Meet Velo | Artist & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Velo, why did you pursue a creative career?
I pursued my career choice because the arts and being creative was a HUGE part of my childhood and it just stuck with me as I grew older. It’s the only way I know how to express my feelings and emotions.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a jack of all trades. I make music, model, paint, draw and a few other side art forms. As an adult, it all started with music, I was so consistent with uploading covers to my favorite songs on Youtube. Modeling came after that, and I grew to love modeling more than anything. Creating art was always a big thing in my life, but it wasn’t until June 2019 when I decided to start my own art business. I’ve made over 1,000 sales, it’s so unreal.

There’s always challenges to face as an artist but those challenges have helped me grow so much as an individual and artist, Consistency and hard work has helped me reach so many people and I aim to expand everyday.

I want the world to know that if you have a dream, to chase it. Being able to make a living doing the things you love everyday is such a blessing and I’m honored to get to do that. I have a deep and hard background, I’m living proof that you can overcome even the hardest battles and keep going. I’ve had plenty of moments when I wanted to give up, especially after the passing of my little brother but I know I have to make him proud. I do this for him, my family and most importantly, my daughter.

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?
My best friend and I are somewhat inseparable. Something we love to do is ride bikes around the city. We would probably stop for some Birria tacos, smoke a few blunts and ride out.

New York City offers so many new sites and hang out spots I still have yet to discover. Riding a bike through central park would be a high recommendation. I also love attending events that showcase local artists.

Alright, so let’s jump right in! 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 a person, group, organization, book, etc. that you want to dedicate your shoutout to? Who else deserves a little credit and recognition in your story?  
My art journey really all started with my grandmother. She introduced me to many forms of art such as playing the piano, singing, drawing, ballet and so much more. Growing up my favorite artist was Aaliyah and I knew I wanted to chase a bigger dream than a regular 9-5. She was a huge inspiration to me, even now.

Instagram: instagram.com/velobaby