Meet Aaron D. Williams | Artist & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Aaron, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I look at risk as a necessary evil. I don’t mean evil, as in risk is a wicked thing. But we all can relate to the strong pull of resistance when taking a risk. But the truth is, a lot of the time, taking risks gets us out of our comfort zone, and that’s where the magic happens. Every time I stepped out and took a significant risk, I benefitted in some way, even if it wasn’t the outcome I sought. Of course, there are always lessons to be learned, and you never know what you are truly capable of until you put yourself out there. But, then, you have to take that chance and bet on yourself, or how could you expect that of others?

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.

I enjoy exploring different mediums, from drawing to painting. I use a multidisciplinary approach. Showcasing mixed media works alongside new merchandise and public programs to promote a more holistic art experience.

My creative practice begins with research. After deciding on the subject, I consume any and all available materials and compile my favorite references to create a final mood board composition. Next, I utilize drawing as the foundation of my work. Next, I rely heavily on layering, applying extensive amounts of colored pencils, markers, and mixed media to create the final composition. Finally, I manipulate photorealistic practices to shape an altered representation of the chosen subject. This may mean exaggerating perceived “truths,” whether the figure’s anatomy, my choice in the palette, or the use of material itself.

My work is also conceptually layered. I address a topic using a variety of influences that draw from my experiences, pop culture, and the stories I’ve learned in my lifetime.

Being a black male in this space between business and art is an everyday challenge. Ask Kanye.

My biggest challenge is looking for resources and accessing different infrastructures to scale my ideas properly.

And I’ve learned you don’t know what you don’t know, and it’s usually too late to find out. So I’ve learned to surround myself with individuals who are much more intelligent and have more experience than I do.

I want people to know that I could achieve my wildest dreams and more with a vision and that YOU can, too, just by being your authentic self.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

First, I would take them to the Cleveland Museum of Art and explain how my work will be here one day.

Then, I would take them to The moCa and explain to them how essential it was to have my first solo show here through the help of Antwoine Washington and Michael C. Russell II.

For the rest of the rest, we would just be eating at all the good spots in Cleveland. Cleveland is basically good for underground art scenes and food.

I would take them to kick it with all my art friends, who are all on the verge of breaking out into their own thing, which I love to see.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

Antwoine Washington

Michael C. Russell II

Museum of Creative Human Art

Website: www.aawfulaaron.com

Instagram: @aawfulaaron

Twitter: @aawfulaaron

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AaronWilliamsArtist

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfhWD8Jncu5HcG0ndwjklkA

Image Credits
Chris Petry