Unapologetic

"I am an artist, and unapologetic for my creations." This quote is one that I live by, because it explains much of my thought process as an artist. The world we live in has too many boxes people wrap their lives up in, and they cannot seem to see let alone move beyond that box. This box seems to be a comfort zone, has no room for growth and has so many limits, that boundaries become the most often used word.  

As many artist will tell you the creative process doesn't have limits unless you set them, and I'll be damned if I set myself up in that crowded box again! Being unapologetic means to be unwilling to make or express an apology. In my life there have been moments where I felt I had to apologize for something, and in most cases I did. I never knew that by doing so you are already claiming a defeat in the situation even when you did nothing wrong.

There have been many occasions I felt as if I just gave in to save face. As I grew into my art and allowed it to really control most aspects of my life, I came to realize just how much I may have passed up great opportunities; all because I never let the real me shine. I cannot continue to focus on what could or might have been, because it will only disable me from moving forward of where I am today and where I'm going.

These past few years have been both challenging and blessed and I have not one regret. My art has taken me to places I never thought or dreamed of going. Meeting people I might have never met, and doing things I never thought I would do. I believe without a doubt that most of my blessings come because I don't restrict myself and I take counsel from my inner wisdom; unapologetically. I don't have time to think about how others view me or whether my creations will offend them; because I don't create for anyone specifically unless commissioned to do so.

My creations are inspired through dreams given to me from my ancestors, my feelings and a few through visual places I find myself surrounded in, by my spirit and faith. I cannot apologize for anything I create because it's my spirit that has the vision and my body does the work. When it comes to the business aspect of my art, I am told that I can be a bit prudent. I have learned over the years that if you do not take pride in how you conduct yourself in every aspect of your life you lose your balance. So I maintain my balance by being both careless and careful, careless of what others think of my creations, but careful to know this is my means for survival. I treat the business aspect as I do because it's an extension of who I am.

"Our opportunity is to Soar our Spirit.

To see Light and Joy in everything.

To spread our wings and fly boldly.

To give thanks for rainbows and butterflies -

our symbols of renewal and rebirth.

To offer daily Thanksgiving - for ourselves, our family,

our friends, our community, for the whole world."

- Jonathan Lockwood Hui

My Name is Brian

Hello everyone, my name is Brian a.k.a. The Painted Guy (Bonez). I am writing this blog to tell you a little of my story and how I came to love Body Paint so much. The story can be a bit long so I will try to sum it up as best I can. When I was 12 years old I was enjoying life with a promising dancing career or somewhere in the entertainment field. It was a very good time in my life (so I'm told). However, things kind of moved in a different direction after I was involved in a nearly fatal car accident. This accident was a transformation in my life that completely changed who I was, what I remembered and how I felt. It also gave me scars that would give me reason for my insecurities.

I remember the first time getting painted, my body was not used to standing for long periods of time but I was able to stand for close to 5 hours. I think I was able to do that because there was something meditative about the process. It is as if that brush has some kind of healing power. I was truly amazed with the outcome of my first body paint. I was painted as a skeleton and my niece was painted with me as well (so we kinda looked like twins). The traffic that stopped and the pictures taken that day were overwhelming. But as a person who craved attention (when I was younger) it was amazing. That feeling is what made me want to always be painted. So whenever I had the opportunity, I would take it.

There is another side to body painting that goes back thousands of years and there is a spiritual connection between the artist and canvas. I am careful not to let just anyone paint me because their energy is being put onto me and vice versa. After you wash the paint away there is always residual energy that can be felt for hours or days, usually with me I take the next day to just relax and enjoy the energy.

When my sister. Alicia first told me she was involved in body painting, I was not around to see it; but I saw pictures. It seemed fascinating to me, and I immediately told her that when I come back I would be her model.

Needless to say I have currently been painted more than a dozen times; and each time it's a new experience.One day while at one of the venues in downtown Bridgeport, CT I was asked why I like getting painted so much because every time I am in public I seem to have paint on. My response surprised even me because I never really thought about why I loved doing it. My response, "We live in such a judgemental world, it seems the only time I am not judged about my characteristics is when I'm painted, no one seems to care whether I'm black, white, Hispanic, gay, straight or anything like that; they only see the art!" That quote was a revelation to me and it happens to be the very reason why being painted is something I love.

Washing the paint away is probably one of the saddest moments I have experienced, it's like I just want to keep it on forever and live through the eyes of the painted man so I don't have to deal with society. At the end of the day "Nothing lasts forever" so they say, however the experience of being body painted will be grafted into my eternal memory because it's the place I feel alive (even when looking dead).

I would like to thank my sister ArtSimplicated for her kindness, generosity, and love throughout our journey together. She is a very amazing individual "UnFram3d", a girl who was known once only to be Brian's little sister, to now flapping her own beautiful wings and flying into her destiny. Thank you sis and love you - "Ride or Die"

Love The Skin You Are In

We spend a lot of time concerned about what other people think of us in this world. It's a very sad way of being, always concerned about what others think about you. I'm not saying that you shouldn't care or be aware of the way you affect others; I'm saying that the way you see and feel about yourself is far more important.Physical appearance is all the rage with the media flooding our timelines and minds with images that are not realistic. From weight to skin color, to sex and sexual orientation. Your life choices and appearance are judged on a daily basis by people who usually don't even matter in the long run.

