ILLESTHETIC MAGAZINE, LLC
JORDAN POPE COV ER PHOTO P ROVIDED BY JORDAN POPE MEET THE VIRGINIA-BASED PHOTOGRAPHER FROM
FEATURING JAMEL WALKER,
NEW YORK AND LEARN ABOUT WHAT INSPIRES HIM
MARK WILSON,
AS AN ARTIST IN THE DMV
K I R YA N A N E W T O N , LASHELLE TYLER, & SYDNEY SKIDMORE
FROM ARTICLES TO INTERVIEWS we're taking a break from the magazine to do a podcast series
NEW LOOK. NEW ARTISTS. NEW STORIES.
...COMING SOON
JAN 2020
VOL 11
1
table of contents...
sydney skidmore kiryana newton jordan pope lashelle tyler mark wilson jamel walker
5 7 9 11 13 15
All photos in this magazine were either taken by our team or provided by the artist.
2
letter from the editor
This is the eleventh volume of ILLESTHETIC Magazine
(pronounced ill-aesthetic), founded by page editor and art director, Calah Jones. The first volume of this magazine was published in April of 2017. We started the magazine with the intention to give young
writers and journalists an opportunity to write for their own magazine
and to feature local visual artists. With our success, we have been able to feature several visual artists in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia,
where we are based. Visual artists include, but are not limited to, sculptors, graphic designers, painters, photographers, illustrators, culinary
artists,
fashion
designers,
tattoo
artists,
and
more.
In in an upcoming series, we are taking a break from the magazine
to start video podcasts of the personal interviews we have with the
artists! Each month will be a new artist that we feature and they'll have their own photoshoot with our team. Videos will be uploaded on YouTube, and will also be up on our website. Visual arts are often
overlooked and unappreciated. Knowing this, ILLESTHETIC's goal is to help change this perspective and give visual artists the audience
they may not have had before. All of the magazines and future videos
can be read and viewed on our website at www.illestheticmag.com.
written by calah jones
3
444
Photos of artist Sydney Skidmore taken by Wanyeh Hill
Twenty-eight year old artist Sydney Skidmore is originally from the west coast but
currently resides in Virginia. “I’m originally from southern California,” Skidmore explained,
“Lancaster to be specific, but I’ve been living in Richmond, Virginia for the last five years.” Skidmore’s talents came to her unexpectedly. She always wanted to be able to draw and do script
but has never considered herself “good” at it. One of her friends suggested that she try a new way to create, which ultimately encouraged Skidmore to make collage artwork. “I wasn’t really
sure what I wanted to make but I knew I wanted it to be political. I was feeling really emotionally hijacked about U.S. politics overall, plus the Brett Kavanaugh trial was going on and I was watching Handmaid's Tale,” she laughed. “I guess all the influences got to me because one day
I just had the idea and ran with it and it happened to turn out way better than I thought it would.” Even
though
she
always
saw
herself
as
a
creative,
Skidmore
wasn’t
exactly
sure
where she’d find herself in the art world. Writing is also another avenue she has always
been passionate about. She is big on writing and blogging and I also really enjoys being a radio/podcast host. Skidmore is working to be more involved in activism. “With my strong political opinions, I feel like this is only a fraction of the impact I can help make,” she expressed. Although she has only been making visual art since she was twenty-
seven, she has always been interested in art. Her bedroom is covered in posters, pictures, prints, cards, and more, similar to her own collages. “I didn’t really know what my role in
art would ever be. I am however, real nice with the expo knife. Who would have thought?”
5
Skidmore pretty much learned her collage making skills by just going straight into it. She has a lot of friends who are artists, as well, so they were helpful in regards to getting her what she
needed. Once she had a concept, she bought the supplies and just got to work. “I wish I’d
have done some research first, though, because sealing collages is a pain and I could have saved myself some time by doing it correct initially.” Even with taking action and jumping into
something unknown to her, she still manages to create controversial and aesthetic pieces of
work that she describes as “dystopian.” “I think people are genuinely shocked, uncomfortable and intrigued all the same when they see my work,” she explained. “My work is taboo, its political
and its unapologetic and that resonates loudly with some people and quite the opposite with the others.” Art is a career for Skidmore. She expressed that she’s not that interested in a life where she isn’t fully utilizing her creative abilities. When asked who her biggest inspiration was, she said her friends. “I have such a talented circle,” Skidmore said. “It’s essentially impossible
not to be inspired when you’re hanging out with so many versatile and unique creatives.” She
is also massively inspired by American actress, writer, director, and producer Lena Dunham.
