We had the good fortune of connecting with Arshaad Norwood and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Arshaad, what role has risk played in your life or career?
On January 19th, I decided to risk it all and walked away from my 11 year art education career to pursue my art business full time. All APS teachers were forced to go back to face to face instruction without vaccination regardless of telework requests, rising cases, teacher deaths, and preexisting conditions but I couldn’t put my family’ health at risk so I had no choice but to take unpaid leave. The decision to refocus on my art career was extremely difficult due to my wife being laid off work during the pandemic with me being the sole breadwinner for our two children but it has dramatically changed our lives for the better. Since then, I’ve taken advantage of every opportunity to push my art business to the next level. I have produced Murals, live paintings, portraits paintings, graphic art commissions, paint parties & paint party kits. I am also currently in the process of developing my own Virtual Art Program that targets disenfranchised student populations that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. It will be tailored to address equity and access to quality arts learning in hybrid or in-person environments. To get more information feel free to follow me on IG @artbyarshaad!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
​My Fine Art career has been a long and journey and absolutely nothing about it has been easy. From foster care to Great Recession to Global Pandemic. It’s been an uphill battle. Over the last 15 years I’ve specialized in Drawing & Painting but I freelance everything from ceramics, sculpture, photography to graphic design and digital/ crypto art. During that time I won a few juried competitions and lost way more. Within the last decade I learned that sheer skill, will & determination through countless dead ends is not enough. It is the intangible spirit of the human experience that resonates through my pieces & connects with my Art collectors. My conviction as a visual artist is to create visceral art that emancipates the ephemeral beauty of life in hopes to empower the next generation of aspiring artists, teachers and community leaders.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love shows at Fox theatre, High Museum and outdoor Concerts at. Piedmont or Centennial Olympic Park

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Janice Celeste @ Successful Black Parenting Magazine

Instagram: @artbyarshaad

Linkedin: Arshaad3

Twitter: Arshaad3

Facebook: @artbyarshaad

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlana is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.