Meet Felicia Dunson | Muralist and Graffiti Artist

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

Hi Felicia, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I used to be afraid of everything and so I couldn’t find balance. I was always wavering in fear of outside approval and permissions. My perfectionism always petrified me fear of mistakes ( I often didn’t finish pieces in frustration). I used to feel as though I needed something else to pave my path. In regard to my artistry I wasn’t free and so I suppressed myself and tried to anticipate what the world wanted from me; instead of being what the world around me needed. As I found creative freedom it poured out and it showed in my work. I found a balance of authentic and eccentric. But I didn’t disregard my rigged past of fine arts perfectionism. I’m organized chaos married to an ever evolving expertise. I have found joy in both extremes and so I sway but stay balanced.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a post-modern artist creating the abstract and surreal using graffiti techniques. I custom paint anything I can throw paint at. I’ve painted on everything from walls to apparel and from cars and firearms. I primarily paint large scale murals in public and private places. I create original canvas paintings as well as custom commissions. I also have created an environmentally friendly 3D graffiti series called “DEADCANZ”., made from upcycled used spray paint cans. I pride myself on being unique and versatile. I’m ever evolving in my arsenal of skill sets. I’m just an artist working with different paintbrushes. Being a skillful creative chameleon has been the key to my success. I have been able to fulfill my clients requests while staying true to my authentic brand. I believe as artistic entrepreneurs we are faced with the challenge to keep selling without selling out. It can be challenging to stand out show up and show out but you have to love what you do. It takes sacrifice and working hard and I have had to push through. For example working with spray paint requires a lot of strength in your hands. There were days when I would wake up with my hands shaking because I was working on multiple projects around the clock. I had a hammock in my studio so I could sleep between projects. A typical day would be me going to an onsite mural project that I would work on while the business was closed overnight. Then go back to the studio at dawn take a nap, get coffee/breakfast, then work in the studio until the afternoon. Then I do my daytime projects such as at home murals which I would finish about 9pm and then I go back to the business mural afterhours. Rinse and repeat. I worked hard until I earned and learned that sweet spot where I could charge according to my skillset but there is no shortcut here. Once I could do the same work in less time that’s when I unlocked and found my lane. It still required me to adjust amongst my peers and so I aligned myself with other artists with similar cultures and skills. I shared opportunities with my counterparts and participated in others successes as well. I have become a revolving door in my communities creative economy.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m a Columbus, Ohio native and my favorite area is the Short North. You can just walk down High Street and find amazing places for entertainment, dining, and shopping. On a Sunday we could go to some great brunch spots like the Standard Hall where we could build our own massive Bloody Mary or Maria as I prefer. Then we could go to Union for a Drag show and brunch buffet. After that we would head down to Big FUN the collectors toy store for a trip down memory lane of childhood playful nostalgia and cult classic collectibles. Walking down High Street makes for great people watching and talented street performers in the short north. Depending on the time of year we could end the day with a community festival and live music at one of Columbus’ beautiful downtown parks.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My sister Michelle is an Instagram influencer viral skit comedian. She’s an amazing stylist/ barber entrepreneur. She’s been featured on World star, MTV Ridiculousness, and celebrity social media pages like Snoop dogg (twice). @michellejeanette

Website: www.FDZGRAFFITI.com

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/fdzgraffiti

Linkedin: Felicia Dunson

Twitter: FDZGRAFFITI

Facebook: Felicia Dunson

Image Credits
James Milbry (H Media) Roosevelt Photography