“Tiny Furniture and Girls are raw and relatable and everything I aspire to be/create. It’s dope to see women defying societal standards in such a disruptive and unapologetic way. I’m trying to be like Donald Glover, Issa Rae and my previously mentioned fave, Lena Dunham,” she
continued, “I want to write and dabble in making different types of content, but I think mainly I see myself in TV. Not acting but writing. I see myself making art, as well, but that will always
and forever be my unwavering form of self-expression, so I don’t like to picture it as work.” Even when she’s not actively making a new piece of art, she’ll be cutting out stuff for when she is. Skidmore has piles of magazines and newspapers with folders on folders of cut outs mixed
together. This way, whenever she is ready to create, she has a ideas to work with. “Plus, I find
cutting stuff out to be relaxing so it’s a good way to decompress while still being productive.” Because Skidmore’s collages are so bold, she explains that it’s been frustrating trying to get
her work out there, largely because of how explicit it is. Social media, which happens to be the largest marketing tool around nowadays, has gotten a lot more sensitive about what people
can post online. Skidmore’s advice to any artists that may be struggling with finding their art
identity or what they’re most passionate about is to just stay true to yourself and your vision.
“Being a creative takes thick skin and a lot of confidence in your skill.” She illuminated the fact that even the most talented people don’t always get the results they want or deserve upfront. “It takes time.” Maintaining the mindset of “I know what I bring to the table and I know my
worth” is imperative to succeeding and being happy in your craft, Skidmore expressed. “The point of art, in my opinion, is to challenge your viewers and if I’m not making something that
does that, if I'm not making something that makes you feel, then I don’t want to create at all.”
written by calah jones
66
Kiryana “Art Brute” Newton is a twenty-one-year-old native of Hampton, Virginia.
She is a self-taught Japanese style artist whose art is typically aimed towards older anime
fans. “Art Brute” is the art alias created by the young artist in order to represent her aggressiveness creativity. When choosing her name, she wanted to choose something more masculine rather than a typical feminine name like most female artists. Newton studied and
acquired her unique style of anime by binge watching anime series and reading mangas for 16 years. In her beginning stages as an artist, finding her art style was a bit challenging.
However, she now describes her art as Modern day Van Gogh. Her goal is to make her art feel and look realistic, while representing dark themes that apply to the real world. In order
to portray that, she targets street wear and everyday life with unhappy characters; using
copic markers, prisma colored pencils, and dark watercolors. Typically, the amount of time
that Newton spends creating her art takes anywhere from fifteen minutes to three weeks. Currently, Newton is only locally within the Hampton Roads, Virginia and Richmond, Virginia areas with her art; but soon plans on traveling as far as her art can take her which includes
going international. She gains her motivation and inspiration from WillsFortune, her lover. “He’s an inspiration to me because he inspires me to create every day and to keep going
harder. Just seeing him work and invest in his dreams pushes me to keep going. That is why
he is my inspiration”, says Newton. She also often listens to Japanese songs from anime openings, instruments, or sometimes rock in order to get her imagination flowing again when she is feeling a little unmotivated or discouraged. Newton’s past struggles with her insecurities created major setbacks in her art career.
