Meet COSE TDS | Graffiti Artist

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

Hi COSE, we’d love to hear about a book that’s had an impact on you.
“Think and grow rich “ by Napoleon’ Hill

One of the most profound points that totally resonated with me was when Napoleon Hill describes his “begin with the end in mind “ perspective . As soon as I took this approach that he described, as far as beginning with the end in mind was concerned, it had such impact on me that I still live my life by beginning with the end in mind 🙏🏼

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am actually a Graffiti artist that was vandalizing NYC Transit back in the early 1980s , I actually fell in love with art long before I began writing graffiti on trains, my dad was my first influence in Art when he gave me my very first sketchbook when I was 8 years of age, I vandalized NYC Transit so much that I was eventually arrested in 1983 at the age of 16 by the vandal squad detectives “Hicky and Ski “ and put on the Daily News as one of the most prolific Graffiti artists that year (1983) l went to prison the next year and did 4 years , however, I continued being creative while incarcerated. When I was finally released I totally began selling and consuming substances, that lasted for many years, finally in 2016 l decided that I did not want to continue to hurt myself and my loved ones, I went into rehab, finished that and went to school, became a substance abuse counselor, however I had already begun creating Artwork on Canvas , when the pandemic began l stop working as a substance abuse counselor and continue to create paintings on Canvas and eventually began exhibiting my work in Art galleries and selling my work, l also found my passion in my artwork and also found that it’s a very therapeutic process in my life, I am now self employed and have a LLC 👌 cosetdsllc l am still a work in progress and will continue to work towards all of my aspirations in which are plenty, the main one is to have my own business Art Gallery 🙏🏼

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.
…this question really hits home with me for the simple fact that my best friend is no longer with us, we were both shot in the year of 1988 , l was 22 years of age and he was 20 years of age, unfortunately he died and I lived , my bucket list trip is the Giza strip in Egypt, and I was always hoping my friend and myself would get to see them together as I always wanted to view the pyramids and sphinx in real life, l am now planning this trip with my other half “Leia Sands “ later this year 🙏🏼

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have quite a few different avenues of support the Main one being my other half “ Leia Sands “ my partner on all fronts, I also want to give a shout out to my mentorship program “Score” and my mentor Ann Duignan , l also want to thank all of my artists friends in the art community 🙏🏼

Website: Leiaandcose.com

Instagram: Cose_tds

Twitter: Cose TDS

Facebook: Cose TDS

Youtube: Cose TDS

Other: Tic toc / Cose TDS

Image Credits
Myself Spray painting was taken by “Leia Sands “ my other half