Check Out Reggie Singleton’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Reggie Singleton.  

Hi Reggie, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My art career began in 1999. It was this year that I decided to switch my college major from Engineering to Fine Art. During this time, I realized the importance of having a career doing something you love. I’d spent years pursuing something I had no feelings for. I found myself regretful of all the time I’d wasted. Time is a commodity you can’t get back, so I made the decision to use my time wisely. Since this day, I’ve been chasing success in art. Sometimes I think I’ve caught her; other times, she seems so far away. 

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?
I find the business of art to be my biggest hurdle. Making connections, building relationships, marketing, and growing my brand. These are things that take the Artist away from the studio. While none of us like it, these things are essential to the success of an artist. I wasn’t told any of this during the early years of my career. I had to learn the business and grow in spite of failures, self-doubt, and rejection. The belief in my talent and my innate desire to bring my vision of beauty to the world is what has always driven me to stay the course. Overall, I understand that the business of art is an ongoing process. I continue to learn each day of my practice. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a painter and sculptor from Detroit, Michigan. I primarily use the mediums of ink and wood. I’ve been working in both disciplines for over 10 years. My subject matter shifts between realism and the abstract. My advanced knowledge of both allows me to express in each one equally. Through realism, I depict emotion with facial expression, hand gesture, and composition. Abstract allows me to make seen the unseen. The feelings of anger, hate, and lust are made visible on the canvas using brushstrokes and pen. I have won awards in both disciplines and I think this is what sets my work apart from others. 

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I’m constantly seeking out new ways of communicating by pushing the boundaries of what is considered “beautiful.” This constant “searching” is what I feel keeps my work fresh. Through beauty, any message can be communicated to the viewer. Once a work harnesses the principles of beauty, an openness to its message will surely follow. Throughout the years, I’ve strived to inject beauty into every work I create. Whether it is an abstract ink on canvas or a realistic face on wood, knowledge of the material and how to bring out its inner qualities is key. A deep understanding of the material an artist works with is invaluable. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.reggiesingleton.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/ReggieSingletonstudios/
• Facebook: Facebook.com/ReggieSingletonstudios/

Image Credits
Jeff Cancelosi