She used to rely on external measurements for
her sense of self-worth. She compared her status on various things such as her car, house, clothing, personal appearance, titles, friends/associates, income, and the size of her business to those of others around her. Newton was discouraged by where she was in her art career
versus where she wanted to be and how much time it was taking. However, through a lot of self-evaluations, “…none of those things is a true measurement of my value as a person”, she explained. She has known many people with a lot of money, advanced degrees, and other
outward signs of “success” who are very unhappy and insecure within themselves. Therefore, Newton noted that through her self-evaluations, she realized that self-worth comes from three
things: knowing who you are by being confident in your gifts and your purpose, knowing who loves you by being confident in the unconditional love of those closest to you, and knowing
whose child you are by being confident in your eternal standing as a beloved child of God. Outside of being an artist, Newton’s hobbies include writing fantasy novels and doing character
developments for series. She has also created MUSE, a group for young black artists and
creatives to network, uplift, plan meetings, and fundraisers to give back to the community. Newton is also looking forward to releasing her clothing line, Brutal4, in 2020. The line will
consist of anime streetwear featuring her drawings and designs on the back of the apparel. The biggest lesson Newton has learned as an artist is “Don’t create for others, create for
yourself. Once it starts being about the money, it will start to feel more like a job rather than a passion”, she says. Therefore, when asked what advice she would give to her younger self,
Newton responded with, “Create. Not for the money. Not for the fame... but every minute, every second and if possible, every MOMENT.” Being able to put herself out there in order to create a name for herself has been the biggest accomplishment Newton has achieved thus far. The young artist has gone from only showcasing her art at performances to attending actual
art shows and is now currently preparing for her first solo art exhibition in March 2020. In about two years, Newton plans on quitting her current job and becoming her own boss! Her overall goal is to develop a successful business in the fashion/art industry where she can
live based solely off the income driven from it. She also plans on having her anime featured in museums around Japan.
To a beginning artist, Newton encourages you to, “Never, ever
compare yourself to another artist and never compare you work to someone else’s. Your work is unique to you and no one else can create it like you so be very proud of it!” As said
by Pablo Picasso, Newton believes that, “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.”
written by jasmine styles
7
Photos of artist Kiryana Newton taken by Jade Brown
8
9
Self portrait photo taken by artist, Jordan Pope
"Wet" series photo taken by artist, Jordan Pope
Originally from The Bronx, New York, Jordan Pope now resides in
Virginia Beach, Virginia as a self-taught professional photographer. He first
picked up the camera when he was eighteen years old. The now twenty-one year old artist has found his passion and a true skill in the world of photography.
Pope’s photographic style is distinctive because of how colorful and flamboyant
they are. Some of the young photographer ’s photoshoots capture different textures and forms in ways that appeal to the human eye in more ways than one. One of his most popular series of work received a lot of recognition and love
on social media, was a series he titled ‘Wet’. “That series hit 117k likes and about 20k retweets on Twitter, but honestly my proudest moment was how I handled myself humbly afterwards and kept creating instead of trying to raise
the bar,” he expressed. Another series of work the artist received a lot of recognition for was a multicolored set of photographs all using the same model
and background, still making the images look like entirely different pieces.
His use of angles and keen editing skills has made his artwork stand out. Pope’s friends and family have been his biggest inspiration. “Ant, Ni, and
Joe have been my top three inspirations and motivations to keep going
outside of my blood family,” the artist explained. “Those are my main guys. They push me to keep going even times I wanted to stop. Other inspirations I have are photographers I know. So many and all of their work is amazing.” Ultimately, Pope sees himself having shoots with celebrities for magazines and brands and for his work to be shown all over the world. When asked
about advice he would give to his younger self with the knowledge he has
now, his response was “a lot of people are going to love to hate you and hate to love you. Just stay true to yourself and they’ll have no choice but
to respect you.” Pope advices other artists to stay true to their craft and create for you and only you. He describes his art as a reflection of himself. Pope wants people to feel amazed and shocked when they see the kind of work he can create. His biggest goal in his craft right now is to make
enough money to actually create full-time and travel out of the country. “I want my work to have an everlasting impact I want to never be forgotten.”
