Meet Peter Dowdy | Art Teacher & Professional Creative

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

Hi Peter, is there something you believe many others might not?
I feel like the advice that most give is to focus on one thing at a time is so cliche. Although it works for some, it’s not a particular rule that’s all size fits one as a perfect tactic to balance the creative mind. My case for instance, I’ve narrowed my mind at a point to where I just focused on one thing I knew I wanted to accomplish. Ah ha! That’ll be the way I beat anxiety….so I thought. I started to get burned out, not knowing what to do next as the right step in the midst of having too many options and not enough at the same time. I didn’t want to move on to the next thing on my list of achievements within the next 5 to 10 years without completing the one thing I started with. Between prepping to pitch the Kanye West biopic while finishing up my first documentary ever highlighting an incredible HBCU story, creating a social digital coin platform, writing my first book, opening a unique Hip Hop culture themed restaurant, creating a card game and becoming an Art teacher creating lesson plans on the daily while running an art business with your wife, yes the years of pressure can be on you as an individual to want to complete all these tasks whether short or long term. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Instead of me thinking I have to work on one of these things at a time, I’ve decided it was more comfortable for me to work simultaneously on the things that interests me most. That way, no matter how much progress I’ve made, I would be moving closer to completing all goals whether now or later. If it’s meant to be, it will be. But I WILL succeed in completing my tasks. So far, I’ve knocked off a good number of things off that list and we’re working on the others. Shhhh….

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is mix of so many things really. I could create something culturally dope or uplifting and at the same time create something controversial and nerve touching. Really depends on how I feel at the moment. What sets me apart from other artists is first .my perspective and personal touch. How I communicate messages in my art whether literally in your face or subliminal, you may or may not get the message transcribed by me ever in my art. But most pieces I make are some what think pieces to me. I just like to see how others perceive them in certain settings. But as different as that may seem, my favorite piece ever is the animated piece I made entitled Black Nostalgia. That piece is very dear to my heart because it was made during my wife’s pregnancy and I felt connected spiritually to my youth that tapped in enough to allow me to complete such a dope piece. Luckily I’m able to teach art now to high schoolers, a goal of mine that I’ve had since majoring for something totally different in college. Go figure right? But with years of procrastination and listening to opinions of others, I had to start living for self and making my own decision and that was what got me on the right track to completing my life long goals up to this point. A challenge of life itself, but hopefully through my actions I can be a prime example of that in life for someone in the future. Being homeless in the back of your car while finishing your “3rd senior year” of college will do that to you. Being in that same position later after moving to a city and quitting a job that was bringing you depression will do that to you. I’ve used many difficult times as lessons in life to help move forward, and now everytime I get through something, I vow myself not to be in that same position by repeating the same mistakes and that’s how I’ve made progress forward in life. With Dope Art Dealers being a brand, it’s more of a lifestyle for myself. While being addicted to my goals and all of them having some sense of an artistic function within them, the joy I have in sharing (dealing) my creations with the rest of the world, it’s unmatched. No matter what the function of art may be, it’s an addiction to create something. My presence must be felt in my actions not so much my physical form, so no matter what I do in this lifetime, the actions and its effect will live longer than my name ever will. That’s what the art of everything I do is about. It’s bigger than me. It’s bigger than the story behind it. It’s the stories that come from it that makes all the difference.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My city is a big part of my culture in my artistic ways. The diversity and rich Black historical sense of the city makes all the difference in life. So if anyone were to ever have the grace of having me as their designated food tour guide for the week, this is how my tour would go. Sunday morning is normally for the cooking in days. If not, we’re hitting up Stripes for the Laredo Tacos. Later that night, we’re going to go North Houston for The Greasy Spoon and get us some fire ass soul food for a good price and amount. Monday we can start the week with Shipley’s donuts damn near every day for breakfast, if not try Southern Maid if it’s closer. Fuck that Krispy Kreme, Tuesday is for Popeyes Chicken. Wednesday, it’s Subway for the deal of the week on Turkey subs for lunch and why not hit up Golden Corral for a quick mid week dinner fix. Thursdays we’re getting closer to the weekend, try Celaya’s Mexican Restaurant near Willowbrook Mall area. Friday, get RA Sushi because why not. Saturday night, hit the town. Try some Frank’s Pizza after the lounge or movies late night.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Definitely have to give credit to my wife Rita Ann Reyes for being a strong support system through everything. The reason I was even able to have the space, time and capacity to write a book to our son while working for months away in Alaska is her. And for that I am forever grateful. I know women like that don’t come often so to have someone as open and understanding I love very dearly.

Website: www.dopeartdealers.com
Instagram: Picturemepedro
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/peterdowdy
Twitter: Officialkrow
Facebook: Facebook.com/shawndowdy
Youtube: Dear Basquiat Book Club

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