#7 – Can Vibrant Art Heal and Inspire? | Melanie Royster - The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter

Episode Transcript
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Rob Lee (00:11):
Welcome to The Truth in Us Art. I am your host, Rob Lee.
Thank you for joining me todayfor these conversations that
matter, conversations at theintersection of arts, culture,
and community. And before we getstarted, I wanna thank Eaton
Radio at the Eaton Hotel forputting us up today. Speaking of
today, we're running it back.

(00:31):
And I'm welcoming back my nextguest, a multifaceted visual
artist who uses her work toexpress vulnerability and to
tell stories. Her art is deeplyinfluenced by Caribbean and West
African cultures, focusing onthe power and worth of women,
especially women of color.Please welcome Melanie Royster.

(00:51):
Welcome back to the podcast.

Melanie Royster (00:54):
Thanks for having me again.

Rob Lee (00:56):
Yes. So, again, you know, appreciate you coming on
and you know, it's been a fewyears. I think we were counting
earlier. I didn't you we didn'tI didn't get to a full hand, but
it's been 3 to 4 years.

Yeah. I would say. I would say. It's been a
while. Time is like going slowand fast at the same time, I
feel like.
So like there's some things thatI remember from when I first
started

Rob Lee (01:19):
Yep. And I'm

like that just felt like yesterday, but then
there's things that like peopleremind me of as well, and I'm
like, oh, that seems so longago. So it's just everything I
don't know. I feel like justbeing a artist or entrepreneur,
like, in business is just you'rejust all over the place
sometimes. Sometimes in a goodway, sometimes in a bad way, but

Rob Lee (01:41):
See, your your point around time is accurate. I
usually use how much hair I haveat a given point to see where
I'm at. Mhmm. I was like, no,this is a while ago. Or or or
what I was wearing, I was like,I don't wear that color

anymore. I used to wear my hair like green all
the time. I don't know whathappened. I think when we did
our the podcast, my hair wasgreen or purple Yeah. At the
time.
I had not done that in a while.I don't know why, it just
stopped.

Rob Lee (02:08):
So you're out of your grain period is what you're
saying?

I wanna get back to it. It was so fun. That
period was so fun and free. I'mso serious now. That's one thing
that's changed since.
I am so serious I hate it. I'mso serious about everything.

Rob Lee (02:19):
So so I'd be remiss if I don't do this. For those who
might not remember that firstepisode, that first interview,
and or just need a refresher,can you reintroduce yourself and
tell us what you're working onthese days?

Yeah. So my name is Melanie Royster. I'm
with Melroy Art. Since the lasttime we talked, I have made
Melroy Art LLC, so just gettingmore serious. Like I said in the
beginning.
Right now, especially right nowin this period, I feel like I'm
dipping more into, like, my fineart era. I feel like when we
last talked, that was more likekinda like the commercial art

(02:55):
side where I would work withorganizations, or I was kinda
just picking up, like, gigs in away where now I'm finding myself
more in a fine art space ordoing a lot of exhibitions or
yeah. Just more so in thatspace, which is different for
me. I'm used to commercialprojects and getting that
consistent flow of, like,revenue and so on, where fine

(03:16):
arts, it's just like a lot moregoes into it and all the things,
but it's exciting.

Rob Lee (03:22):
What what was the and thank you. What what was the the
the the drive or sort of wasthere anything that made that
push to more towards fine art?

I feel like I well, I love painting. So, like,
we already know about, like,well, if you don't know, I love
murals. Right? But paintings, Ifeel like I just started to pour
more into them. I startedcreating, more pieces in a
smaller amount of time.
I've gained collectors over, youknow, a while, and people
investing more into my art inthat way. And I don't know, I

(03:55):
feel like it happened naturally.I talked to other artists and
they're like, sometimes thingsgoes and flows, like, you might
have one period of time whereyou're doing a lot of murals.
There might be one period whereyou're doing a lot more brand
projects. Right now, you're justmore in your exhibiting your art
error.
Sure. Really. But I feel like Imanifested it. I said I want to
grow in the field, and so itreally came full force, like,

(04:17):
really full force. But I feellike it just mainly happened
naturally.
I try to lean into whatever ishappening naturally, so I'm not
forcing myself to do anythingthat I shouldn't be doing at
that time.

Rob Lee (04:29):
That's good. Thank you. I I I think about, you know, my
my algorithm is filled withinspirational stuff, around
specifically like arts andculture and like sort of the art
process. And when I think ofsort of like manifesting
something, it's like don't startasking for things you ain't
ready for.

Yeah. Yeah. That is true.

Rob Lee (04:48):
And I I remember Pharrell talking about it. He's
like, your things are gonnacome, but are you prepared for

me? Mhmm.

Rob Lee (04:53):
And that's and that's so real and so it sounds like,
you know, having this thisbackground and having sort of
like being able to do a lot hasprepared you in in many ways for
like, I wanna explore this now.

Yeah. Especially like even now I have
a manager now, hip in our house,I know you're watching, which
has helped me tremendously.She's great, and actually, I
just had my first showing at ArtBasel this past year.

Rob Lee (05:17):
Nice.

