Christ has has two loves art and fashion, and he loves them equally
There are men who dress in the morning and men who get dressed in the morning. Chris is the latter. He doesn’t just express himself through his clothing. For the last 3 years he’s been painting, hosting art shows, and art trappin’.
Chris Drye, 28, is hosting his 20th art show on May 25th, has 3 models, a social media curator and that’s just the beginning of the empire this young black man is building. The traveling stylist is planning to do a mini tour 2018 to extend his See Drye brand.
Read more about Chris Drye in Episode 4 of People You Should Know.
1. What’s art trappin’?
Art Trappin’ started when I was painting a leather jacket for a guy named Khalil for him to perform in. I turned my living room into a art studio and they told me it was like a trap house. So I immediately said, “I’m ART Trappin’!” So we would have these kickback type socials in my living room. People would be painting, playing music … creating a vibe. So I’m literally making the art in my house, selling it, promoting it… I really started trappin’ “out the bando” so to say.
2. Do you paint only when you’re in the mood or even when you don’t want too?
I only paint when I’m in a creative zone. I can be in a zone for 2 months straight and paint very frequently and then not paint for 6 months. It’s weird. My “zone” comes from a random bit of inspiration; I never know when it will come. I try to be productive as possible when it does.
3. What’s the thing you know now that you wish you knew 10 years ago?
To follow your heart and chase what I want. So many times I missed opportunities because my friends weren’t there to be with me or let them dictate what I should do. Maybe I would be further along had I follow my heart 10yrs ago.
4. Your love for art is as strong as your love for fashion. Which one came first and how?
Wow great question. I would probably say my love for ART. As a kid we would draw Pokémon in my neighborhood and dragon ball z characters. Then I got into poetry, graphic design and now painting. Since I do love fashion equally, I had to incorporate it by painting on clothes. It’s hard for people to understand that I can’t give both of them my focus at the same time. They both require 100% of my attention. So if you see me posting more outfits, just know the art is taking the back seat and vice versa.
5. What is your favorite fashion season and why?
I love fall fashion. My favorite is menswear with the suits, so I love to layer and contrast colors that don’t relate to the autumn time of year. Fall still has cool air, winter is too cold and u can’t wear velvet or suede shoes. Summer is horrible, my style sucks in the summer and spring is decent. It’s still cool enough to wear certain heavier fabrics.
6. You’ve been styling high school seniors for prom for years now. Why is it important to do these types of things in the community?
Well I love to give back when I can. I don’t always have money to give, so I give knowledge and experience out. A lot of the young men look up to my style and do not know where to start. A lot of the parents are also clueless and picking the right thing to wear. I have to make sure they look chic and try my best to build their confidence while teaching them how to follow the process I set even when I’m not around.
7. You teach art to kids at schools. Why is it important to have art in the school system?
Yes I teach art classes through the YMCA. It’s very important to have art so the kids can have a variety of options. The kids don’t know some things are available, even if they know – they might not know it’s “cool.” Kids enjoy my classes, I enjoy the kids. I don’t even want them to necessarily be artist or even like art. I just want them to know it’s okay to follow your heart. I’m following my heart s d having fun. They can tap into something and do the same.
8. What do you love the most about being an artist?
Oddly, I don’t even consider myself an artist. I just consider myself, Christian Drye. Art is a vessel God uses to build me up in a disciplinary standpoint and I can impact people at the same time. Art causes me to be aware of my emotions and my moods. If I’m in a “zone” and I get mad, I won’t go home and paint. So essentially I’m wasting time because I don’t know when my zone will end. I have to control my emotions and center my mind- finding peace. A peaceful Chris Drye, in a good zone, is creative Chris Drye.
9. As an entrepreneur, how do you stay organized to schedule art shows, sell paintings and etc. and then turn to your creative side to make art?
That’s the hardest part! All of those things need 100% attention. I try to build my brand up to the point that it sells itself. When I paint, I post the work in its finished form and progressive shots. I allow the audience to be apart of my process. That causes them to want to see me at shows. The more people at your shows, the bigger the chance of you making money. But as far as scheduling shows, I only do what’s necessary or makes sense for my brand. I don’t want to be at every show, I don’t want to work or be around people. I want to do groundbreaking things. So as far as 2018, I only have two shows this year. In 2015, I did 11 shows. That was so stressful.
10. Where do you hope to be 5 years from now?
Five years from now, I will see myself with a studio and a gallery front to host my own events at will. I will also have a broader audience around the world and not just the country. I said “I will” instead of “I hope” because I have to speak it into existence at all times.
