Meet Destin Cramer | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Destin Cramer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Destin, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
For me art is a way of life, everyone always told me it was something that could never pay the bills but it was something that I continued to dream of every day until one day I just decided I had nothing to lose. I was homeless and struggling with mental and physical health issues and selling art actually did help me pay the bills and give me a reason to continue living. I made portraits of friends to get food to eat and it eventually developed into selling large paintings across the country.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is influenced by my personal experiences living with mental and physical health conditions. I try to not let my disabilities define me, but they affect me daily and that’s something that’s hard to ignore. I use my paintings as a way to process my emotions around my mental illness, trauma, and disability.
My landscapes are influenced by my love of nature and how much peace and happiness an untouched piece of natural landscape gives me. Before my disability limited me as much, I would go on hikes and nature walks with my friends and family. I loved camping and spending my time in nature, drawing and painting the scenes I saw around me. When I stopped be able to walk as far and struggled with chronic pain, I turned to painting the natural landscapes that brought me so much joy in order to bring that natural world closer to me.
It’s been difficult to be an artist living with multiple disabilities, especially since I’m still working on building my business. I currently paint on the floor of my balcony in my apartment that I share with my best friend, which is terrible for your back especially when you have degenerative disc disease and scoliosis- but my need to paint persists, so I’m hoping one day to sell enough consistently to be able to have my own little art studio, or at least have a bigger living space so I can get a desk and easel.
One of the biggest things I’ve learned being an artist is that it’s not about the materials that you have, it’s about the dedication to the process of creation. The artwork will emerge as a masterpiece only if you truly dedicate yourself to it. You can use the best paint, the highest quality canvas and pencils, and still have a crappy piece if you don’t take the time to dedicate yourself to making something that you want to last a lifetime. I’ve learned the only way to create a body of works is by getting over the fear and obstacles and just doing it anyways.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There’s some amazing shops, galleries, and museums at Balboa park- it’s definitely one of my favorite places to visit. I’d also have to take them to better buzz coffee and go to the beach, specifically La Jolla Cove which is featured in one of my paintings!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m blessed to have a wonderful support group of friends, chosen family, and loved ones. A major support to my success has been my Nana who has always supported me no matter what- when my parents were unsupportive of my queer identity and transition, she was the first person in my family to start using my chosen name. Another incredibly influential person to me and my success is my best friend, Julia. She’s been there for me through the good, the bad, and the ugliest parts of my life and has always had nothing but love and encouragement for me. She’s opened her family to me, and I truly feel like she’s my sister. She helped encourage me to pursue my art degree and is constantly pushing me to create more and love my work

Website: https://destindraws.carrd.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/destindraws

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