Today we’d like to introduce you to 1 Ocean Lane.
Hi Ocean, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The artist you know today as “1 Ocean Lane” started way back when I was just getting into my double digits age when my grandfather introduced me to the world of photography. I had a desire for capturing the moment but it was him that brought it full circle.
From there, growing up, I was an aspiring DJ and Fashion Designer. Through middle school, I was making mix-CDs and DJing for my friends on the block as we played outside.
Getting into high school age I applied at a technical school where I chose the “Commercial Art” course to learn the design programs so I could better edit my photography. I quickly learned that I had an eye for design. As well as painting on t-shirts with my favorite 305 markings or whatever my friends wanted on their shirts. Through high school, I perfected my craft and upon graduating I was on my way to be offering photography, custom-painted clothing, and design services.
The year I graduated I got my first and second car. First was a ’92 Caprice Classic, second was an ’06 Impala. From there, I worked at various jobs and did photoshoots. As the years went on I began designing flyers and business cards as well as printing them.
With the connections I made over the years, I was able to land certain gigs like shooting photos in the club and being on-set behind the scenes of some of the biggest music videos shot in Miami, shout out to Derick G, Lisa & Cyrena, and Freddy, they played big roles in my real world development.
Moving along, no pun intended, me and a couple of friends packed up and moved to LA. While living in LA, I learned a lot about my talents and skills, from spirituality to business confidence. It was the great city of LA that taught me the missing elements that I couldn’t learn in Miami at the time, like structure. Miami being such a young hustled-up city, people were always on the move and gettin’ it how they lived… Some taught and lead by example but most kept the gems for themselves and/or didn’t have any gems to share. This is something that has evolved over the years; it’s amazing what 10-15years can do to a city!
After some years, I moved back to Miami to get my feet back in the sand. When I arrived, it was like I never left! All the contacts I made, the good relationships, the trust and respect… it was all there for me with open arms!
An unlikely connection was made upon moving back, with an old friend via a by-chance email asking for a previous design I had done. I happily replied I’M BACK IN THE CITY! (I didn’t have the design file, lol) That’s when I linked up with Rudy Mage of Inked Pro. I say unlikely because we were cool before my move but hadn’t spent the time like we were about to… We shared our ideas and caught up, long story short a brotherhood was formed.
Working side by side Rudy I learned even more about the craft and about business! Rudy himself is an artist, he also owns an Apparel Printing Business called Inked Productions. During the day we ran the day-to-day of the business and expanded on it where we could. On our in-bewteen time, or playing hooky times, we would grab drinks or I would tag along with him on his Mural projects. He regularly gets hired for painting projects, I would ride along and be moral support and drinking buddy, as well as join in on some of the works for touch-ups or my own collaborative elements.
Around this time is where my Art spark became FLAMES! The elements began to bring up emotions I once knew; the smell of the spray paint, the sound of the metal ball clinking around inside the can, the smell of the warm Miami air… I was home!
One day after we finished a mural, I drove directly to the art supply store and bought about $300+ of canvases, spray paint, and markers, drove home and went ham! I was in love all over again.
Since then I’ve been perfecting my craft even more! Being new to the Art scene I knew I had to get my name out there, so I came up with this little event-style mission to attract and make people aware of my art. I called it Free Art Friday, funny enough because the first 2 Free Art “Fridays” I did were on a Saturday and Sunday, but the name flowed better than Free Art Weekend lol…
The idea behind this was, if an Artist sells 10 artworks he/she has the ability to come up in 10 conversations at any time. So how can I get in front of interested eyes? FREE ART! Boom let’s ride! Fast forward I’ve given away over 160 pieces of art from canvases to backpacks. This was not only fun but it was also very freeing, no pun intended. I hosted one FAF where I placed large easter eggs around the city and another where I threw a Ping Pong Tournament.
Since then, I have sold a handful of pieces and am building on my title: Life Director. Life Director to me is a combination of Creative Direction, Design, & Art. I’ve always worn many hats in my life, it’s what keeps my mind interested. This role is about 65% complete. I work towards it every day so it can be the first of its kind! That’s a thing about myself that I take pride in: CREATING and staying in my own lane which is how I came up with my brand name, 1 Ocean Lane; it also sounds like an address in a very nice area that’s close to the water, which represents the quality I bring to everything I do!
When I have solidified my role as a Life Director, my goal is it to solely design Logos, provide creative direction and consulting services, and paint. Currently, I’m working full-time designing logos, flyers, websites, and any other marketing tools for clients and brands; as well as painting when the time presents itself. I have a few exciting projects in the works that once completed, I will be able to add to the Creative Direction arm of my brand.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth? Never! To be as brief and telling as possible, I warranted everything that happened to me, good, bad or indifferent. We all do, if you pray for a change, it will come. It’s been famously said over the years; it’s not a loss it’s a lesson. Once you realize that, your life will become apparent to you.
I don’t want to speak specifically about my struggles because I do not want to deter you, the reader, from your life and the road ahead. Each level-up requires a newer and more refined version of YOU. You have the ability to evolve everyday; try it!
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?
At the inception of my art career, the only thing I painted were ‘my girls’, that’s what I called them; started on my iPad and evolved into spray-painted canvas art. They were (are) a celebration of Women and their life-giving and carrying abilities. They are a celebration of life because without women we wouldn’t be here; as obvious as that sounds it was a calling of mine. Their abstract form allowed me to experiment with colors and gradients to project ‘her’ channeled energy; oh yeah I also started to tap into the feelings I had when I painted them and noticed that there were times I wasn’t in control of my color selection or stroke choice. All my pieces were signed on the front with my SignatureWave™ and again on the back with the year.
One day I was drawing on my iPad and instead of starting with one of my girl silhouettes, I just signed my signature… I immediately fell in love! It didn’t take long for me to adapt this SignatureWave™ pattern to more and more illustrations. My SignatureWave™ pattern is the therapy to my mind, it is the thoughts to my paper, let me explain… In landing on this switch of focus, I learned more about my art and myself. What this repeating pattern of Waves represents is more than a stunning image of color and depth… This pattern was inspired by all the forms of communication that we experience on this Earth… sound waves, radio waves, visible light, and of course the waves of the Ocean, or for a more technical response: Mechanical Waves, Electromagnetic Waves, and Matter Waves.
Fast forward to today, ‘my girls’, are solely offered as digital NFTs and are now known as “Crypto Mami’s”. I feel that their message and presence are better suited for the vastness the internet is and is a constant reminder of the beauty of women in all their forms and the life they create. If interested, you can invest here: [https://opensea.io/
Additionally, I believe, although not proven yet, that wherever my waves are they amplify the vibrations and vibes of the space due to the fact that they represent all that is! Thus leading to even better vibes, good times, and a profound attraction to all that the heart desires; which in the long term will theoretically lead to increased sales and returning business!
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
My website is 1OceanLane.com, you can see more of my newer work on my Instagram page (@1oceanlane), or you can send me an email.
Pricing:
- Logo Design — $750^
- Design Services — $120/hr
- Consulting — $120/hr (minimum 2 hrs.)
- Smiles — FREE
Contact Info:
- Website: https://1oceanlane.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/1oceanlane