These days I am Pretty unapologetic about the way I live my life, the way I look, the way I speak, the way others perceive me to be. I know who I am, what I am capable of and what I deserve. Being unapologetic does not mean that I don't care for others it just means I am not concerned with their perception of me, because in truth only I truly know who I am; people just see versions of me.

I have had the experience of not being comfortable in what God gave me; and from experience I can tell you, it just becomes vanity; there is beauty in everyone and everything, I sometimes question why people only choose to see the flaws instead of the beauty in something or someone. At the end of the day I cannot be concerned with why others have a challenge with understanding beauty for what it truly is. It's an inside job, get to work!

Last year I had the opportunity to work with a beautiful young lady by the name of Koneisha Johnson of Kween Plus Natural. Koneisha is a plus size model who booked a body art photo shoot in celebration of her full figured body as well as to encourage other full figured individuals to celebrate their own beauty.

In Flight

Last year I had the honor of working with the town of Stratford on a new project to bring art to the streets called Share A Chair. They asked 20 artists to create bench designs that would be showcased on the streets around the town, which would later be auctioned off. I sketched four different designs and submitted them along with my protege of a daughter who was the one who actually introduced me to the project. I had just recently submitted designs for a project in Stamford as well, and it was amazing to actually be chosen for both projects, two Dinosaurs and one bench. I felt invigorated and pumped up to do it all!

One of the designs chosen was called "In Flight" and it was a tribute to my evolution as an artist. This became a very personal piece because at the time I had never really experienced the opportunity to have my art on display publicly (except body art) on a non moving canvas. I have had many of my pieces displayed in galleries, but not everyone goes to galleries. I felt as if I was leaving the stage of flapping my wings to actual flight

This project was so fun for me as well as a learning tool, much of my time was spent running between Stratford and Stamford and making sure every little detail matched my design. There were many long hours and mistakes, but it well worth everything in the end of the process.

Genius Is Common

In late 2015 I received a message on Linked In from a gentleman by the name of Bruce George (Read more about him here). He had come across my Linked In profile and felt that I was a great fit for a movement that he started called "Genius is Common". I 'll be honest, when we spoke and he asked me what the words "genius is common" meant to me and I was a little offended at first. The phrase was thought provoking and really made me check myself. I thought that the title of "genius" was one that had to be earned. You had to be beyond smart and talented with supernatural abilities that most other people don't have. It turns out that Bruce George thinks I'm a genius, he thinks that everyone else is a genius too.

I, like everyone else have been brain washed to believe that genius is some exclusive category. The truth is, it's an elitist word with a false definition. My genius happens to be art and inspiration, I've learned that in the last few years.What gifts have you been blessed with? What are you really great at? You usually know early on in life but not always. My passion has always been in art, teaching and helping others; I happen to be really good at all three. In 2015 I was given multiple opportunities to teach after school enrichment in three completely different programs. All of the kids have different backgrounds and experiences. Some are right brainers and some are left, all are very different. Teaching is a very difficult job because not only do you have to always consider safety first, you also have to get familiar with each personality and find what works best with each. I watch them create and am continuously amazed at how gifted they are without even knowing.

I have a friend named Joy who is so creative that she can build something out of nothing; she actually recently won first prize for turning trash into fashion for a traveling fashion show. Another very close friend, Shanna is a phenomenal poet and writer, so phenomenal that she leads a writers group, runs a local poetry venue which is going 11 years strong, travels all over to perform and was named the Ambassador of Poetry at a local college. My friend and studio partner Janelle paints, makes jewelry, designs logos and web sites,makes clothing...I can keep going but you get the idea.

My brother Brian builds web sites from scratch manages some of my social networking, edits my blog and he's an amazing body paint model. My daughter, Teyana creates beautiful sketches of the human body out of her head. My sun (son) builds really cool things from scratch that make me scratch my head sometimes but he builds them nonetheless. The point is, you are a genius and so is everyone you know. We need to encourage each other to really tap into the things that we are best at and bring them into the world. Imagine the deprivation we would go through as a people if some of the following geniuses listened to their doubts:

Albert Einstein

Leonardi DiVinci

Abraham L,incoln

Michael Jackson

Amelia Earhardt

Oprah Winfrey

Isaac Newton

Michael Jordan

Martin Luther King Jr.

Bruce George

Your Mother

Your father

The teacher who never gave up on you

The friend who pushed you beyond your limits...The list goes on but you get the point.

Learn more about the Genius is common movement here! It's a movement that is growing daily and having a tremendous impact on many communities. Become a part of the movement.

Visit the Genius is Common web site to learn more about the movement and what you can do to join. There is also apparel avalable there and lots of videos with people around the globe sharing their genius.