Meet Corey Pane | Artist

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

Hi Corey, what’s your definition for success?
I define success by doing what you like and doing the things that feel important to you. No matter what anybody else says or thinks. It’s not just about making money or having fame or anything. For some people those things are more important, but even still, if those things come to you by you just simply doing what you like and what feels natural to you and it makes you happy and your soul feels fulfilled, that is the real success. Not everything else that might come along with it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As an artist I feel like you set yourself apart by just being yourself and following your own path. It’s good to be inspired by other things and pull from them and then put it to yourself in a way that makes sense to make it your own.
But it really is that simple, just be yourself, have your own swag and know what you like.
Getting to where you are is never easy, there are always challenges you will be faced with. It’s about how you conquer them and the creative problem solving you use to navigate through those challenges. If you put yourself in a lot of different situations, especially when you are young and have time to grow, you will learn so much just by going through them. I think failure is the best learning tool. And sometimes your failure might be a success to someone else, but you have something bigger in mind. That is a good mindset to be in, never be complacent. I got to the place I am today by simply doing what I like and what seems interesting to me at the moment and trying to be a good person. Sometimes you can learn lessons from what you’ve done or how you could have done it better. But sometimes it’s just part of your story and you move past those things. I like to think of my life as an artist as a story, not a brand.
I don’t consider my art or what a put out as a brand or even a business. For me art is just life. It’s like a movie being written or a journal entry. Each day could be different, just do what feels right to you.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I know this is Shoutout LA but I’m actually not from LA. I’m from Hartford, Connecticut. So I don’t know too many places in LA. But I love exploring places I don’t know and sometimes finding little hidden gems. Whether it’s a food place or a pretty nature spot. No matter where you are, the real fun and excitement comes from enjoying the experience with your friend. Most of the time I would rather go to a simple place that has no special attraction or hang out in a park and interact with people and create our own adventure along the way and try something new.

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?
Love and encouragement goes a long way in supporting someone especially when it’s a creative person. For me, growing up my mom has always been that person encouraging me and supporting me to create my art. She always supported me and my brothers to do our own thing, even though we are all different. It really helps when you are a young artist just trying to figure out what you want to do. Especially when a lot of other people don’t fully believe in you or art in general. Finding people that believe in you is key.
Once I met my wife she is the person that truly inspires me and pushes and supports me in every way to allow me to be the greatest version of myself. We have a true love and the best kind of relationship as well as creative relationship. Family is big for me and my wife and our baby girl and the love we have for each other is the biggest inspiration for me. We bounce ideas back and forth and talk about everything and help each other truly grow. I truly believe life is not worth living without love. That is what gives someone success, doing what you love and feeling real love back. As an artist, knowing your references and following the path of what you like, not what you think others might like or just following the seemingly easier path. Just follow your heart, listen to what your gut is telling you and do it your own way.

Website: https://www.coreypane.com

Instagram: @coreypaneart