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

Hi Monti, other than deciding to work for yourself, what else do you think played a pivotal role in your story?
The single most important decision I made that contributed to my success was the decision to leave my hometown of Monroe, Louisiana, when I was 19 years old.

My dream was to be a professional actor, and I wanted to study at an arts conservatory in North Carolina, even though I was excelling in my Radio/TV/Film studies at a local University. It was through that R/T/F department that I had gained employment as a radio news announcer and weekend television news anchor at the local CBS affiliate KNOE-TV.

I was doing quite well at that and was a very good reporter which came with a fair amount of popularity and notoriety around town which I enjoyed. These early accomplishments reflected well on my family and spoke highly of my upbringing. Still, my dream was to be an actor. Problem was at that time there was no demonstrated path to such a profession that was accessible to me in our small, rural, conservative, mostly agricultural town. So to give up what I had already achieved and fly off into the unknown was a huge, seemingly foolish risk which carried real world life or death consequences.

I remember calling my older brother late one night as the deadline approached for auditions at the North Carolina School of the Arts and begging him to tell me what I should do. He said:

‘Whatever you decide, it’s on you. If you go and fail you must accept the blame. If you go and succeed you will get the praise. But no one can make the decision for you.’

Shortly after that I left.

Looking back, had I not made that decision I wouldn’t have developed any of my artistic abilities, and life would have been completely different for me today.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is kind of kaleidoscopic. It’s made up of a number of processes and styles. I started off as a kid drawing cartoon characters and copying superheroes and things like that. I was very much into Charles Schultz and comic books so I was continually trying to draw like that. When I got into college my first major was advertising design where I learned about things like line weight and I was introduced to materials and tools that I still use in my work. This was the background of my own free-flowing drawing style. Mostly, I would grab a large drawing pad, usually 19×24, and a V5 Pilot pen; I was very much into Pilot pens, and I would just draw on a page until it was filled up with marks. I did this while traveling around the country working as a theater actor; I would draw what I saw, expressing what I was experiencing, recording it so I could share it with my family and friends.
Doing that helped me to process an emotional life that I was struggling to understand myself during that time. And the practice had the effect of defining a style which is very sort of mural-esque. I call them doodles. I typically start with drawing a central image or a focal point. Something mundane or a very ordinary object like a crushed soda can or a chair or something like that. Over time I fill in the remaining space around that object with anything and everything that comes to my mind until I fill up that piece of paper.

Over the years I have accumulated a collection of these. Some of my doodles have been in progress since the early 90s. I still have them in my portfolio; still working on them. They’re very personal. Each one is a commitment that I made. And it’s very important to me that I follow through on commitments.

When a friend gifted me an oil paint set and said ‘you should do these in color’ I began to explore that alongside doodling and drawing. Now I work in each of those. Doodling influences the painting which in turn influences the doodling. I would describe my work as political, sensual, satirical, deferential, whimsical. It’s archival in the sense that I tend to paint things that are from my past, that honor those people that inspire me, or from whom I have learned valuable lessons. Simultaneously, it is imaginative, while somehow managing to stay reality based. I believe that sets me apart from other artists. I think.

I’m most proud of the portraits that I’ve done of my parents. When my father passed in ’03, a courthouse in my hometown was named after him. He had been a very important figure in the civil rights movement in Louisiana. I was tasked to do a portrait of him that now hangs in that courthouse. It was an honor and I’m very proud of that. I’m also proud of a portrait that I’m doing of my mother who passed in ’20. She was a towering figure in my life and the reason that I began taking my art seriously, eventually forming my business out of it. She was instrumental in nudging me toward that as a way of preparing for the future. So I wanted to do a towering work to honor her. Even though it is still a work in progress, she got a chance to see it before she passed away which made her feel good. I’m very proud to have that memory.

What I’m most excited about with my artwork is just beginning to happen. That is, sharing it with people. Finding an audience to share my life experiences with. For years I’ve been drawing and painting and you know perfecting my craft and developing my style and now I’ve arrived at a point where it’s time to share it with people. I never really made that a focus. So now that time has come.