And Yeah. So she represented me. Hip in our
house represented me. So havinga manager and so on, someone
that, you know, that I feel likethat I have support almost like
a colleague in a way is alsonice when we're talk we before
we even came on, we're talkingabout that loneliness factor. So
feeling like you have peoplethat are working with you
everyday feels quite nice, andit helps with, you know,

(05:39):
navigating something new, likeme being in the fine arts space.
Because it's very different thanmore of the commercial arts.

Rob Lee (05:46):
It is it is it's fun to, at times, commiserate with
someone who gets it, if youwill. Mhmm. And I I have a
friend who just said, you're aculture guy. And I was like,
I'll take it. I'll take it.
And and I think that that's it'sit's broad in that I can have a
conversation with an artist. Ican have a conversation with a
chef for sake of argument and beable to relate in such a way and

(06:09):
pull stuff out they're not even,like, really really thinking of.
And I just remember, like, I getkitchen access sometimes because
I'm like, here's the thing,chef. You know
how it is? It's like, oh, you get it. You get it. Come
on down. Come on down.
I wanna cook
you something. I was like, this is amazing, or
nothing is cooler than whensomeone who's had an art
practice for a very long time,they have sort of the home

(06:31):
studio. That's a sacred space tobe. It's not just trivial.

Mhmm.

Rob Lee (06:35):
And like some people don't appreciate that, but
they're like, hey, can we do theinterview at my studio? I'm
like, hell yes. Let's do this.How can I bring what I do there?
And it feels like you get it, Iget it, there's respect, there's
a sort of thing that's there,it's the energy that's there.

Exactly. Exactly.

Rob Lee (06:53):
So over so the the one of the things within this arc of
interviews is sort of lookingover the the lifespan of, like,
the last 5 years. So how and Iand I know this that this is the
shift towards more fine artwork,but how's your creative process
and like vision, like, changedor or evolved? Like, is it just,

(07:14):
you know, kind of certain thingsare very similar or certain
things are just this is vastlydifferent now?

I would say vastly different. I do notice So
there's difference in like thecontent itself, like what I'm
painting, and then the actualstyle. When it comes to style, I
do see a difference. I noticedit late last year that there's a
little slight difference, maybea maturity in my paintings. I
feel like starting, when Istarted my business 2020, I was

(07:40):
very much a young adult, youknow, there I was still
navigating a lot of things,learning how to set boundaries.
There was a lot going on whereit's like the art grew with me
over that time. Because being ayoung adult going from now where
I feel like I'm an adult adult.I mean, I still feel like a
child, but going from a youngadult to, like, actually being
adult with seriousresponsibility, and then you're
dealing with, like, now I'm inmy thirties, it's like, it's

(08:01):
very different. I feel like theart is reflecting that and even
the content of my work, I feellike I'm focusing more on, like,
marking history.

Rob Lee (08:10):
Sure.

Like, I know that me as a black female
artist, and I just mentionedthat in a post that I posted
today, that it's important toreflect the times that are
happening right now, especiallyin paintings because we could
pose whatever we want online,but that could go away tomorrow.
So, like, having somethingphysical that could be passed
down from generation togeneration, making sure that I
reflect what's going on so thatnobody could skew what my story

(08:35):
was or, you know, all thosethings. So I'm thinking about
that in my work even though it'svibrant and it makes people
feel, if you're really lookingat the work even further, you'll
see that there's underliningmessages under that too as well.
So I feel like that's in a lotof my work. Kinda like some
people would be like artactivism

Rob Lee (08:51):
Mhmm.

In a way. I just care and, I wanna keep
talking about what's going on.I'm trying not to go insane, of
course, or like crash out about,like, everything going on, but
just, like, reflecting times inmy work, but still keeping it
vibrant and joyous because blackpeople need to see that too as
well.

Rob Lee (09:07):
Or

people of color or women need to see that as
well, but also being serious andtalking about serious things too
in my work.

Rob Lee (09:13):
I I wanna comment on that in a moment, and and this
next question after this isgonna go a little bit further in
that that that lane, but the thecomment yeah. Like and I think
the it's intention of, you know,like, we look at milestones,
like, 10 years, 25. I was like,no. 5 is a good marker
sometimes. Yeah.
And I look at and having to goback through interviews that I

(09:35):
did before, I was like, 1, don'task the same question. 2, are
you better at this now? Me asthe interviewer. And, because I
looked at some of the questions.I was like, yo, there's no depth
in this.
So how do you art? That'sliterally a question I had. I
was like, that's a typo. Right?What what am I doing?
Like and but trying to be abetter person and making that

(09:55):
transition, like, I'm 40 now andI was in my thirties then. So,
you know, sort of there's acertain, I guess seriousness or
certain adultness, if you will,there. But I think with
repetition and those reps intimes, you know, time past, my
perspective and my insights areare different. So that's why in

(10:17):
the selection process and thecuration process of figuring out
who do I wanna talk to, who canI delve a bit deeper with, or
who do I feel like, alright, youcan ask some better questions,
my guy? Mhmm.
That's that's sort of whatdrives some of this. And the
other piece of capturing the nowof it, like leaning more into
this is an archive. It's notjust something disposable.

(10:39):
Here's this person that's on.But, you know, as much as I was
like, I'm just a podcaster.
I just do this. It's like, nah.People are sharing their stories
with you in this open form andopen format. Yeah. They wanna
get on and say, look man, TinyToon Adventures is what's in my
art and I'm gonna talk aboutTiny Toon Adventures for an
hour.
Let's do it. And it's a realconversation. It's not

(11:00):
contrived.

