Today we’d like to introduce you to Demarcus McGaughey.
Demarcus, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
With more than 20 years of experience, my journey started my junior year of college at Prairie View A&M University located in Prairie View Texas. I was hired as a Production Assistant with Bates Southwest Advertising Agency located in Houston, Texas. In three years, I was later promoted to designer and worked on accounts in the oil and gas industry as well as a mobile company, today we call Verizon.
After leaving Houston, I relocated back to my native city of Dallas, TX. It was in Dallas I accepted a position with Fossil Watches in Richardson, TX. At Fossil, I designed watches and packaging. I was released after three years and the next day, I woke up and rented a loft in the Deep Ellum area.
During this time, I launched In House Media Group, a full-service design agency specializing in brand development and the parent company of In House Magazine. Eager to expand my reach and skill set, in 2006 I closed the magazine and relocated In House Media Group’s offices to Brooklyn, where I continued to grow my portfolio.
Now, living in Brooklyn, NY as a visual artist and graphic designer, it is my intentions to captivate the hearts of art lovers with my unique style called Handsome Art, a combination of painting, graphic design, photography, mixed media with vibrant colors. As I continue to explore the many techniques and styles of art in each of my paintings where I use many color combinations to express the mood and moods of my subject matters.
Having worked with such organizations and brands as Beyoncé Knowles’ Survivor Foundation, T.D. Jakes’ Potter House Church, K104FM, KRNB105.7, and beverage giant Dr. Pepper, I was spotlighted in Adweek magazine and my artwork has been featured in several New York galleries and Barcelona, Spain.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I always say “a setback is a chance for a comeback” and “that there are people in the world waiting for you Demarcus.”
I earned a lot of money and I’ve lost a lot of money, I’ve been in failed partnerships and I’ve lost a lot of people along the way. Through it all, I’ve gained so much more. There were times my life felt like I was in complete darkness with no way out. It’s in those moments I got centered and asked myself, “Demarcus what do you want?”
It’s in those moments I discovered I had the ability to “Create my life.” I realized I am not a victim of my circumstances and I had the power to choose differently. I won’t live my life as a victim but as a warrior and the hero. At any given moment, I have the ability to change the narrative of my story and my life.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of. What sets you apart from the competition?
I’m known for three different things. I am a Graphic Designer, Visual Artist and a certified Life Coach focusing on Branding. With Graphic Design, my expertise ranges from print design to corporate identity to interactive media development and beyond. I’m probably known for creating logos. It has always come easy for me, the ability to take a vision and create a Brand Identity. I have over 20 years of graphic design experience and I love to design.
My art is motivated by my passion to capture the beauty, strength, and vibrancy of the human experience — with each subject demonstrating what it means to create your life. My body of work includes three series, my first series explores what we see and know in Pop Culture. This luxury Pop Art series speaks to your inner child. These images are based on modern popular culture and including imagery from mass media, such as advertising, comic books, and cultural objects. My second series captures people that inspire me and through my eyes, I introduce them to the world. Even those people we think we already know. The world gets to look deeper and know their stories. My Panda series embodies fashion, balance, peace, community and good fortune. These are the values that have guided my life.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I’ve had so many proud moments in my career. However, my most recent proudest moment is participating in three months of art residency in Barcelona, Spain. Having the opportunity to live in Spain, travel to other countries such as France, Italy, Morocco and Portugal changed my perspective of life.
There was a moment of reflection in Lisbon, Portugal. I was sitting on this ship dock and I thought I’m still this kid from Oak Cliff, Texas seeing the world. I trusted enough in God and my talents.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.demarcusmcgaughey.com
- Phone: 214.597.0327
- Email: info@demarcusmcgaughey.com
- Instagram: @demarcusmcg
- Facebook: demarcusmcg
Image Credit:
Vanessa Clifton, Alzo Slade, Jeremiah Waters, Chris Jones
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