Interviewer: Anthony Andujar Jr
Interviewee: THEUNCREDIBLE
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| Self Portrait courtesy of theuncredible |
Hello and welcome to the Artist Ant Interviews People Summer Series! Welcome to another edition to my latest talks with local and global creatives that are alive, hustling and thriving in their respective crafts! Today I have a very special guest! Sometimes in life, the world is grand, and other times, your world can be a very small place, small to a point that one day, an artist that you meet through social media would eventually be revealed to not only know your cousin, but also discover that you are a cousin of one that they know! When I first got onto Instagram, I made my account sometime in the fall of 2013. I was a neophyte, I knew of social media since I had a Facebook and Deviant art, but I still didn’t understand nor know the social media kung fu that would help me navigate the vast digital landscape.
That is until I came across this individuals page, and followed him as he did the same to me. Every piece I uploaded he would offer sound advice, and suggestions. But what changed my life, and helped to develop my presence in the matrix was his advice and knowledge on a little thing known as Hashtags. At the time, I was 19 or 20, thinking that hashtags were just some useless thing, something that people put for trendiness, but didn’t truly grasp its usefulness as a tool to share, and find information. Since then I’ve managed to develop good relationships and encounter many creatives through the use of hashtags. But I would have never known that had it not been for this guy.
This creative entrepreneur is an artist through and through, always creating work that is thought provoking, that challenges you to consider whether or not the very beliefs that you hold are always right, and that ethical, societal and moral situations that society brushes off, can never truly be ignored, even in the guise of entertainment. Subliminal messages are all around us, and if you need to find a channel or a voice to open that door for ya, and provide logos for you at reasonable costs, then look no further. Ladies and Agents of the space ways of the digital realm, please welcome the internet legend, Israel Ramirez AKA THE UNCREDIBLE!!!
Q0. Who are your inspirations?
IR: As a kid, most of my inspiration came from Marvel Comics artists and Cartoonists from MAD Magazine.
Q1. How did you get into art, most notably designing logos?
IR: As most artists would tell you, we believe we were born with the gift. I was away from any type of creativity for a very long time as I was pursuing sports. It wasn’t till about 2012, when I saw a friend do dope art and post it on instagram. I knew I was as skilled, if not better, so I started doing it too and it was well received. I started dabbling with logos and saw a lucrative side hustle and here I am. Still, I’m not where I'd want to be because of my actual job but nonetheless, I’m making my rounds and prepping for my next life as an artist full time once I'm done with my commitment to the NYPD. I have been a police officer for 17 years now.
Q2. When did you take art seriously?
IR: I took it seriously when people started giving me money haha.
Q2.1. A few years ago, you made a drawing of a conscious chimp that floated around Instagram and other social media. But at the time, someone took your image without crediting you and created numerous memes from it. Is that what influenced you to change your previous Instagram name to The Uncredible? What was that like seeing your work having that type of access, and not receiving the credit at that time?
IR: I honestly thought that was cool. The fact that my work was not credited to me was totally my fault as I did not watermark the piece. The memes that were subsequently created was actually made by me once I saw that the sketch was well received. Those were watermarked needless to say haha. It was shared over 1 million times in various social media sites. I do feel that had it been watermarked it would not have been posted by the original person as I believe people hate giving credit where it is due.
Q2.2. In regards to your work, what has changed since 2015? What have you learned since then?
IR: I have learned how lazy I am. Usually seeing how consistent you are is a reminder haha. I have sorta stayed in the logo lane mostly because portraits and caricatures take more out of me for less compensation.
Q2.3. There was a moment in time that I could recall where your previous Instagram pages used to have blue check mark numbers in regards to following. Yet you would build and delete the pages. Even after all that, you still maintain a presence on social media, How is that?
IR: My first instagram was a regular page. As I posted old caricatures from early 2000’s I changed my page into an art page and called it int3llig3ntd3sign. I honestly could not tell you when I became theuncredible. As for presence, I would not necessarily say I have one other than a select bunch of faithful supporters that have been with me the entire ride.
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| Art by theuncredible |
2.4. What influenced your decision when marketing your page? Did it affect your work?
IR: I initially started posting deep art with meaning. Something I intend to return to soon. My work was affected once I sorta went away from what gave me my identity. My art coupled with good captions that provoke thought and conversation is what gave me the advantage.
Q2.5. When producing content, how do you approach protecting your work? What should other artists take away from your experiences as a content creator?
IR: Most of what we do will be taken anyway. The only thing I protect is and will be anything I plan on creating and making merch with for my online shop.
Q2.6. From your body of work, what was the most difficult piece to create and why?