Yeah. Exactly. And I don't know, spaces like
this are important, I feel like,especially me, I don't get to
talk about my art all the time.Yeah. We have social media and
stuff, but I'm not reallyfeeling myself talking or doing
as many voice overs.
I'm getting better at that.That's why I'm forcing myself to
start using YouTube because whenI do talk about my work, they're
like, you should talk more. I'mjust now finding my voice at
this grown age, and now youcan't shut me up. So I just

(11:24):
wanna like, having spaces where,you know, people are working on
talking more and just wannashare their story and where they
usually wouldn't even have aplatform to do so is important.
So never think that what you'redoing is not important.

Rob Lee (11:37):
Well, thank you. Melroy podcast coming soon.

No. Well, that's that's elite. That's
elite because I would justcringe. Like, I would I would do
one and then 2 days later I willlisten to it. I need to get used
to even listening to my voice.
It like, even when we did thepodcast, I couldn't listen to it
for, like, weeks, Like until myfriend forced me, like, she's
like, listen to what you did.Like, there's a lot of times

(12:01):
where I'm like, I don't wannahear my voice, which

Rob Lee (12:04):
This may be odd manifestation. Executive
produced from the creators ofthe Truth of Disopter. It's just
pictures of me throughout yourpodcast. But my ego no. So this
this next question drives alittle bit further into the,
creative process and a vision,piece, but it includes sort of,

(12:25):
you know, the the audiencecomponent and especially the
timing.
Right? So, you know,versatility, originality. Your
bio mentions versatility as anartist, which I see. And and
given that audiences tend togravitate towards, I think,
familiar styles, like when youthink about movies, how many
movies are just a sequels, aremake, and so on? And it's like

(12:49):
we plan that we likeoriginality, but it's almost a a
shift towards a retread.
So how do you maybe balance sortof alright. This is what I'm
going to continue to explore. Ican go deeper on this or this is
something that's gonna be wildlyvastly different from what I've
done before, but it's stillgonna have your signature style,

(13:11):
your your color, your way, youracumen, if you will. How do you
kind of marry those 2?

And I might I might ask you to, like, maybe
ask that question again.

Rob Lee (13:23):
More succinctly. Yeah. How do you stay versatile and
original while, you know,there's sort of an audience? You
you touched on a commercial workearlier. Mhmm.
My folks are like, can you domore of something like that
while extending what you're, youknow

Well, especially if you're working
with, like, let's say a companyor something like that. So we'll
touch more commercial artsbecause I guess, like,
commissions, either way, for themost part, commissions, I could
decide whether or not I workwith somebody versus or even a
brand still. So if the firstthing is I'm not gonna work with
anybody that where it justdoesn't seem like it aligns at
all. That saves a lot of thattrouble, and I feel like a lot

(14:03):
of artists, they feel likethey're missing opportunities
doing that, like, if they decideto refer another artist, which I
do heavily, or just pass by anopportunity that they're losing
money because there is thisthing where it's like, let's
take every opportunity becauseof, like, we need to be paid.
True.
But also, as a byproduct, if youjust take on all these
opportunities, your audience for1 is not they're not gonna know

(14:25):
what you stand for, and then,you're kinda in this limbo where
you don't feel fulfilled. I'mlike, you could do any job. If
you wanna make money and you'reonly solely doing art to just
make money, you're probablyyou're probably gonna be
disappointed at a certain pointbecause, like, you could just be
an accountant or something. Youcould do something else. I feel
like being an artist is thehardest job, and it's probably

(14:48):
not the job that you wanna do ifyou're solely just trying to
make money.
I'm an artist because I wantpeople to feel. I want to be
able to use my art as a voicefor people that don't have one,
and, like, all those things. SoI feel like, for 1, if I'm
working with anybody or ifanybody's trying to ask me to do
a certain thing, that company orgeneral has to align, but also
advocate for me or the thingsthat I advocate for too. So, it

(15:10):
makes it easier, because thenwhen I am working with those
people, it doesn't feel like I'mnot working within, like, how I
am authentically. And then onceit gets to a point where it
feels odd, then it's like, oh, Imade a a mistake here.
And sometimes you have to see itthrough if there's a contract
involved or so on, but seeing ifit aligns before you even start
saves me a lot of trouble and Ifeel like I don't get too much

(15:33):
in sticky positions. It's reallyif there's just a team that
you're working with andeverybody has opinions, but for
the most part, I wouldn't haveproblems feeling authentic with
my work because I'm doing thatwork before I even start.

Rob Lee (15:43):
Right.

I'm not about to just work with anybody.

Rob Lee (15:46):
Yeah. Because I I think and that that's a good
distinction. I think having sortof that time, and as you said,
you're you're serious about whatyou're you're doing, so you're
able to filter through what someof these like, this is not in
alignment. Yeah. And and I'veI've had to to to do this
because, hey.
You talk to so many authenticvoices and so on. And I was
like, I do. So your brand'skinda fake. Oh. So why would I

(16:11):
like, it's almost like make thecase to me.
Mhmm. Because my thing is is,you know, the the money thing is
is such a good point, because Isee people will do just
anything. Mhmm. Just becauseit's like, oh, I'm out there.
This is a great guest.
It's like, do are you interestedin this guest? Mhmm. No. Well,
it's a really good opportunityfor more exposure. I said,
you're kind of doing it for thewrong reason or, you know, in

(16:35):
the the last year and change,I've been able to do the
education thing.

