Life & Work with Edward Lee of Downtown Port Huron

Today we’d like to introduce you to Edward Lee

Hi Edward, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have been doodling on the walls ever since I could crawl around the house. Later, in school, I would doodle in my notebooks which carried into my adult working life. Now I’m doodling on any scrap paper, boxes, or white boards available in the many kitchens I’ve been through. It wasn’t however, until four years ago that I have been trying to take my art more seriously. I have had many opportunities to do mural work locally, as well as opportunities to place my art work for sale in several locally owned shops across the state. The money earned from my art sales helps fund my other passion, music. I have a one-man band project (titled Yeddie, you can check me out on streaming platforms) that I am trying to take more seriously as well. I sell my art on the road even, as both stickers and as my merch. Every dollar from my art helps me put gas in my car to get my music out there.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No….. not at all. Locally my art work hasn’t been the most appreciated over the years, and it’s not even my fault.
Where I live, the power dynamic in play set forth by our city officials tends to condemn anything that isn’t “neat and clean”. There is hardly, if any, support for local artists to create interesting, cool, and weird art. The alternative scene that you see in larger cities just isn’t allowed to rear its head in our “historic” downtown. I just never realized how large the issue was until I began traveling for my music and got to see first-hand what bustling, supportive, and active communities look like. I have struggled to find like-minded people locally, due to our areas constraints, but have finally begun to find that many artists in other cities nearby are just as eager as I am to get our work out there. I have made so many connections in my frequent flyer radius, that now I have a whole roster of creative and awesome people I can contact for all kinds of collaborations. It was a long and turbulent road to get here, but I have made my own community all across the state. I am still learning, but I find you just have to get up and do. You can learn along the way.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love colorful, bright, and imaginative pieces. My style is far more cartoonish rather than realistic. In recent years I’ve had the opportunities to do more mural work, which I thoroughly enjoy. My work typically features animals, sea creatures, and trippy characters. Several of my murals feature local fish and wildlife.
It’s weird, I never really thought about it until doing this article, but my art does carry over into to my music with similar traits. It’s bright, the colors are loud and the live shows are cartoonishly fun. No matter what I do, I always try to incorporate a party.

Years ago I never thought I would ever get the opportunity to do a mural, let alone several. I am incredibly proud of my mural work, and all of the years of hard work I spent improving my craft to get me to the point where I am now. I am still accepting offers, and am constantly seeking out the next large project.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
For business inquires on my logo design work, flyers (really love making band flyers), mural work or large paintings for your office or work space please contact me through email, [email protected]. You can also direct message me on social media, Yeddie Woods on Facebook or 86Yeddie on Instagram. Those would be the best ways to reach out to me. I am also taking bookings with my solo music project, Yeddie. If you would like me to play with your band at a show, or have me for an event or private parties, you can reach me at the same contacts mentioned above.

Pricing:

• Stickers $3 each
• Flyer Work-starting @ $30
• Logo Work-starting @ $100
• Murals starting @ $150+
• Booking Yeddie (music) starting @ $150+

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.linktr.ee/yeddie
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/86yeddie/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eddielee.j.lee
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@86yeddie
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/a9LXN3tCCiXkhuj99
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1vhtn3gbsqULc4avR8PtUk?si=6QxZRw0aQUyrg4giHVYaKw