Cedric “Chrishawn” Colston
Cedric is an American artist and designer known for his distinctive, pseudo-realistic portraiture. Drawing from past experiences and some imaginative recollections, his work highlights the teachings, nostalgia and deep appreciation of his upbringing.
— About Cedric
Cedric was born and raised in the Delta of Mississippi. As far as he and many other kids knew, that was the whole world. Although it was a rural, poverty-stricken area, it didn’t always feel like it. That was because of the strong sense of community and identity. His hometown was small enough that everyone knew everybody. Generations of families had the same teachers. It felt safe. It felt like a bubble.
Music — specifically Blues and Southern Soul — was a huge influence to him. It was not only played everywhere, but he could see it all around in everyday life. That certainly had a profound impact on his creativity and imagination. So did his family. Being the middle child of three brothers fairly close in age, there was always an air of competitiveness. One of his earliest creative influences was one of his aunts. She had dozens of sketchbooks filled with beautiful illustrations and concepts for women’s clothing. Those sketchbooks were the first major fashion house for him.
— Artist Statement
Most of my work begins with a photo, from which I pull shadows and highlights to use as layers of acrylic paint on canvas. Stylistically, I borrow from multiple movements. Andy Warhol’s techniques and use of color were huge influences early in my creative career. However, my paintings definitely don’t comment on consumerism or mass media. I’d say it leans more toward Impressionism because of how important the light and capturing the moment is to the process; Abstract Impressionism, perhaps?
My artistry is an ode to my long-lost, youthful imagination. As children, we’re oblivious to the constraints and formalities of the world that we all eventually succumb to. For me, this is largely a journey to recapture that heedless wonder. It's why I use my middle name, Chrishawn, as a moniker and vessel to represent what my younger self might have created.
Right now, I’m mostly inspired by contemporary creatives like Hebru Brantley, Kelcey Fisher and Izumi Kogahara. They have each found brilliant ways to extend their art outside of the traditional canvas, which is currently an important goal of mine. Another goal is to more skillfully craft interesting narratives, while simultaneously producing something that is aesthetically pleasing.
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