Mhmm. And I

Rob Lee (16:39):
remember, you know, talking with some of my
students. It's like, so how dowe monetize this? Like, you need
to know how to plug the mic infirst before you even get to
that monetization stage. It'slike the money will be there,
but what is your why?

Yeah. And I know I feel like a lot of people
get lost too and sometimes it'snot just about the money, but
it's also like a lot of us arein survival mode. A lot of
creatives right now are insurvival mode, especially if you
are trying to use your art totalk about change or so on. We
see what's happening, like,things are highly censored right
now.

Rob Lee (17:08):
Yeah.

Like, just even starting this week. So it could
be hard because there is abalance of, you wanna stand for
something, but you don't wannabe shadow banned. And then,
like, you know, or you wanna saycode words so that, like, your
views don't go down or, youknow, so I get it. I do. But, I
think as a byproduct, especiallyif it is gonna be about money

(17:31):
because we do have to get paid.

Rob Lee (17:32):
Yep.

If you're just doing whatever, it's really hard
for brands and so on if theywanna work with somebody and
they don't know know necessarilywhat you stand for. They you
might not get that job versus Ifeel like I consistently keep
certain opportunities because Iit's very clear wherever you
find me, like, what I stand forand what I'm gonna paint, what

(17:55):
I'm gonna create, and what mystyle looks like in general too,
so.

Rob Lee (17:59):
When it comes to the brand that is you, right, as an
artist, what are the 3 thingsthat is like, look, these are
right here?

I feel like I always tie in nature. I feel
like there's always like, theblack woman experience. Even if
it's like community, it's stillfrom my experience. So like,
there's gonna be the black womanexperience in there, and then I
feel like those are the main 2.Storytelling.

(18:27):
I guess, if you split the 2. So,like, just being a woman of
color and then storytelling.

Rob Lee (18:31):
Sure.

So nature is always included because that's
what brings me joy. That's what,kinda grounds me as a person. In
a lot of my work, I've beennoticing I've been putting a lot
of water in a lot of my work.Leaves, you will always see you
will always see either a moon orsun figure. So Yeah.
And then, what I have beennoticing a lot is just like this
feeling like my ancestors arecoming through my work too as

(18:54):
well. Sure. So I would say thatSo those are 4 things. 3 to 4
things.

Rob Lee (18:59):
So number I think number 5. Right? Thank you.
That's that's great and I do seethat in your work because I
I pay attention.
I'll be looking at your site. It'll be okay.

I love that. Pay pay attention. I feel like
people wanna pay attention whenI post a pretty picture. I'm
like, y'all could pay attentionto when I post my art as well.
I'm a start posting the prettypicture and then right after I
post the art and talk about it,so you guys pay attention.

Rob Lee (19:25):
So this this question is a little bit of a deviation,
but it still goes within sortof, I think, the life and art
where they intersect. So isthere something that you've done
in your daily routine or or artpractice, sort of the day to
day, that you never thoughtwould be essential to your work?
Like, I'm now doing this now.Like, you know, for instance,

(19:47):
back in the day, I this more Iused to I dropped this off. I
used to go through I would havethe tea there and I would gargle
salt water and all those to getget, you know, get the mouth and
all of that.
I don't do any of that now. It'slike working out without
stretching. Yeah. I'm just goingright into it. But what's
something that you've you'veadded or something you've picked
up over the last, like, 5 yearsthat initially you weren't

(20:08):
really doing that, but now it'slike, this is integral.

I don't overwork myself anymore. I feel
like we think that if we're notbusy all the time that we're not
doing anything, and I will sayrest is important. I was doing
that and I was sick all thetime. I was sick all the time. I
wasn't working out.
I wasn't doing other things thatwere important to me. I've been
resting way more. I sometimestake half a day as I do. I'm,

(20:32):
like, really productive forhours at a time, and then I'm,
like, it's time to rest. And Iused to feel guilty for resting,
and I'm, like, no.
I love it now. And I feel likeas a byproduct, I when I am
productive, I'm actually moreproductive. I'm not tired all
the time. So rest. I've beenresting way more than I did
before.
I used to be like on crack. CanI say crack?

Rob Lee (20:54):
Oh, you can say whatever you want.

Like, I used to just be on the go all the time,
and I'm just glad that I'm notnecessarily doing that. I could
still do a lot better, but restis something that I've
definitely been doing a lot moreof.

Rob Lee (21:07):
With the possibility of misattributing who it is, I I
won't mention, but I do rememberthis quote about when people
are, like, super busy busy busy,and I'm particularly creative.
Mhmm.

And Artists need time to, like, let, like,
thoughts come in. I actuallylike silence a lot too, like,
before I moved to where I movednow, I used to not even have a
TV at my place. I used to sit insilence, like, a lot. It was
either music or silence, and itdid a lot for my mental. If you
could sit in silence for hoursat a time, it does a lot for

(21:39):
your mental.
You could start getting yourthoughts straight. You're
letting ideas come in,inspiration come in. If we just
have busy minds all the time,especially how we're
overstimulated off of socialmedia Mhmm. You need to sit in
silence sometimes. Even if it'sjust jazz music or anything like
that.
I need to get back to the jazzmusic, actually. I used to play
jazz music a lot.

