around.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I definitely suffer from a curious mind. I like to try a lot of things. Digital art, traditional drawing, painting, and even 3D printed art toys. But if I had to pick my specialties, I’d say package design and merchandise illustration. That’s really been my bread and butter for the majority of my professional career. But lately I’m all over the place just wanting to learn new mediums.

How do you define success?
That’s a heavy question. It really depends on the kind of person. Success as an artist? I’d say it would be defined as being seen, understood, and appreciated for what you do and how you think. I have fellow artist friends that I really admire. Not because they have huge accolades or big clients, but because they do what they do unapologetically. I think that’s success for an artist. Doing whatever makes you feel alive. And bonus points if it pays you well!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://soulbrushcreative.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulbrushcreative/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenbasaharrell/
• Other: https://www.twitch.tv/soulbrushhiiro