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

Hi Arthur, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?

The pursuance of an artistic and creative career is a helluva endeavor. All at once intrepid and scary when you hear stories from friends, family and associates intent to deter you with their half-thought out imaginings, and stereotypical pitfalls of the starving artist. That wasn’t something that factored in my decision to devote my life to the arts. I decided when I was five years old on my path. That little bright eyed boy resolved that he would become a great artist and make the world smile. You usually pursue anything out of mild or wild curiosity, fascination and that fleeting sense of gratification that comes with every completion of a work or the energetic reactions to something you’ve created out of nothing.

Growing up in Foster care, I know for sure there was a sense of over-compensation. In that situation your self esteem is always in flux, and many times I remember my art being an outward projection of “HEY! Look at me! I exist! I’m human! My art makes me special RIGHT??? HELP!!!!” I became voracious for the arts, with drawing being the gateway. Through my adolescence I would start to write and perform as well. As I got older, I saw that Art was an ever blooming circle helping the world turn with luminous vibrations. I discovered that being part of the world of artistry was a calling.

As an older person, as I devote myself to the arts, its my goal to remain humble while climbing on my journey to become a sharper artist. What I try to remember is that it’s not about me. As artists we have a lot to share, and not of time to do it. While we’re here we can hold a mirror up the world. We can inspire mirth and connect people with their ever evolving emotions. We can teach the youth, and help shape the fleeting future. So many possibilities with the swish of color.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

My business is creation and performance. After I got my degree in theater from Prairie View A&M University, I stormed back to Los Angeles with all my dreams in tow. The typical story of hard knocks ensued as I was making my way on film sets and odd jobs. Eventually a group of friends and I started a production company, which led to my first feature film I wrote and directed called “Cruel Will” which after six years of stops and starts came out in 2013.

I’ve been a professional Voice over artist for the past seven years. I play the character Jyubei on Yashahime: Princess Half demon on Hulu, and recently had a special guest credit on Solar Opposites on Hulu, I played one of my heroes Idris Elba in a very funny scene. I also teach and coach young actors and illustrators. I also consult. I’m a published illustrator and I’ve been performing at parties in Southern California for the last 15 years as an entertainer, puppeteer, pumpkin carver/sculptor, and caricature artist. There were cool milestones the last couple of years, I got to work on one of Stan Lee’s last animated projects called The Reflection, sharing a scene with him. Through an mobile art app called Creator Connect that I use for art gigs, Kanye and Kim Kardashian West now owns one of my paintings, and recently my daughter and I won awards at the Cobb film festival for our roles in the award winning short “Passage” Directed by Arron Kinser and written by me.

My jewel of a Daughter Daphne Chamille Thomas does voice over too, and is developing her artistries, she’s recently taken to sculpting, on screen acting and singing. I couldn’t be happier to watch her not deal with the things I had to. Check out her film shorts on youtube at Daphneville, we make them together.

I’ve been putting designs together Tommy Brunough at @Kneworkapparel on shirts and Jackets for Snoop Dogg and other artists. I also make my own designs at https://shop.spreadshirt.com/GeekFantastique/. Last year I was featured in “Bert Kreischer’s the Cabin” with Bert Kreischer, Donnel Rawlings and, Bobby Lee. I just started my new Youtube channel called Draw really AWESOME wow! It’s also on Instagram @Draw_really_awesome_wow. It’s a entertaining art tutorial channel. Nychol Lyna and my self co-wrote a children’s book and I did the illustrations, the book is called “Forgotten Baby”. The book is an exploration of a child’s journey through Foster care, it was quite the emotional ride developing it. You can see updates for our book series @forgottenbaby_series. My Daughter and I are featured on Kevin Hart’s new venture with Chase bank called “Hart of it all” and I’m excited for every new opportunity! On top of all of that, my new podcast that I co-host with my friend Thomas Olton who runs Rise of the Jack o’ lanterns launched,  its called Tales to Admonish. We dish about pop culture on our show and have a lot of fun doing it. You can listen on apple, stitcher, spotify, and youtube, and find updates @tales_to_admonish_podcast.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The places that I like to go to for fun are Griffith park for a great scenic hike. I love to go to Echo park and go on the boat rides over there. There are so many escape rooms to choose from around L.A. Two Bit Circus is one of the best arcades with killer karaoke in L.A. I love to get Thai and Chinese at Ochas, so good. If you like Art, you can peruse The Getty, LACMA, and MOMA. There’s a lot of great VR spots like the Void in Glendale, and of course Universal Studios is a great amusement park. Santa Monica pier is historical and so much fun as well. There’s so many hidden gems in LA, it’s so beautiful.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Michael Verner and Connie Rex worked in a transitional program for emancipated youth, and worked to help me as I transitioned to college. My best friends Michael Leon and Marco Reeder are both godfathers of my daughter and have provided brotherly love and mirth for years through all the tears. Marco’s parents Eva and James Reeder are monumental to me! Raven Matthews-Tyree RIP, my other mother, and Chris Matthews-Tyree, my other brother. My best Foster Mother, sister, and brothers RIP Elsie Mae Jordan (miss you grandma) , Ona, Charles Logan, Kevin Johnson, and RIP Jayzon Miller, who was claimed by covid, rest in power, young brother. My best friends Keoki Kekaula and Brandon Salvatierra helped me in a crucial point of my life that made all the difference in the world for me for my survival as a young adult. My friend’s who are more like family! John and Cinnamon Cooney who is famously the Art Sherpa on youtube! Edison S. Gray, Destine Thomas, Sekou Wilson, Dwight Scott, Dan Kerry, Cedrick Williams, Frances Ayala, Pam McKnight Stockland, Mark Dowell, and Jake Parker. My friends Daniel Schweiger, my film geek brother and Penka Kouneva, the most amazing film composer! Thomas Olton helped me on my unlikely journey to become a pumpkin carver! My cousins Blair and Frank Underwood, I love all of my Art teachers all through my school years, especially Linda Palumbo from my High school years, which I’ve maintained a relationship with to this very hour! I call her my Aunty. My blood sisters Twighla Thomas, and April Cotton, what has to be said, they are my heart and soul! My Aunt Yvette Critten who let me know I wasn’t the only crazy artist in my bloodline. And Leonard Joseph, my broadway brother who is a constant inspiration, and my lion king brother!!!!

Website: www.arthurromeo.live

Instagram: @dreamboat82, @Draw_really_awesome_Wow, @kneworkapparel

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/arthur-romeo-0a647356

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpSZKRXdSMVU3VCp4y459dQ

Other: https://hartofitall.chase.com/dad-bod.htm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0bxFPc7re4 https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Baby-Nychol-Lyna/dp/1648015077 https://www.amazon.com/Cruel-Will-Arron-Kinser/dp/B00KADDTHS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=cruel+will&qid=1618939069&s=movies-tv&sr=1-1 https://shop.spreadshirt.com/GeekFantastique/men?q=D1&page=1

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