written by calah jones 10
Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, LaShelle Tyler is a twenty-one-year-old fashion
stylist with a lot of ambition. Currently residing in Hampton Roads, Virginia, she creates original looks for personal, editorial, and wardrobe styling with the hopes of people being
able to see her vision and imagination without prosing any questions. “Every look I create is a
statement; it stands out and it has a purpose”, she says. Currently double majoring in Fashion Merchandising and Psychology at Old Dominion University, Tyler had no idea this would be
her career path. When people would ask her what she liked to do, her simple response would
be “I like to shop”. Even after telling her high school math teacher the same response and him suggesting a styling career…she still never thought she would have pursued it. It was not until
her cousin Zeke, a co-owner of the brand Sky Welkin, gave her that extra push that she went for
it. Zeke is a huge inspiration for the young stylist and is partly the reason why she is pursuing the art of styling as a career and now charging for her services. Zeke gave Tyler her first styling opportunity, styling a photoshoot for his brand, Sky Welkin. From Zeke is where Tyler incorporated the phrase “Build as You Grow”, which is his brand’s slogan and that is exactly what she is doing… building as she grows. Tyler ’s Uncle Brian is another huge inspiration for
the young stylist. From him is where she incorporated the phrase “Style with No Ambition, is Style Never Respected”, which has now become her slogan. She simply flipped something
similar that he said around a bit after it caught her attention and created her own thing. The magic that is created the day of Tyler ’s photoshoots is not always as glamourous as it may
seem. The behind the scenes process tends to get a bit hectic at times. A typical start to finish for the young stylist begins with her creating a mood board for her to vision the vibe that she
is going for. She then scouts locations, models, photographers, and potential apparel pieces.
Once she has created a vision for the looks, she then hosts quick fittings with the models. Tyler is able quickly create outfits in her mind just from looking at a few apparel pieces that she
likes. Then, the day of the shoot…magic is created! Despite being a full-time student, working part-time, and the responsibilities of being a stylist, Tyler still dedicates time to reading and
meditating. “I love to meditate and read. I feel it is really important to cater to yourself and educate yourself on manifestation”, she says. Tyler explains how she is constantly in and out of
the house, always on the go, so when she is home, she likes to sage her room and takes that time to meditate. She reads a lot of spiritual and self-help books. Tyler sets asides time each night investing in herself and furthering her career as a stylist. “It’s on my mind all day, so at
the end of the day, I’m at my desk planning”, she says. At times when Tyler feels discouraged or unmotivated, she simply turns to her relationship with God and meditation to help regain
motivation and drive. “Although I am taking fashion classes, I am where I am now because of the time I put aside for doing research and teaching myself the styling game”, she explains.
11
Photo of artist LaShelle Tyler styling her models, taken by Jade Brown
Photo of artist LaShelle Tyler with her models, taken by Jade Brown
Originally nonchalant and introverted, Tyler has learned that as an artist you must put yourself out there for people to know who you are and what you are all about. An accomplishment in her journey thus far has been breaking from her introverted shell and becoming more confident in herself and her work. Tyler
believes that being her own worst critic has been the most challenging for her. Tyler says, “I feel that I go too hard on myself, where I would second-guess my creativity, but I can say, this is something I’ve been working on.” In the next few years, Tyler ’s goal as a stylist is to have her own agency where she will include
a variety of different stylists, photographers, and models. She would like for her agency to compete with other well-known agencies such as Ford Models. Tyler ’s goal is to become a boss stylist that well-known celebrities want to book and work with. She has challenged herself to push herself by any means to get
closer and closer to her goal. No matter the circumstances that may come her way, she knows that she will always have to just bounce back and continue moving forward. Throughout her journey as a stylist thus far, Tyler has learned to never take anything personal. If she could go back in time and talk to her younger self,
Tyler says she would say, “Trust your gut, have confidence in yourself, and do not worry about what others
are going to think. At the end of the day, it is about self-love and doing what you need to do to reach your purpose in life.” To a beginning stylist, Tyler advises, “Stay consistent. It’s important to stay consistent with what you want to do, because there are other stylists out here who is hungry for the spot you want!”
