Artist to Discover: Kal’El Dream, Painter. Prodigy. Fourteen.
I was giddy. I was absolutely giddy when I met this 14 year old young man and his mother at the Trenton, NJ arts festival, Art All Day. Giddy because talent like this in one so young is special indeed.
I had seen his painting of Wu-tang Clan in the main gallery and noticed it was painted well, but honestly, didn’t gravitate toward it because of the subject matter. When I entered the back galleries I saw a young teenager with his mother and next to them an image of the painting from the other room. And in an exchange I’m sure had been repeated with others more than once that day; “You painted that?” “Yes.” “How old are you?” “Fourteen.” Fourteen. FOURTEEN! A fourteen year old teenager painted this? What? Reverb in my head. “I’ve been painting for ten years,” he said. Then, I talked with the young man and his mother and determined I had to sit down with them about his art, about his dreams and his young life.
I got my chance. What follows is my interview with Kal’El Dream, the artist and his mom, Davina Livingston in October.
STM: Thank you for joining us, Kal’El. So, what made you get into art.? How old are you now and how long have you been creating art?
KD: I’m 14 years old and I’ve been doing art for a decade. I began doing it because It was a way to show off the thoughts I always had, visually and learn how to draw other figures outside of what I used to draw, like Sonic and Spiderman.
STM: What is your favorite thing to create?
KD: Cartoons, people, landscapes, and figure sketches.
STM: What do you desire to become in the future?
KD: I want to become an animator, painter, and comic book artist.
STM: Is there anything you want your art to do? For example, How do you want to make someone feel?
KD: I want my art to go against people’s beliefs of how kids' art can look and the creativity that they can have.
STM: You have a lot of love and support. Tell me about who gives you that.
KD: Everyone in my family, my friends, and teachers.
STM: speaking of family, Kal’El, Parents are the most important influence on a child’s life, as you know. I don’t think I can get a full story in an interview without input from the parents, so Mom, can you tell me where Kal’el’s name came from? What were you thinking when you named him? What is the name’s significance?
DL: Lol! His dad wanted to name him after Superman! I gave him his middle name, which is Dream. He was the child I never thought I would have. I love my little blessing.
STM: When did you know that you “had something special“ concerning your child’s talent?
DL: Dream was very quiet as a toddler he didn’t talk much . But he loved drawing Sonic figures and he was really young. He was really good. He was only 4 going on 5 year’s old.
STM: How has Kal’El’s art career affected your family?
DL: It’s really always been me and Kal’El. Everyone does their part, but I’ve always been the one to nurture his skills.
STM: What if, after all the nurturing of Kal’El’s talent, he later on wants to become an accountant, for instance?
DL: Art will always be his love but whatever Dream wants to do he knows we will always support him!
STM: So, Kal’el, when have you dealt with someone putting you down or knocking you about your art? How did it make you feel and what did you do?
KD: It hasn’t happened yet, but there was one time I took a picture for someone, and when I showed it to them, they asked for some changes. When I fixed it up a second time she didn’t respond. So I tried selling it off, but would ultimately throw it away since it never sold. It made me feel more knowledgeable about doing what the customers think is right so they will be more likely to own and love the painting I give them.
STM: How do you respond if someone doesn’t like your art?
KD: If they don’t like it but still give critiques on what I could do better, then I’ll use their criticism for paintings I do in the future.
STM: what an amazing answer to that question, Kal’El. Regarding your art, what has been your biggest joy? Your biggest disappointment?
KD: My biggest joy is doing paintings with a mindset of what it will be without a reference or just adding on more and more until something develops. My biggest disappointment is working hard on something, and then redoing it on a new canvas.
STM: Everyone gets discouraged sometimes. What do you do when you feel discouraged?
KD: When I get discouraged, my parents give me a lot of support and I try to spend more time for myself.
STM:: What is your greatest accomplishment?
KD: It would probably be when I was selected to make a painting for UNICEF that traveled to Germany and got me into their newspaper.
STM: Your art may one day affect the world. How do you want it to do that?
KD: I want it to be something massive that also expresses a very important message. I also want to do it in my younger years so it can also fit with what I want my art to do.
STM: Mom, what do you feel are the one or two most important skills or attributes Kal’El is going to need to get through life?
DL: Kal’El is very smart and Kal’El has a very strong work ethic!
STM: Mom, what do you want for your son? What is your plan on helping him achieve this?
DL: I want him to finish school; whether he goes to college, trade school or etc, I just want him to be happy. His gift is a God given gift so I tell him all the time never take his work for granted! I just want to help him to the best of my abilities.
STM: Mom, in relation to Kal’El, finish this sentence, “I will be happy when…”
DL: The world can one day see his work and how passionate he is about his art, dancing, his acting and his academics! My little 14 year old is one day going to be a young black man who made out it from Trenton .
STM: Kal’El, I hear you’re a very busy young man outside your art. Mom just mentioned some things you do. What other activities are you into?
KD: I like to animate, tap dance, and do theater.
STM: Kal-el. Since you’re named after Superman, have you ever been compared to Superman?
KD: Some people who interview me and my friends and family compare me to Superman all the time.
STM: You’re quite an artist, and quite a young man, Kal’El. Thank you, and you, Mom for taking time out of your busy day to talk to us at Studio Tour Magazine.
DL: I just want to thank you and a host of other people who saw something in our young man ! Thank you!
STM: it was our pleasure!
Back to the Giddy. Me. Giddy with excitement, to have the opportunity to experience raw talent at this stage of his development; a talent being explored down different avenues, a talent nurtured, supported and directed by the love of those around him,- that’s a talent that will soar to the heights. That’s a talent that will be revered and rewarded, not only in his young years, but after years of hard work and growth, struggle, pain and triumph. This young man will go far. Kal’El Dream will soar.
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