Today we’d like to introduce you to Ed Rosas.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ed. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born and raised in Queens, New York. My mother was your nine to five career woman while my father was your street hustler who battled drug addiction. To cope with being an “adult child of an alcoholic” I turned to art. I used it as an escape from my reality. It was during those periods of escape and introspection I came to the realization that I wanted to be an artist.
I graduated from LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts in New York City and decided after that I needed to leave home for college. I wanted to find myself on my terms. I knew that in order to do that, I would need to leave the dizzying noise of the expectations of those around me. I later attended Miami International University of Art and Design. There I met the mentors I was seeking to help further my development artistically and spiritually. They eventually pushed me to obtain my Graduate degree that I received from Florida Atlantic University.
However, during my second to last semester in graduate school my father suffered from a spinal tap accident that rendered him paralyzed after he was released from jail. I went back home to help my mother and sister take care of him while working in construction to make ends meet. Unfortunately, I didn’t graduate on time due to the stress of my father’s condition and was forced to write my thesis back at home in Queens, New York City. My father passed away and I was lost for a while. I didn’t know if I wanted to finish getting my degree and continue pursuing my dream of being an artist.
Then I remembered, “Momma ain’t raise no bitch!…”. So I eventually got myself together, wrote my thesis, and walked across that stage with my MFA in Fine Arts. Post-graduation I stayed in New York City working in construction for several years before I grew tired of it and decided that I needed to continue chasing my dream of being an artist. I quit my job and moved back to Miami, FL. I slept on my friend’s floor and worked as a dishwasher before I landed my first job as an art professor at Miami Dade College. Now I teach at three universities and also work as a freelance illustrator.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It was definitely not a smooth road. I struggled with the pressure of wanting to be an artist because I came from a family that sought out financial security at all costs. Dealing with the trauma of growing up in the dynamic household I was raised in. Processing the death of not only my father but grandmother as well. Working construction jobs that made me want to quit every single day but had no choice but to work because I was “over qualified” to work anywhere else. Failing a lot trying to figure out my life essentially. However, in retrospect, I’m glad I went through all of that because it made me who I am today.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Ed Illustration story. Tell us more about the business.
My business specializes in hand-drawn illustration. It’s known for its black and white aesthetic with an emphasis on crosshatching. I illustrate comics, character designs, flyers, album covers, book covers, tarot cards, and anything else that may require an illustration. What am I the most proud of? There two things I’m the most proud of that are linked together. Firstly I was blessed with the opportunity to design the weekly flyers for the Rice and Beats crew over at 1800 Lucky for their Friday events. Secondly was the chance to design Oscar G’s “Decade of Beats” album cover for Nervous Records. After he got off the phone with me I cried. I cried because my dad was also a dj and I grew up listening to tracks from Nervous Records. Hell, I still have all that vinyl back at home. So landing that job was a way of telling my dad I finally made it. What sets me apart from others is the gratitude and reverence I have for my craft.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
The “luck” that has played a role in my life is the result of the karma I put out into the world. To the best of my ability, because I’m not perfect, I tried to do all things from a place of love and service. Those two things maintain the swing of the pendulum of “luck”.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.edillustration.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: edillustration
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