Today we’d like to introduce you to Dustin Cox.
Hi Dustin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi I’m Dustin ! I was born in Sioux Falls, SD in the heart of America. I’ve been inspired mostly by the 1990’s street art scene that came out of NYC. Looking up to artists such as Keith Haring, Retna, Aaron Delacruz, and David Salle. Growing up in Sioux Falls I found it challenging to find an arts community that allowed me to grow as an artist. At 19, I packed my bags to attend college in Minneapolis, MN. While in Minneapolis I showed my work in various local art shows, and even curated three of my own art shows at my house in Uptown Minneapolis by the name of Home is Where the Art is. I later graduated with a degree in Graphic Design (Print Media) from MCTC in 2015.
One day after college graduation I packed my car again and moved to Los Angeles, CA. I wanted to be surrounded by good weather, and a vivid arts community. A lot of laborious nights, and hard work brought me to the City of Angels. While living in California I worked as a graphic designer for Rodeo Realty, painted frequently, and worked on some rad freelance gigs. After 2 years of living in the LA sun I again packed my bags and headed to the East Coast; Now I reside comfortably in Toronto, Canada. Working with multimedia, oil, & acrylic; but I’m also trained on the Adobe Creative Suite. My most recent work is influenced by travel, typography, daily society, music, and life.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
My biggest obstacle was finding my community both in the art space & personal space. The reason that I’ve moved so frequently was simply because of the community. Growing up in South Dakota was great, but being gay in South Dakota is not an easy space to navigate. On top of that as an artist my style wasn’t well received. I felt like I need to be a part of a bigger art scene in order to fit in. Minneapolis became the city where I truly flourished. Both of my parents were born in Minnesota so it felt right to live & work in MPLS. My 4 years in the city really did ground me. It was challenging in the beginning to find my way, but eventually it all started to come together.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work has evolved quite drastically over the years. In my formative years my passion was to paint. In high school I spent so many nights painting away in my room as my other friends would be out partying. I was very disciplined and dedicated many hours to my skill. It was also an escape for me. When I painted I would transcend into a meditative space, and it made me feel like I had a purpose.
As a creative, I like to explore alternative mediums, and am constantly evolving. As of now, I am the menswear graphic designer @ Roots Canada here in Toronto. Designing graphic t-shirts / and logo packages. As a graphic designer, I try to bring in my hand-rendered style to really push the graphics to an intriguing space.
I am constantly juggling between graphic design work & fine art. Finding the balance can be tricky, but I am certain that it offers me a taste of both worlds.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Lesson one is patience.
Learning to literally have the patience for the paint to dry before your eyes. This can be applied in so many ways. Maintaining patience throughout your creative journey is key. Success doesn’t occur overnight. You have to always trust the process, and things will start to work out.
Lesson two is discipline.
As a creative, you need to have discipline. I’ve learned that staying disciplined has helped push through the hardest times. Even if you don’t have any gigs it’s important to do work for yourself. Even if no one sees it and it sits in your sketchbook that’s what truly matters.
The last & most important lesson is trust.
When you’re taking on work you need to form a relationship with your clients in order to establish trust. I’ve been burned too many times to count. Unfortunately in this field, there are those who want work done for free, as if we owe them. I’ve learned to only work for free when I choose to. Know your worth, and don’t let anyone take advantage of you or your skill. As artists, we work hard, and shouldn’t be giving away our talent.
Contact Info:
- Website: dustincoxdesign.com
- Instagram: dustincoxdesign_
- Twitter: dustincoxdesign_
Image Credits
Carmen Cheung (portrait)