IR: Honestly, I operate on time, not necessarily difficulty. All I have produced was to me, easy. The hardest part is the hours that went in to each piece as some were more involved than others.
Q2.7. Your art has never showed away from societal and political topics. How do you approach your thought provoking work without sacrificing the integrity of it?
IR: I pick my topics. They range from trendy to safe yet touchy topics where the forum won't be an all out civil war. I believe that as a content creators we also have a responsibility to moderate and control the flow of our posts. Never letting anything go into complete disarray. That's why engagement is necessary, discourse and clarification. I usually don’t have to do much of it cause I am very thorough in my captions.
Q2.8. What projects so you have currently? And how have they impacted you approach to creating new content?
IR: Right now I am just dealing with logos for people that have commissioned me.
Q2.9. Which piece of work was the most fun to create?
IR: The vain lady with the likes laying on her bed. The message was one that needed to be conveyed. Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
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| Art courtesy of theuncredible |
Q3. What drives you in your daily life?
IR: All the crazy goals in my head. I want to accomplish a lot.
Q4. What made you the person that you are today?
IR: Lessons, my children, and a well rounded upbringing with lots of experiences.
Q5. If you could speak to any living creator or inspiration, who would it be, why, and what would talk to them about?
IR: I am not into the “I have a hero” thing but if I had to choose, I would sit and talk with Todd McFarlane. I love his story. I saw an interview with him on youtube and was blown away. I know what I need to do so I won’t ask much. Business wise is where I'd pick his brain mostly.
Q6. If there were any deceased creators , actors, singers, writers, etc that you would want to speak to, who would it be, and why?
IR: Bruce Lee, and Steve Jobs. I love Lee’s swag and Job’s no nonsense approach. I won’t be an asshole though haha. I would like to gauge Job’s insatiable need to be perfect and effective.
Q7. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
IR: The bottom of the deepest parts of our unexplored oceans. I’m intrigued by the unknown.
Q8. What is one thing that you fear?
IR: Dying unaccomplished in my soul. I am a good father, friend, son, sibling and many other things. One would say I am very accomplished. Those things however are expected from people who are decent and have morals. It is the things I envision and desire for me as personal goals. These things I cannot go without.
Q9. If you had a superpower what would it be and why?
IR: Damn. I have always wanted to fly. It’s hard to choose. I like reading minds too but that will be tormenting. I would want to fly and go anywhere.
Q10. What catches your attention when you meet people?
IR: Too many things at once. Nothing is better than a great flowing conversation. I pick up on quite a lot. Eyes, body language, micro expressions. I like people that can pick up on cues. I like initial meetings short. If you hear me say something like, ‘ugh I worked all day and cannot wait to get home’, I expect the next words to be, ‘go get rest’, not ‘how about those knicks’.
Q11. What is one word of advice that you would impart to your younger self?
IR: Always be loyal to your friends.
Q12. What are three books that you always remember or return to, and why? How did they shape you?
IR: The Bible, The 48 Laws of Power and The Alchemist. These books are just so powerful. Relatable.
Q13. If you could continue or remake a movie, or franchise, what would be your film of choice ?
IR: The movie Willow will get a remake. Same story just modern day movie magic. I would redo the last two seasons of Game of Thrones. I would also like an opportunity to tell Netflix that they fucked up when they dropped Daredevil and The Punisher.
Q14. If you were to make a film, novel, or comic book based on an album, what album or artist would you pick?
IR: I am song type of guy. not an entire albums guy.
Q15. Who In this life, has motivated you to stay true to what makes you who are?
IR: ME.
Q16. Where do you hope to see yourself in five years?
IR: Transitioning from an online shop to actual print shop/storefront and art gallery owner.
Q17. What are three albums or songs currently, that you listen to on repeat? And why?
IR: Too many. Wide range too. I listen to all genres even new age. One day I will go from Enya to Metallica to Enigma to the artists my daughter likes now.
Q18. What color speaks to you the most and why?
IR: I like blue. Royal blue. Something refreshing about it.
Q19: What is your greatest weakness?
IR: Fucking procrastination. I procrastinated writing that.
Q20. What is your greatest strength?
IR: Doing shit last minute haha. Clamping down and performing under duress.
Q21.What's one thing that you're proud of?
IR: My ideas. I have soooo many. I have sat on some long enough to see them realized by another. Even then I know that at least it worked.
Q22. What is a mantra that you tell yourself?
IR: I am blessed and highly favored.
Q23. What is success to you?
IR: Health, financial freedom, healthy love.
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| Art by theuncredible |
Hey! If you want to have a logo design, or want to commission a logo artist, this guy is it!
You can follow his work on Instagram. Write to him and he will respond in due time. Support and share his work!:
https://www.instagram.com/theuncredible/?hl=en
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