Rob Lee (22:00):
Well well, I have a new question.

Maybe because I'm not using Alexa no more. I
used

Rob Lee (22:05):
to be

able to just tell her to play jazz music,
but, yeah.

Rob Lee (22:09):
But that's that's a good point. I get up super early
in the morning. Like, thismorning, I got up at quarter 5.
Went out for a walk, run,weights, all of that stuff, do
all of my physical stuff early.But on that walk, whether it's a
30 minute, 60 minute sort ofwalk, I always have my notepad
with me because that's when I'mgetting ideas because the mind

(22:30):
is still in there.
There's You know, you gotta, youknow, keep an eye out, you know,
for Black Ice, especially thispart of the year, but, you know,
there's no distractions there.There's less cars out there, and
it's sort of a a piece, aserenity that's there. And you
get some of the ambient noise,but really, it's whatever you're
choosing. So I have an audiobookgoing or to your point, I might

(22:51):
have some jazz or somethinggoing that that is part of this
soundtrack, but it's ultimatelybeing open to kind of like this
is a thinking period. This isusing the remnants of that dream
material.
Mhmm. Because there's somecreativity that's there. It's
just like, alright, you betterscrape the pot for this
creativity. Yeah. And write itdown, capture it.

Exactly. And and doing new things like I feel
like artists, they feel likethey just have to be whether
it's their home studio or studioand they feel like they have to
be there all day, whatever.Going to the museum, hanging out
with your friends, actually,when it's warmer out, like, just
taking a nature walk, like,going doing different things,
even trying something newcreatively, because especially

(23:31):
if you're monetizing yourcreativity, trying something
else that's creative that you'renot necessarily making money off
of, I think is also importanttoo. So just I don't know. We
need to spend time eventraveling, like, just like, you
know, doing things that doesn'talways just feel productive all
the time.
Because we are creatives, like,we have to also live kind of

(23:55):
creative lives too for it to,you know, flourish. But there's
a balance there because it'slike I need to make money so
that I could keep doing Yeah. Sothere's a balance there's a
balance that we all have tofigure out, but

Rob Lee (24:07):
As a person that still does the the day job and, you
know, the funds does, I'm likethe day job is the fun to make
sure you remember that Rob. It'sit's that reminder because it's
like I like facets of what I do,but mostly it's too fun doing
this. And it's always been thatway for the now 16 years I've
been a podcaster. Yeah. It'ssort of like, you know,

(24:27):
microphones ain't free, youknow.
So these microphones let gokaput. I gotta have something
that brings it in. I gotta haveinsurance, things of that
nature. But your your pointaround travel, that's the thing
that I find when I do interviewsafter I've come back from a trip
or something, my perspective isdifferent. I have new questions

(24:48):
and new insights, just newpathways on how I'm thinking,
and sometimes I'll even insertobservations I've made in these
other cities or conversationsI've had with folks.

There's been some trips especially out of the
country when I come back the artis like insane. Like, that
happens quite often. Even evenwhen it's not even out of the
country like, I did a commissionlike later on the year last
year, in California, and I feellike even just being in a
different space to create didwonders, and that was probably
one of my favorite pieces lastyear. So, like, I don't know.

(25:18):
Travel for me, especiallybecause I started traveling at a
young age, like, literally bornin DC, and then 3 months later,
I was taken to Jamaica for,like, my baptism.
So, like, I was traveling a lotfrom a young age, and seeing
just, like, something differentthan just America, which I feel
like kind of opened my eyes veryyoung.

Rob Lee (25:36):
Yeah.

So travel for sure. Just so you could feel
like you could just connect morewith people in general. Because
in all actuality, Americans aremade up of all different types
of people. So to, like,traveling to other places, you
could still connect with peoplehere. Because if you travel to,
you know, places in Africa,places in South America, so on,

(25:59):
there's people here who areliterally with the same
background.
So, you know, it it helps youbetter understand and serve the
people in your community too.Because we're all made,
especially in DC, we're all madeup of so many different cultures
and things.

Rob Lee (26:14):
Yeah. Makes sense. And it's almost a good segue.
Actually, it's a really goodsegue to sort of this next
question. I think this is ashorter question, but this next
question so we we talk aboutfinances and all of that stuff,
but outside of sort of financialsupport.
Right? What kind of support hasmeant the most to you in your

(26:35):
art career?

Really just this honestly, I'm very blessed,
like, the supportive community.I feel like people talk about
community a lot, and therereally is no community. I feel
like it's just like a word, likeany other word that's being used
Yes. A lot, but I do truly havecommunity, like, every day
there's somebody that send me,like, oh, this opportunity made
me think of you, like, literallythis day, like, today. Someone

(26:58):
sent me, like, 2 opportunitiesfor, like, art residencies.
They're, like, this made methink of you, and that's, like,
often, like, people reallybelieve in, like, what I'm
doing. I think they see thatI'm, you know, I'm not just
doing this for bad reasons. I'mreally doing this to, like, I
don't know, make the world abetter place. So literally every
day, people are saying my namesin rooms I'm not in Yeah. Or

(27:21):
they're sending meopportunities, or they're just
saying kind things all the time.
So really community, but alsojust like people who are kinda
mentors, they don't seethemselves as mentors. I have
some artists that I really lookup to, and it's having, like,
them that, like, reallygatekeeping, like, they're I'm,
like, I'm going through this.Like, what would you have done?