written by jasmine styles
12
Photos of artist Mark Wilson taken by Jade Brown
Mark Wilson is a visual artist, painter, and designer from Hampton,
Virginia who locates himself to New York and back. He first picked up his craft when he was living in Arizona and started working with kids. Working with kids made
him feel a new sense of joy and exploration in art. “I was a behavioral therapist
which allowed access to free supplies at resource centers,” Wilson explained, “I
bounced my ideas off of the children and their raw interpretation of art.” Wilson
always knew that he wanted to be a creator. “It was the year before I attempted to launch a thrift brand. It has always been in me to create something,” he said. Wilson is a self-taught artist. All of his skills and techniques are something he’s
gained through the process of painting. Wilson describes his art as “traumatic,”
but his artwork is bold, lively, and in your face. His work is abstracted, sometimes with mixed media. His pieces also range in a variety of sizes from four-foot canvases to a design on his clothing. When people see his work,
Wilson wants them to realize that anything can exist in the most literal form. Some of Wilson’s inspiration is from music. “I would consider myself a big creator junkie,” he said. “I love music and have an Apple Music account
with over 70 playlists. I love to paint the picture with the cover art, titles, description, and songs. I love interior design and the world that can be
built within homes. Anything that I can control and manipulate as a creative brings me joy. Also, I want to shoot a short film one of these days.” His his
our
biggest
parents.
family
approach
is
my
inspiration “The
for
strength
everything.
paintings
It
and
following
and
inspires all
of
his
resilience the
my
path,
fight
that in
creative
though,
they
me.
use
be
to
lead
Wilson
said.
Which
energy,”
would I
use
to
When it comes to the artist’s craft, he receives tons of outside help. “My mom and dad opened their home for me to work,” he explained.
“They have been my backbone the whole journey. The friends that I have are incredible, also. Everything I have literally done is connected to a
friend helping. I have been very blessed and grateful for the support.” Wilson’s biggest goal is to share with the world that “we are all capable of doing whatever” and that “we all have the same power”. He plans to gain that platform and share that message.
“We are all God's children, and we are all
divine,” he said. “I want to rip a whole in everything with my ability to create.”
written by calah jones 13
14
Jamel Walker is his full name, but he’s more comfortable with his creative tag
“MEL” which is an acronym for Motivate, Excel, and Lead. Walker a.k.a. MEL is a twentyfour-year-old visual artist currently living in and from Richmond, Virginia. His style of art is drawing, painting, and designing. MEL was first introduced to art at the age of four
where
he
attended
J.L.
Francis
elementary
school
for
preschool.
Ms.
Winston,
who was his art teacher at that time, showed him the in’s and out’s on how to be an
artist. “The year after, I switched schools and attended J.B. Fisher elementary and, ironically, she became my art teacher for another three to four years,” MEL explained. As a kid, MEL always knew he liked art, but it never crossed his mind that it could possibly become
a career. Over time, art became sort of a hobby. “I’ve had interest in playing sports, but I realized that wasn’t the wave for me,” he explained. Growing up, he was a huge fan of rappers Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne, and Pharrell Williams. He would sketch to a lot of their music during class and his
classmates would surround my desk in awe at his creations. “Their music was pure motivation for
me at the time. I remember being fans of different album covers, that presented actual artwork,” MEL continued. “My sophomore year in high school is when Kanye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted
Fantasy had released. The fascination I had for the cover art was unexplainable. Everything that
circulated around that album gave me a spark to become an artist.” MEL also expressed that Kanye, as an idol, has always inspired him because “he shows that there’s no limitations in art.”
Some of MEL’s proudest moments have been meeting different kinds of people simply off the
strength of his work. “Sometimes this lifestyle can be frustrating due being side tracked, but it’s important that you maintain yourself.” He sees himself becoming a bigger and better artist as
time goes on and his advice for innovative and emerging artists like himself is to stay consistent and continue working on your craft. “Never let anyone discourage the foundation you’re trying
to build.” MEL’s goals are to eventually surround himself with people like the celebrities he
idolizes such as Kanye West, Travis Scott, A$AP Rocky, Tyler the Creator, Murakami, and more. He expressed that he wants to create and design with these individuals somewhere in
the future. “My work is limitless. I have no ceilings when it comes to creating,” MEL said. “It’s all about working hard and staying true to yourself, and I believe I can fall into that position.”
written by maurice mccoy
15
Photos of artist Jamel Walker taken by Maurice McCoy
16
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