Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Boyd.
Hi Joseph, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I’ve been drawing since elementary school from dinosaurs to video game characters and anything else I was influenced by. In high school, I found myself drawing sneakers mainly Jordan’s (shoes I couldn’t afford). That’s what led me to apparel. I was a finance major in college at the University of Memphis, but I would use the computer lab and its Illustrator/Photoshop programs to create t-shirt designs until they closed at midnight.
I was heavily influenced by Marc Ecko at this time with his graffiti background and collaboration with Marvel as he married it with fashion in his brand Ecko Unltd. I was also influenced by Miskeen Originals Clothing. An artist from New York who took off hand painting his designs on Apparel and selling them to hip-hop artist and celebrities. Also during this time, I started customizing sneakers and painting t-shirts to primarily match the client’s sneakers. Sold my first custom shoe to a guy in Poland in 2008. I went under the name UniverSoles (Universe for out-of-this-world creativity and Soles for sneakers). Flight Of Fancy Co. came about in college in 2009 to expand my art beyond shoes and into apparel. Flight Of Fancy means an imaginative but unrealistic idea. I was also influenced by Salvador Dali that’s why my ideas always took a surrealistic approach.
Elefly the elephant is my mascot, spirit animal, and muse. He is a symbol of strength, wisdom, courage, royalty, gentleness, love, loyalty, and hope. He is used to manifesting what we want most. “Be The Elephant In The Room.” is my motto for encouraging others to stand tall in who they are, be the best version of themselves every day, always do good work, and treat others with respect. let your reputation proceed you and let your presence speak for itself.
I started painting seriously after college in 2011-12 and my first mural in 2012. Since then, I’ve painted murals all around the city, opened my own gallery/store, painted live at auctions for the American Cancer Society, painted a couch for Ikea, celebrities, and basketball players, Artwork for St. Jude, sold apparel and shoes around the world and released my own Coffee line.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth road? The path of an entrepreneur and artist isn’t even considered a road more like climbing a mountain while fighting marvel villains. Growing up in Memphis as an African American you don’t see many opportunities outside of sports and music. I was fortunate enough that my mother was an educator and my father had a National Geographic subscription that exposed me to the world. They encouraged me to try different things.
Memphis does not have a fashion/design industry or mural artist to learn from. Public art was pretty much nonexistent. I learned everything myself through Internet, online forums, youtube, books, and just experimenting. I and my friend fellow artist Jamond Bullock went to an artist talk held in Chattanooga, TN by muralist Meg Saligman years ago. The next day in Chatt, we called and visited businesses and asked if they wanted a free mural after a whole day filled with “No’s” we got one “yes”. Rented a cheap hotel and the next day we bought paint and painted a mural in freezing weather.
I had a cold on the last day but we made it happen. Business-wise, I had to learn everything myself. Long nights learning how to run a clothing business and how to piece a mural together properly and write proposals. Being consistent is the hardest thing for me or most I would imagine, but it’s literally the number one way to become successful in anything. Hard work and consistency beat talent.
Sticking to your guns and creating what YOU want to create is also one of the most challenging aspects of being creative. You have a vision, but people want something else learning how to merge the ideas and taking time for yourself is important.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Flight Of Fancy Co.?
Flight Of Fancy Co. is more of my apparel side and then you have Joseph Boyd Art for all other creative services. All located at Flight Of Fancy The Gallery 624 S. Bellevue Memphis, TN 38104. I provide many services such as Paintings, Artpparel (Painted apparel), Apparel, Murals, painted furniture, paint parties, Coffee, and the list grows as I grow.
As a contemporary artist at this point in my career, I just keep it simple and title myself as a “creator”. I’ve always enjoyed learning new things outside of just painting. What sets me apart from others other than my art style is my approach and execution. For example, I hold paint parties titled (Sip and Drip), but we do not paint on the canvas we paint on T-shirts and soon other types of clothing such as hats and shoes. Also, Zoom classes are coming SOON!
My “Be The Elephant In The Room” movement with my clothing. It has really opened a side of me that dives into mental health and the struggles we all face as not just creatives and entrepreneurs, but as people trying to find our way in life. It’s about finding the strength to get up every day, the confidence in ourselves and God-given abilities, choosing to be the best version of yourself every day, knowing that you are great and here for a reason.
I believe my murals are next. I just like getting out there and painting and learning at the same time. Also, I’m working on a Coffee pop-up with a local Memphis coffee brand and roaster Ethnos Coffee. Come by sip coffee and paint
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Favorite app? YouTube is probably number one lol. I’ve learned so much from college until now In so many areas of my life. Art, spiritual, financial, science, etc. It really is a university. Be careful using YouTube though do some real research don’t take everything as gospel. Next is probably my Sketchbook ( Illustration) app and learning to use Tiktok and Instagram for my business more efficiently. I’m terrible at it.
Also, the Canva app. and Spotify Books right now “Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice” by Napoleon Hill and Dennis Kimbro. Also “The Creative Curve” by Allen Gannett. Podcast: I just found “Let’s Learn Everything” it’s literally just topics on everything I love knowing random things. Rory and Mal, it’s just a goofy podcast on music and random things.
Blogs: No blogs, but I do like browsing Tumblr. you can find great visuals such as dope photographers to use as inspiration. Reddit, for the random knowledge and other entertainment. I follow many artists on Instagram for motivation and inspiration.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@flightoffancyclothing.com
- Website: www.flightoffancyco.com www.josephboydart.com
- Instagram: @flightoffancyco and @joecoolart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlightOfFancyTheCollection
- Twitter: @Flightoffancyco
Image Credits
Joseph Boyd, Cayla Pruitt, Ethnos Coffee, and Malcolm Topps