(27:42):
And this is stuff they probablywent through, like, 2, 3 years
ago, so it's, like, not new tothem, And, I could go to them
and have those conversations. Soand then peers.
So, like, people that are kinda,like, we're in the same space,
you know, we're kind of doingthe same opportunities, having
that support amongst each other.I'm not competing against
anybody. Right. I feel like alot of artists who have, like,

(28:06):
this competitor mindset, yeah,you're gonna feel really lonely
because you feel like you haveto compete with your peers.
Right.
When people at the top arecollaborating. I'm sorry. We're
not I'm I'm not competing.Anybody who brings up
competition or they're comparingme to another artist, I'm like,
I'm not this that's not myministry. I'm not competing
against anybody.

Rob Lee (28:27):
And it's a scarcity mindset in my head where, you
know, I've had that and I'm kindof being trying to use all of my
adult adulting Mhmm. To not becompletely like, yo, I could
just roast you because there youknow, it's always some goofy
competitor situation. And I'mlike, I don't really, you know,
wanna be in this sort of backand forth, but reputation is key

(28:50):
in all of these differentthings, and that's where it's a
little like you're not evencompeting, you're trying to
undermine what I'm doing, whichis a little different. And I'm
not engaging in competitionbecause I don't think it's
worthwhile. It makes both of uslook stupid.

And people are confused when there are certain
artists that are winning all thetime. It's because they they're
feeding into other artists too.I have peers who are literally
kind of the same space, who arecurating things, oh, be a part
of this or they're evenreferring me, or they're
plugging me into their networktoo as well, like, oh, you need
to meet someone so especiallywith minorities, women, like

(29:25):
queer community, blackcommunity, all that. We need
more creatives and artists, ifanything, especially because
they always lead revolutions.Artists always lead revolutions.
So like this competitor mindset,we need to push that to the side
and actually come together andwork together and share
resources. Well said. So This Idon't even remember the question

(29:46):
it happened.

Rob Lee (29:47):
No no no no no. It's it's good. It's good. We were
talking about the community.Yeah.
So this one is in and I think itdefinitely is is sort of like a
nice follow-up to it, and I gotlike 2 more real questions after
it. So Robert Greene, 40 yearloss of power, right? He he says
and to paraphrase, it's like whoyou're around rubs off on you,
right? So like if you're aroundinsecure people, oh man I don't

(30:09):
feel super secure about myselfright now. How have, like,
different places and those sortof different communities, even
being in different cities or yousort of tighten up tight knit or
even wider groups, how doesthat, like, shaped your artistic
outlook or maybe the directionof how you go about your work?
Because you mentioned the thementors.

Are you talking about and I'll ask if you ask
the question again because youask the question and then I
focus on one word and then Iforget everything else you just
asked. Sorry.

Rob Lee (30:37):
How has, how so the communities or the groups that
you, like, spend amount youramount of time in, like, how is,
like, being in those groups?Well, let's say you're around
people who are making reallyinteresting art. How is, like,
that rubbed off on you in thedirection of how you go about
your work?

It just makes me, like, again, just wanna get,
like, get busy, get, you know,get my hands dirty, like,
especially when I went to, thispast Art Basel out in Miami. I
was around such, like, just likea rap like around a lot of
talent, and I got lucky to do,like, some VIP days, for, the

(31:15):
fairs that are out on the beach.Yeah. And the art I saw and the
conversations I was having, it'sit's just so different. Like,
these are people, not only just,like, great artists, but they
know our history, and they're,like, art nerds, and they just
talk about things that just makeme feel really seen and make my
heart flutter because it's,like, oh, wow.
Like, because there's adifferent but there's there's a
difference. When you know a artnerd that's a artist as well,

(31:38):
there's just something sospecial about the work, and you
could see it in their work, andtheir attention to detail, and
so on, and it just makes I justwanted to go back home and
paint. So just being in thosecommunities, it just, it feel
it's like fulfilling to be apart of those communities
because that means you're doingthe right thing, especially if
it's other like like mindedpeople, and they're very
successful at what they're doingtoo. Because it because a lot of
times it it you can look out inthe world and see that, like,

(32:01):
people are not doing such greatthings, but they're still
successful. Like, I've had myart stolen from me.
And it's like, at that time, Iwasn't, you know, that well
known, and as she's stealing myart, she's getting the 100000
views, and it's, like, peopleare, like, it's so beautiful and
so on. It's just like, I knowthere's a lot of artists like

(32:22):
that too that are just notcreating authentically. They
just wanna do whatever istrending or so on so they can
make money.

Rob Lee (32:27):
Mhmm.

But, it's something so special seeing
artists who are truly authenticin what they're doing. They
really know, like, about art,the history of art, why it's
important, and then they'resuper successful at it. It just
feels I feel seen. I feel likeyou don't have to sell your soul
to be successful, you know. Sothat I think that was the

(32:48):
biggest thing that I took away,just being in spaces with people
that are just doing their thingand just being authentically the

Rob Lee (32:56):
That's great.

Yeah.