I got to where I am today professionally by staying committed and following through. Powering through the tough times. Staying curious. I think curiosity leads to asking questions and asking questions results in answers. Answers are information that can be used to get to the next step. That’s probably the most important thing that has enabled me to survive in this business. Being naturally curious. There are so many things that I want to learn and so many things that I want to know. I would need to live 300 years in order to exhaust my curiosity about things. I think my faith is the most important thing that has sustained me, though. All these things are what my art is about.

It has not been easy. It’s been very difficult. The cost has come in relationships, friendships, money, health, you name it. The sacrifices have been endless. And they never stop. There’s always something conspiring to break you. A life in the arts is a commitment for sure.

Perhaps the most important lesson that I’ve learned is there’s always a new lesson to be learned. And sometimes it’s the same lesson we thought we already learned. I’ve learned there is no substitute for hard work. I’ve learned that failure is not an option in the arts. That’s what being creative is all about. I’ve also learned how to go with the flow. Bruce Lee said it best, although I think in a different context, but he said ‘be like water’. You know, flow around obstacles. Try not to meet force with force. Let what you believe in flow from you like water which cut the Grand Canyon into the earth. Flowing water is very powerful.

What I’d like the world to know about my brand is that it represents my commitment to delivering love and joy in the form of art. That it is rooted in the act of giving. Giving is power. My brand is about quality over quantity. I really am obsessed with quality. The best possible tools and materials. The absolute best that I can produce that my collectors will appreciate. I want them to enjoy every aspect of the work, the visual, the tactile, the packaging, the materials and so on. My brand is a commitment to create things of lasting and generational value.

I want people to know that my story is just beginning.

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?

I would give my friend an overview of the city. Something that gives them an idea of the scope of the place. Maybe a nice scenic drive along the Pacific Coast Highway up to Malibu. Stop for lunch or dinner at Gladstone’s; have some delicious King Crab legs and enjoy the ocean views.
For some gourmet breakfast  they could head over to Egg Slut downtown before heading off to Lake Hollywood for the obligatory tour of the iconic sign and downtown skyline views. You know, take a few touristy pictures, hang out in the park up there meeting people and their dogs. Afterwards, head over to Stanley’s in Sherman Oaks for dinner and a couple of drinks. Take in the ambiance; usually some interesting artwork on display at Stanley’s.

The Getty center is a great place to spend an afternoon taking in some more art and beautiful surroundings. I would stop off at Zankou Chicken in Van Nuys after and pick up some delicious chicken kabobs, hummus, and pickled turnips. Maybe a few pieces of Baklava. In the evening hit the Sunset Strip for some excitement and maybe a show at the Comedy Store.

Shopping and sightseeing on Melrose is a must. Olvera Street downtown has some authentic Mexican food and delicious Margaritas. You can pick up some souvenirs and take in the culture, the sights and the sounds. Step over to Union Station afterwards for a cup of coffee and just hang out in there for a blast of art deco nostalgia and a photo op.  Work off those calories at Echo Park pedaling the swan boats on the lake.

There’s so much to do like a stroll on the 3rd Street promenade for a little more shopping and a walk down to the beach and the carousel on the pier. There’s plenty of restaurants on Ocean drive where you can take in a gorgeous sunset.

If they’re up for a road trip Solvang is great for a little wine tasting and authentic Danish sweets. Then there’s Davenport’s in Encino for a really nice dinner.

Speaking of road trips, drive to Palm Springs, have dinner and catch a show, do a little gambling at one of the casinos. Maybe spend the night in a luxury suite with the winnings before heading back to L.A. the next morning.

And don’t forget brunch and Mimosas at Vivian’s in Studio City. Good times.

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?
Wow there’s so many people who deserve that: family, friends, teachers, coaches, instructors, community and church leaders, … so many people supported and encouraged me along my journey’s way. I’d need 100 pages to list everybody. But my family has always been behind me one hundred percent up to this very day. My late mom and dad sacrificed and taught my brothers, my sister and me by example how to work hard and treat others with respect. That one lesson has been indispensible to my success not only as a professional artist, but more importantly, as a person. So I’m dedicating this shoutout to my family, that core group of extraordinary human beings who are the reason that I have been able to come as far as I have. I owe them more than I will ever repay.

Website: https://sharpartstudio.com/

Instagram: @sharpartstudio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharpartstudio/

Other: Viewers are free to email me for inquiries, questions, invitations, etc at the following address: monti@sharpartstudio.com

Image Credits
Peter Konerko, Monti Sharp

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