UofM senior, Jarvis Howard, posing behind an abstract mural he spray-painted as commissioned by Oak Court Mall.
University of Memphis senior and professional studies major Jarvis Howard said although he endured many life struggles, those struggles did not deter him from swaying off his path toward success.
Howard, 24, said growing up in Tunica, Mississippi, with a single parent and two other siblings was difficult, and he often found himself in the streets with people badly affecting his life.
“I used to hang with the wrong crowd,†Howard said. “I called myself trying to gangbang with the wrong crowd. You know, do this, do that, stealing out of stores and stuff like that. And it wasn’t me, but when you’re with your friends, you’re just trying to be a part of something.â€
Howard said his brother’s death in 2004 caused his mother to become less concerned with his whereabouts.
“It was impossible for my mom to be a mom to me because she was already grieving over a child,†Howard said. “It’s like she couldn’t be out there trying to find out where I was at because she had never lost a child.â€
Though faced with adversity early in his life, Howard said art became a hobby when two of his cousins encouraged him to draw for the first time.
“I had two cousins that used to draw really well, and (they) gave me the inspiration because they used to babysit me,†Howard said. “I used to watch them draw Dragon Ball Z characters all the time. The next thing I know, they were forcing me to draw.â€
Howard said his motivation to get better at drawing began in third grade after he was disqualified from his school’s Drug Free Week poster contest because he used his cousin’s artwork to win the $100 prize.
“I just got this motivation inside of me,†Howard said. “I don’t know what it was. Every day in class, I would ask my teacher when I finished my work if I could I go to the library. I was always the odd one. I just used to get my cartoon books and just go to the side and do my own thing.â€
As Howard refined his artistry from grade to grade, Howard said reassurance from the people around him convinced him he had a talent.
“A high school teacher came to me and she was like, ‘You draw better than the high school students,’†Howard said. “And (she) just gave me the feeling right there like, ‘I got it.’â€
Howard said drawing as a hobby led to an infatuation for art, but his love for it has been fading away since he started selling his work.
“I used to have a passion for (art), but now I don’t have a pas- sion for it like I used to,†Howard said. “I used to draw, you know, when I was bored ... that’s when it became a hobby. But, when it started actually doing good, it ended up turning into a business.â€
Howard said the negative atmosphere and frustrations of Howard’s family life in Mississippi would sometimes prevent him from drawing and creating art.
“It’s not the fact that I don’t want to do art, I think it’s the environment that I am in,†Howard said. “When I’m in Mississippi, there’s so much negativity it weighs on me. It keeps me from creating to the point where I just want to give up on it.â€
Howard said it is refreshing to return back to campus from school breaks because he is surrounded by positivity and people that want to better themselves.
Since learning how to paint and use graphic design, Howard has gained immense support from communities both local and on several social media platforms.
“I literally picked up a paint brush last September,†Howard said. “That was my first time painting out of my whole life. I didn’t know what I was doing, I was nervous ... it’s just been going crazy ever since.â€
Howard released his first ‘90s babies coloring book last fall, which included several characters from shows like “Rocket Power,†“Arthur†and “Recess.†Howard said the idea came to him while he was doodling in class because he was bored.
“I was in class one day, and I was just drawing SpongeBob,†Howard said. “I drew SpongeBob to the point where it was so good, I was like I should put all the characters inside his body. I was just trying something. I put Patrick, Squidward, Mr. Krabs and Sandy. I was like, ‘That looks good. I’m going to do every cartoon.’â€
Howard said his coloring book is based on cartoon characters from the ‘90s because that is the era he grew up and the shows are relevant and can appeal to anyone.
“I like the ‘90s because you can tie generations into it,†Howard said. “Like, no one can ever say they don’t like the ‘90s cartoons because they’ll never go out of style.â€
Howard said he plans to release more coloring books soon. Some themes for his future coloring books are Black Lives Matter, Black History Month and a coloring book of memes.
When Howard graduates this spring, he said he wants to join AmeriCorps to spread positivity and inspire kids in schools.
“Seeing kids come to school smiling and helping them, I think that’ll motivate me in a way to keep me positive,†Howard said. “Knowing I can help students out with their work and inspire them.â€
Howard said he is proud of the impact he has made on the community in Memphis and is humble and grateful for the opportunities he’s received from sharing his talent.
“I’ve done a lot of murals,†Howard said. “I never thought I’d have my name on murals around the city, and that’s what’s so shocking to me because I try to tell a lot of people that I’m not from Memphis. But Memphis embraces me to the point where I don’t have a choice but to represent it and own it like it’s my hometown. Memphis is my second home.â€