Rob Lee (32:57):
And actually, you kinda you kinda covered a second
question, so that's great. I waslike, an example you gave me
was. That's great. So I got onemore real question, but I
definitely wanna chime in on onething. You know, as a as a
person that does this, like, notan artist or have you?
I used to do illustration backin the day and all of that. And
I find, like, finding yourpeople and, like, being around,

(33:19):
like, when I'm around, like, ablack nerd, it does, like,
multiple things. Like, yeah, youget it. You get all of it. Mhmm.
And it's just like we we connectand it's like, yo, here's my
cell phone. We should get coffeesometime outside of this podcast
scope, and that's actuallybuilding. And I find that
because of social media and soon, as a byproduct, we lost

(33:39):
that. We don't do the face toface.

Trying to get better at that because I kind
of, stepped away from doing alot of things in person because
I was overdoing it at one pointSure. To the point where I had
to kinda do the opposite to,like, like, I don't have to just
be on the go go go because,like, that's, like, how one time
I got, like, in a car accidentbecause I was just going from
one pop up to the next pop, so Ihad to, like, shift. But I kinda

(34:02):
lost a little bit of, like,going to other artists, like,
exhibitions or their shows, andso like, I wanna get back to,
like, actually going to, like,just how people come and support
me for my events, like, going tosee other artist events and so
on. So, like, I wanna get backinto that. I lost that a little
bit, especially now, becauseI'm, like, it's winter.
It's cold. I'm a little duckedoff. This is the time where I

(34:24):
usually create the most, whichis funny because winter doesn't
necessarily inspire me. If youlook at my work, a lot of it
feels warm and so on. Sure.
But, this is the time,especially for me. I tend to get
more like my brand projects withsomeone closer to spring, where
this time I have way more time.I mean, there's really not way
more time, but more time to juststay inside and create, so

(34:46):
that's also a thing. I usuallypop out literally when it gets
warmer out.

Rob Lee (34:50):
So, you're blue?

Essentially, I feel like I definitely go off of
the seasons. Yeah. I definitelyam an artist that goes off the
seasons. I noticed the sametrend every single year, which
is good. So, I know what toprepare for.
There's still different thingsI'm learning as I go, but there
is certain things that I noticedthat stay consistent every year
for me, depending on theseasons.

Rob Lee (35:12):
That tracks. And, you know, I I don't go to too many
things. I make the point tofolks. I'm like, yo, if I showed
up.

Yeah.

Rob Lee (35:20):
Like, I I rocks with you because I you know, I'm not
trying to be the person that'sthere. I really rally against
the notion of being aninfluencer from the lane that
I'm in. Like, if you pop upeverything, you got some goofy
fiddle, and you're playing acaricature. That's not really
the thing that I do. I try toshow up for the people that I
admire, and I really dig theirwork.
And it shows up also in sort ofmaybe the folks that I've

(35:42):
reached out for in doing thisthis this sort of series. And,
you know, it's like, hey. I canshow up for 20 minutes. I can
show up for an hour, or I couldjust, like, be there, but I
think scarcity is the thing forme. And I just remember before I
move to his last question, Ijust remember I went to one of
my buddies.
He had his 7th anniversary atthis restaurant. And I'm there

(36:05):
and, you know, it's just like Igot a name I got a drink when
the menu is named after me. SoI'm like, I'm a little bit. So
I'm like, yeah. And, I justremember it's like,
oh my god, that's Rob. I was like, oh
no, no, no. I'm not comfortable with that level of
attention. Right? And someonecame to me, they they DM'd me
later, and he was like, yeah.You know, you didn't really seem
like you were into it.
I was like, oh, well, I wasoverstimuloid. I'm not I mean,

(36:27):
overstimulated. I'm not on likethat. Like, I'm a real person.
So learning that of I can't goto each one of these things.
There was an instance where Iwent to 4 different, like, shows
in a night, and I was like, thisis a bit much. And sometimes the
social thing it's like, oh, youdo a podcast. You talk to
people. I was like, yeah. Thoseare very different.

Different. Different for sure.

Rob Lee (36:50):
I'm in a room with one other person on Zoom with one
other person.

Yeah.

Rob Lee (36:55):
So here here's the last question I got. Last real
question. And I got now 4 rapidfire questions for you though.

Okay.

Rob Lee (37:01):
So here's the last one. As we look to the future, you
know, the next fixed, within thenext year.

Okay.

Rob Lee (37:07):
What's the next next thing for you? What's the next
big step? What are you lookingforward to in 2025?

Okay. 2025, this Q1 especially, I've been
noticing just way moreexhibitions. Even, more
recently, I got accepted to my1st international exhibition,
which is nice. So, I'm lookingforward to just seeing my art
showcase more and being able tojust talk to people about my
art, which I just don't get todo, and I don't Instagram is not

(37:33):
necessarily the place to do itas much, unless I just get on a
reel and just start talking,which I'm not doing because I
get such short amount of time,and then I get worked up. Like,
I wanna be able to just talkabout, like, do artist talks and
panels and all the things.
I'm looking forward to justtalking more, because I still
cringe at it. I've been quietmajority of my life. So, like,

(37:56):
just talking. Talking more, andjust I don't know. That's like a
really great question.
I'm just looking forward tomore.

Rob Lee (38:06):
Yeah. I mean, we we have audio. We have this video.
We have this audio out there. Imean, you're gonna be out there.
You know? I'll just share, like,I'll just share clips to you.
I'm just like, so here you go.Nolan, here's one clip. Here's
another clip.
It's like, can you stop sendingme excerpts of the podcast that
hasn't been released yet? It'slike they're trying to help you
get used to your own
voice. Yeah.
Probably always helping artists. Alright, so thank you.

