Today we’d like to introduce you to G.Pack.
Hi G, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started drawing at age seven and fell in love. It was only a hobby at the time, but my parents supported it so I continued all the way through high school. After making it into the School of Architecture at the University of Maryland, the college started to feel like a trap.
The drawing was something I still did to relax, but it wasn’t allowing me to say what I was mentally and emotionally going through. I felt like I needed a new outlet. That’s when I picked up a paintbrush for the first time and really blurted out how I was feeling. My work started out really abstract, but over time I just continued to push myself and refine every possible detail.
Painting basically took over my life. That’s when I realized that I had the true creativity to be a successful painter, as well as the patience and obsessiveness to turn my ideas into reality. I decided to dive in fully, and let go of the idea of ever becoming an architect because it was never my idea, to begin with.
Once I really started to listen to my own inner voice, that’s exactly how I found the motivation and organization to become the artist, designer, and business owner that I am today.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Hell no it hasn’t been a smooth road, haha. As a creative entrepreneur, there is no clear path to take. You can always look at the success of others and try to follow in their footsteps, but everything doesn’t work for everybody. Most of the time, the path to success as a creative is unique to each creative.
Looking too much at what other people are doing can really throw you off from who you were naturally supposed to become. For me personally, I’ve had to make a lot of sacrifices for the sake of my artistry. I’ve spent months working on paintings before, slaving over them, avoiding all social engagements and distractions in the hopes of creating something “perfect”. Just to gain a few “likes” and “comments” and be forgotten by the end of the week.
That used to really play with my ego, but ultimately I feel like it was needed. It just forced me to continue to get better, and my skin continued to get thicker. Now feelings like that are the least of my problems. This year was the first year my clothing line, For Glory, really generated significant funds. Taxes, legal documents, licenses, etc.
Have all been the main source of my stress lately, but it’s all a piece of the process so I welcome it and all of the experience that it brings.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in acrylic painting and streetwear design. I mention both because I’m often working on the two simultaneously. I’m known for creating large-scale realistic portraits that can take weeks or even months to complete. During that process I find myself taking breaks to casually design clothing collections and distribute them through my website, ForGlory.Co.
I’m most proud of the most recent collection I’ve created titled, “Season 333”. With the launch of this collection on December 25th, 2021, I will be donating 33.3% of all sales directly back towards the homeless population of Downtown Baltimore. It’s important that I show people that even though it’s cool to make money on your own and be an independent creative hustler, it’s still important to give back to those who truly need our help.
I feel like the world is really cold, and sometimes people just happen to miss a step. That’s why I’m choosing to stand out and hopefully inspire someone else to think about life from a bigger perspective.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Most definitely my Father would have to get the most credit. My mother passed when I was 16, and it was just he and I for a majority of the time since then. He really helped mold me into a man, and I’m sure that dealing with a stubborn, emotional teenager who wanted to be an artist wasn’t easy for him.
But he was always patient with me and really instilled a lot of the best qualities that I have today. I could never repay him for the love that he’s given me as a father. I’m very lucky to still have him. The other person that I feel deserves a lot of credit for my success is my boy Leo, @LeoLambo. He’s a genius. He was the first friend of mine to have a legitimate clothing business, and he literally sat me down and showed me how to get started designing and producing my own pieces.
A majority of creatives I know would never do something like that because they would see it as helping the competition, but Leo was just always solid like that. A very rare friend. Lastly, I would just give credit to all of my friends, fam, and supporters around the world. As I’ve continued to make the transition into becoming a more prominent and successful artist, they’ve always understood my voice and have never hesitated to be a part of my creative journey.
Having a support system like that is priceless. They’re the reason why now I’m brave enough to try anything, at least once.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: ForGlory.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_gpack/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/_gpack
Image Credits
Foster K White, Bizin Nabi, Ruth Addisu, and Chris Shepherd
