Meet Kendric Deleon | Visual Artist

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

Hi Kendric, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Well growing up, I always felt like I had a different sense of creativity but didn’t always know what art and being creative actually meant for me. I used to try to draw and paint in art classes and think it wasn’t for me because I was trash at it and I didn’t have many people in my life that would help me strengthen my creative eye and try different things as a kid. I used to struggle a lot with figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. I was always being told to go after the usual Doctor career, the Engineering career, the Computer career but I never felt drawn to any of that no matter how “successful” I could’ve been in any of those paths. It wasn’t until I figured out that whatever career I choose to go into, a career is something that you spend a majority of your life doing. We spend 40+ hours a week on what we call a career in this life. Why not go after something that you actually enjoy and doesn’t feel like something you have to drag yourself to day in and day out? I’ve always been inspired by different magazines, music videos, campaigns, etc. but I got fully into photography when I was 18. Why not think bigger and go after something you’re actually passionate about? I got into photography when I was 18 when one of my best friends wanted me to shoot a cover for his single using a digital camera I happened to have at the time and the photo came out horrible compared to my standards today but I spent time putting it together somehow and realized “this is cool. I actually love getting behind the camera”. All my boys thought the photos were super dope at the time and so it kinda gave me the fuel to be like well damn. This could be my thing. And then I quickly got into video and design and its been history ever since.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art has always been quality over quantity. Besides my style mixing vintage with the modern, I try to convey my own sense of luxury through what I put out. I don’t let any outside situations, people or social media algorithms dictate what I put out, how I put it out, and how often I create. I keep my personal work to a certain standard that’s very different to how I operate with clients and other people that need constant content to keep their pages alive. Content and art are 2 very different things in my world. Everything I do organic. I’m too passionate about my personal work to put up just any photo, design or video on my social pages and beyond. I think all that is what sets me apart. I just put out as good of a vibe as I can and try to make people feel something rather than trying to understand every little part of it. People getting inspired and feeling good energy around me and the art I put out is what I’m most proud of. If my loved ones and their peoples think some of the random projects I do are dope, that’s all that matters to me. The love is how we get to some real numbers out here.

Professionally, it was NOT easy to get to where I’m at. I’ve definitely have had to take some risks and bite many bullets to be able to get to some numbers. From having to make certain things for basically free, falling for the “exposure” tagline that broke people try to tell you, to feeling under appreciated to clients wanting the whole universe while only giving scraps. I’ve gone through what feels like majority of the downs every other creative has but, one thing I’ve always known is that it’s all just part of the journey. Not everything is gonna be sunshine and rainbows especially if you’re chasing something that not everybody got the balls and patience to go after. I’ve worked with some of the best & worst people in this journey but, in the end its only taught me more about life, artistry, and people as a whole. Every lesson is a blessing in disguise. If you got the right mindset to keep going and keep learning, you’ll be unstoppable. One lesson I learned early on is to always provide contracts and to make sure that whatever work you’re getting into, you got things thoroughly communicated. Anybody that feels some type of way about a contract being presented is a red flag, move on. Too much opportunity out in the world to be stressing bad business.

The world should just know we got good vibes on this side. My brand speaks for itself. If you’re a peaceful, free minded thinker, somebody that could appreciate something a bit different than what others are into, you’d be very much appreciated on this side. I make art for all the real players of the world

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Off top, I’m a very peaceful, simple type of dude that loves being by the water no matter what day of the week it is, so I’m probably taking you to the beach (not 7th Street South Beach though because it gets ratchet by there). The cool thing about Miami is that there’s always some cool places to eat and drink at. So to eat, first place that comes to mind is Kush. Don’t matter which location, all their spots are fire. To drink, we definitely got to hit up a rooftop bar. Probably Sugar in Brickell or the Cebada in Coral Gables. Something with a cool vibe you know? Also got to hit up Books & Books at Coral Gables too. Some knowledge with a glass of wine just hits different sometimes. To all the players trying to come up with date ideas for their woman, if she can’t mess with spending maybe an hour checking out books with you, move on king she might be allergic to using her brain. But At some point on that week long trip, we got to grab some bikes and ride through nature. Maybe chill by Virginia Key. Something slight.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Man I got too many great people in my life right now. I’d be here for hours naming everybody that’s not only helped me get to where I’m at but also been there for me in many different ways. Shoutout to all my loved ones. But the one who deserves the most credit is God. Without him none of this would be possible, I wouldn’t be alive talking to y’all, wouldn’t be surrounded by so many great people, opportunities, etc. if it wasn’t for God guiding me every step of the way. There’s no way I’d be living this life if I were to do it all on my own. I give all credit and praise to the most high. Papa Dios.

Website: kendricd.com

Instagram: @kendric.d_

Twitter: @kendricd_

Image Credits
@schamiir & @aranelvivarini