(38:30):
And here's some rapid firequestions for you. So as I tell
people all the time, you don'twanna overthink this.

Okay. Well,

Rob Lee (38:49):
whatever is the the shortest answer you got. What I
said is what I said. Alright. SoI've heard that, a lot of times,
like, art can be either anobsession or talent. Which one
is it for you?
It's like when someone saysobsession it's like, I gotta
keep working. It was like, I'mjust so good. I don't have to
work that often. My talent isbetter than the output that I'm

(39:10):
putting in.

Can I say both? Okay. Because the obsession is
not really like, oh, I have tolike work all the time. But I'm
just like obsessed now, like howart can just like change a lot
of things right now. So, more ofobsession just wanting to know
more.

Rob Lee (39:29):
Sure.

But it does tie in with my art, and there's a
talent there, like sometimes Iam surprised by the things I
create.

Rob Lee (39:36):
Yeah.

I I will say, because I start, you know how
it's the ugly stage at first,and then when you finish I
finish it I'm like, I createdthat and, like, sometimes my
friends remind me, like, myfriends, like, you know, like,
you know this is insane that youpainted this. Right? Like, this
is crazy and I don't really Idon't think about it until they
until somebody reminds me andI'm like, yeah, that is that is

(39:58):
kind of insane that I did justpaint that. I would say it's
kind of both.

Rob Lee (40:02):
Okay. So blame. That's fine. Yeah. When was the last
time you Googled yourself?

Last time I Googled myself, probably like a
month ago, because I'm trying toget I'm trying to see if the
Google Ads are working. I don'teven know I feel like such a
boomer when it comes to, like,the marketing and, like, trying
to figure out the monetizationtools, like, on social media
stuff. I'm like, what ishappening?

Rob Lee (40:27):
I hear you.

So, I did Google myself, but it's mainly,
like, to see, like, if my adsand stuff or, like, like, for
the traffic purposes with mywebsite, but it's funny because
I do Google myself, and now it'slike a mix of my art stuff, and
I used to play basketball too,so you'll still see like VCU
basketball player, or like evenstuff from like high school with
basketball. I did

Rob Lee (40:45):
see that.

So, it's funny seeing like a mix of like who I
used to be like in college andso on, and I was in art school
too in college, but, now to youyou start to see a blend of both
like what's now and then like mybasketball stuff is funny.

Rob Lee (41:03):
Mhmm. So here's here's the next one. This is a
penultimate one if you will.Right now what color is speaking
to you? What is your, like,favorite color at this moment?

Surprisingly purple. I've been, like, so my
favorite color is green, butI've been I've been noticing in
my artwork lately there's been alot of purple. A lot of purple,
the figures are purple, and Idon't know because I tend not to
just paint, like, people ofcolor, black people, black
women, just brown. Mhmm. Becausethere's more to us than just our

(41:32):
skin color.
So I tend I'll paint peoplegreen, blue, purple, all the
things, but I've been noticingI've been using purple quite
often. A mix of like the purpleand the greens. I've been
noticing that a lot. Where Ilike it because when we talk
about ancestors, purple is avery regal color. It does, you
know, signify royalty and so on.

(41:54):
So

Rob Lee (41:55):
Makes sense. Okay. Here's the last one and this is
a nice culmination. It's kind ofa bit, just so you know.

Okay.

Rob Lee (42:03):
You talk about being serious earlier. Right? Yeah.
What are you unserious about?Just one thing that you're
unserious about.

I don't know. Like, I feel like Yeah. I said
I'm more serious, but I guess atthe same time I could still be a
very unserious person. Like, I'mgoofy, so on, but one thing that
I'm unserious about, I don'teven know because I'm too
serious. Now, I need to loosenup.
I need to loosen up of themwound tight because navigating

(42:34):
this art world is a lot, so Ijust been getting more serious.
So, yeah. I can't even answerthat because I need to calm
down.

Rob Lee (42:41):
Something like that.

And let loose.

Rob Lee (42:43):
It's almost like being unserious about your
seriousness.

I think that's I think that's it. Like
sometimes I look back and I'mlike, you know, I'll be in like
serious meetings or you know,certain things and I'm like, am
I really doing because I stillfeel like a child sometimes, so
yeah. I think I'm serious abouthow serious I'm being, like, I
think it's definitely that,like, for sure.

Rob Lee (43:04):
No. No. No.

That's the way to word

Rob Lee (43:06):
it. That that works. So, that's it. You're off the
hot seat, and, and thank you formaking some time to come back
onto the podcast.

Thank you.

Rob Lee (43:14):
And, we'll we'll close out there. Because I already got
my thing recorded. And there youhave it, folks. I wanna again
thank Melanie Royster for comingback onto the podcast so we can
catch up. It's it's been alittle while, so very fortunate
for this conversation.
And for Melanie Royster, I amRob Lee saying that there's art,
culture and community in andaround your neck of the woods.

(43:36):
You've just gotta look

for it.

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#7 – Can Vibrant Art Heal and Inspire? | Melanie Royster

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}#7 – Can Vibrant Art Heal and Inspire? | Melanie Royster