Meet Todd Covington | Creative & Healer

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

Hi Todd, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
The imperfections and flaws that arise in my creative process play(s) a crucial role in showcasing the essence of my artistic technique. Ice dyeing, despite being categorized as a form of tie-dyeing, allows me the unique and distinct opportunity to embrace the unpredictability and inherent flaws inherent in the process. These imperfections serve as powerful elements that exemplify the beauty and depth of this art form, and the humanity that can be shared through vision and thought.

These imperfections are reminders of trial and error, and allow me to continue to embrace my creative process. This enhances the creativity of what I create by adding a touch of serendipity and surprise. I am able to transform a seemingly controlled process of thinking into a dynamic and spontaneous art form. The unexpected presence of color variations, blotches, or blending effects showcases the natural and organic nature of ice dyeing, capturing the moment, adapting to the unique characteristics of each dyeing session.

Furthermore, I am able to think beyond conventional aesthetics and embrace my experiences, my up’s/down’s, my life. Our lives are not linear or symmetrical, but they can be irregular to the “norm” and allows a space to carve a new lane. By accepting my imperfections, I free myself from the box of perfection and can explore different techniques and new possibilites. Every flaw becomes a creative challenge that push me to explore new methodologies, ask more questions and adapt my last approach, resulting in fresh interpretations and innovative outcomes.

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 ability to tap into the nostalgia of my upbringing and the places and spaces that I have been apart of. Being in the position of calling myself an “artist” is something I did not see coming, but I have to admit was always there. It took the pandemic and the freedom of time to get into a space where I was able to create without mental restriction. I was able to look past will it make money, is this a “career?” For the first time in my life I was truly embracing a space where I could spend time in my mind and see what I wanted to create in real time through ice dye, sneaker customization and upcycling. Without the pandemic I do not get to this place of creativity or thinking! It was easy to start making what I wanted to make through thrifting and donations, but continuing the day to day operations of “keeping the lights on” has been a challenge I did not see. At the start of being an artist it felt that everything flowed through the work and I was able to create in every moment with a fresh perspective, as time went on things change. Having to pivot from selling at markets and crushing it, to selling at markets and barely making even were a shock to the system that I would have to learn the business side more and be pliable to seek other areas of my creativity to continue to make a living from my talents and gifts.

I do not want to known for just one way of creating, I wanted this to be my entry point, my introduction.

This experience has taught me that I am more than art, I am a man that has layers of creativity and vision and each and every way I choose to share is a layer that I am peeling off that represents all my depth and goes beyond the superficial. When I create it starts a conversation. How did you do this? What were you thinking? What else do you do? What are you working on? This is what I want people to know!

I want people to be open to conversation. To think outside of the box what you see or think and go deeper. Learn more in communication, in seeing me the artist beyond the work, but as the work. I am thankful that people embrace the colors, the intention, the depth, and the size of some of the work(s) that I have created, yet I want to talk with people that meet the work and allow them to meet me, and in turn I get to meet them… where they are, how they are.

This meeting of the minds allows us to explore our experiences, our views, and share. That is what I want people to know about the brand. The brand is called “Somebody’s Gotta Dye,” yet Todd Alexander Covington is the artist. And the artist can start the conversation that opens into the chapters of my story and answers my why.

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?
The Los Angeles area offers a multitude of exciting options to explore. throught their time here in Cali I would immerse them in these experiences:

Morning(s): Start with breakfast at Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen on Hill Street in DTLA, known for its coffee and overall vibe and ability to remind me of being back in college.

Breakfast at Urth Café

Cafe5 for a Spanish Latté

Afternoon(s): Head to The Container Yard for graffiti, art and an amazing unique space that many folks do not get to see when vistiting LA.

Head to the Broad museum

Head to Hauser and Wirth to check out the current art installation and/or grab some food at Manuela.

Evening(s): Visit any one of several taco trucks that always have what you are looking for! See the lights

See the “Urban Light” at LACMA

Visit Santa Monica and head towards Venice beach

Koreatown for Bumsan organic milk bar

A trip to downtown Long Beach. Long Beach is a walkable city that I love!

Hotel ShangriLa for evening drinks.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to Shoutout the community of people that came before me. My mom Joy Covington. My Dad Roscoe Covington. My brother Mark Covington. My daughters Meagan Grant and Makaily Covington. My good friend Greg Bell, and last but not least Angela Niblett.

They deserve more than a little credit or recognition. They have held me, prayed for me, helped me, lifted me, encouraged me, inspired me, and reminded me of who I am, and what I have to offer. I cannot thank them enough for their efforts. It truly takes a community of people that believe in you to keep you on the days that everything is not perfect, to the days where a celebration is neccessary.

Instagram: @t0ddalexander