Episode 106: How To Be A Successful Artist - Interview With Norman Wyatt Jr

Hamilton Perkins Collection

Artist Norman Wyatt Jr. seems to have always been involved in the Fine Arts. As early as the second grade, he would travel once a week to the area high school to sit under the gifted art instructor, surrounded by juniors and seniors. This passion would later lead Norman to pursue Fine Art at Virginia State University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communications, Art and Design. Much of Norman’s inspiration comes from his early years and past professional experiences. As a native of Virginia, Norman grew up captivated by the colors and sounds of nature. As a senior in college, Norman worked at an African-inspired gift shop, constantly surrounded by authentic sculptures, fabrics, and jewelry. After finishing college, Wyatt worked as an elementary art teacher, instructing kindergarten through fourth grade students. He would reach the imaginations of his young pupils by constantly adorning the classroom and halls with bright, energetic bulletin boards. Norman actually developed many of his signature techniques and looks during breaks from classes. ” I had a long table set up in the corner of my classroom, where I created numerous landscapes, still lifes, and abstracts, to keep myself painting. After a while, I realized that I had developed a look that was different or interesting enough to show a fine art publisher.” Wyatt equates being an artist to a sponge, constantly absorbing everything visually, to ressurect for later use. He loves the gift of being an artist, never taking it for granted. Norman lives in Virginia with his wife and three children.

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In 2014, Hamilton Perkins founded Hamilton Perkins Collection, an independent brand, designing and producing unique and award winning bags and accessories from recycled materials. Hamilton Perkins Collection exists to create timeless limited edition bags made from recycled plastic water bottles, pineapple leaf fiber, and billboard vinyl. The result is that no two bags are ever the same. Our first design, the Earth Bag Premium, was created so that our customers would not only carry a bag that was stylish but carry a bag they could be proud of. We surveyed more than 1,000 consumers to obtain their thoughts and feedback for each component of the Earth Bag Premium, which soon became one of our most popular designs. Perkins was the winner of the Virginia Velocity Tour hosted by the Governor of Virginia, and the recipient of a HUD Community Development Block Grant. The non-profit B Lab honored Hamilton Perkins Collection as a "Best for the World Overall" B Corporation in 2017. Hamilton Perkins Collection has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Money Magazine, and The Washington Post. The brand is currently offered in nearly 100 leading department stores and specialty stores in the United States, Canada, and Europe.