Meet Derin Fletcher | Fine Artist/Designer

I wanted to create a life for myself where I could be as creative as possible while still uplifting and inspiring others. I’m creating all day every day but I never really thought about turning it into a career until I got my first few customers. I was actually still working my 9-5 as a graphic designer. But I would come home every day and create. Whenever I got a little free time I would just just create. I would paint and draw as much as I could. Then the pandemic hit and we were all forced to work from home. So I began creating even more. Even when I was supposed to be working, I was creating instead. Then I felt more comfortable posting my art and process on social media and my followers grew from 2 thousand to about 30 thousand in what felt like was overnight. Then the inquiries really started to roll in. It was then I thought, “I could really do this”. Of course it took me a while to transitions into full time. It was scary at first. I wasn’t ready to let go of that stability. Although I wasn’t fulfilled at my 9-5, I allowed my fear to stop me from taking that leap for a while. But once I trusted myself, my dream and my vision, I took a leap of faith and never looked back.

I’m not sure if I classify my style as unique. I just draw black women in their most beautiful form. Naturally them. I’m most proud of how I can capture a range of women. I love that someone says they see themselves or someone else in my work and I no longer use references so the images just come together as I draw. They all becomes pieces of myself or other women I’ve seen or experienced in life. It feels good to show that representation in my work. Which is so important. We are so used to seeing negativity these days. You can log onto social media and something negative will be plastered on your TL without warning. So I want my artwork to be that bit of positivity that someone sees on a daily. That’s how I want my brand to be recognized.

My best friend and I are similar when it comes to setting our own vibes at home when we can. But we are also both foodies so if we did go out, I would take them to Zanzibar for some soul rolls and maybe do something like top golf before going to the house to watch movies. The rest of the week would just try a bunch of good black owned food spots such as Black Box Fix, Deons, Filter, Roaming Biscuit, and so many others. There are so many fun things to do in the city and surrounding areas that I’m still just learning about myself mainly thanks to social media. We have fun pop up bars and restaurants in cute areas like Tremont. Pinecrest has the cutest theater that allows you to eat dinner in your seat and the botanical gardens has fun and Instagram worthy displays that are great for the outdoor feel in the winter seasons. We will also check out some art at Deep Roots Experience or the Cleveland Museum of Art. There would be so much that I would love for us to do but we would definitely have to split it in to multiple trips the get the full experience.

I have to thank my highschool Art Teacher, Mr Dolphin for encouraging me to pursue art and my family and friends for supporting me through it all