When I came to NYC, I left my friends, my family, and the comforts of creating images with people who trusted my ideas and allowed me the freedom to create whatever my mind could come up with. I came to NYC to create art that inspires the next generation and change the way the world see people of color by celebrating our beauty. I also wanted to be able to make money living my dream.
There are a lot of really good photographers in NYC, so I knew I had to stand out and create images that were different from what the other photographers were doing. I had to make art they could only get from me. I wanted people who worked with me to be forced to see themselves in a different way. I wanted the people looking at my work to see and feel something different. I wanted them to appreciate craftsmanship and have respect for what I do as an artist. I had to give them an experience they could only get from me... #therealtarriceloveexperience.
Somewhere along the line, I started limiting my creative visions and doing work I felt was safe and fitting in with what models and their agents said that needed from me. I wanted them to be happy, so I gave them what they said they wanted instead of being creative and trusting my own vision. I started creating images that look like stuff they already had and reinforcing the ideas they have of themselves. I became bored and started losing my confidence, my drive and became easily distracted by the stresses of life. Even my close friends stopped following my work...saying that it was just technically well done and pretty. I will never forget Tyra telling Robyn on the 1st season of Americas Next Top Model that "...pretty is boring."
Having a conversation with photographer Rick Day and talking about growing old and dying in front of the computer retouching boring ass shit, made me think about my life in NYC. I've made a lot of sacrafices to be here. I made a commitment to create art that means something to me. I didn't come here to create work that is boring and forgetable. I left that conversation and came home and rearranged my workspace. I needed to feel like I was in a new environment. I got a new computer (the old one broke and is still in the shop). I started reading all the wonderful books super agent Jason Kanner at Soul Artist Management has given me to help become re-inspired. I want to start back working with people who I trust and trust me that are ready to create images that go beyond their portfolios and content for their social media. I want to be taken out of my own comfort zone and do some epic shit.
I have made too many sacrifices to waste any more time on basic shit that makes us forgettable.
