Meet Ortie Rainford Jr.: Artist, Husband, and Father

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ortie Rainford Jr. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ortie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I think that taking a risk can put in the place or position that you want to be in and can put you in a place or position that you don’t want to be if you aren’t prepared for it. The role risk took place in my career is that I was able to be close to many of those that have motivated and inspired me in my art and also showed me a reflective perspective of myself that I thought I was. Not taking a risk will leave you stagnent in many cases. You will implode and self destruct if you don’t take that leap of faith off the edge. There was no fragment of my being “clout chasing” in my career. There are many that would combat that statement, but in the entirety of art in itself is for your art to be seen and to get your name out there in the world or universe. Risk. Art is all about risk whether the outcome is good or bad. I am new to being a parent. The most important thing that I’ve done as a parent that has had an impact to my children is to strive for what it is that you want to accomplish and that for you to finish what you start and to make genuine relationships with no alterior motives. Make sure your intentions are all of positivity and to never doubt yourself and never let anyone tell you different if you have it all materialized and written down to make an imprint on this earth. The most important factor to my success is my originality. I cannot lie that I was inspired by those around me, but I took a piece of myself like any other artist and embedded it into every piece that I created whether it was digital and canvas. I don’t think that I have reached success with my art aside from people knowing me. My journey as an artist has been a rollercoaster ride. There is no one path travelled for success, but to inspire is the main key. If I have inspired anyone, I feel that I’ve done my part. I’m not done for certain. I still have a lot more work to do to reach success. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets me apart from others is my uniqueness and abstract minded ability to tell a story through my art. What I am most proud about my art is the fact that I can say that God gave me the ability to be able to create these pieces and give a part of myself in every piece. The way I got to where I got today was by the help of God, Glayson Leroy, TeflonSean, and Moti with Casamondo Gallery, and Galera Collective. It was not an easy journey at all to say the least. I got help with therapy, embodying myself in my craft, and later getting myself reconnected spiritually to God, Lord Jesus Christ. The lessons that I’ve learned is to never doubt yourself, do not take a single thing in this art world personal, believe in yourself, and to create even when it hurts or you don’t want to because the world keeps spinning whether you are moving or not, so help the earth rotate. What I want the world to know about me is that I am human and that I am not in the slight extent of the word perfect. If I was perfect, my art wouldn’t come out looking so crazy and I would be more successful today. In the entirety of my story, I want the world to know that you can be whoever you want to be and to no limit yourself due to the opinions of the world because if you’re not criticized by anyone you’re not making the impact. Finally, in my story is apology for anyone hurt in my journey of me being an artist.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would say Wynwood, the RC Cola factory, trackside, and the Dungeon. Personally, I am very boring individual, so to be a tour guide would be quite experience for both me and my guest.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to God first because He has been there in midst of all my failing even when I wasn’t in my right mind and He has instilled in me the talent to be able to create. Secondly, I want to thank my wife and family for being in my corner and supporting me when things got rough and motivating me to recognize myself. Third, I would like to thank Glayson Leroy and Galera Collective. Without him, I don’t think I would’ve been able to have the opportunity to be on the platforms that I have been aside from instagram. He has helped me to evolve in my craft and mentored to get a grasp of self when I would get out of whack. Finally, I want to thank all those that have supported as a fan, as a friend, and as an associate because they have inspired me and motivated in so many facets in both both good and bad ways to create even in the struggle of self. I thank them the most.

Instagram: @ortie02