Nebulus Flair, The Body Painter

Photographed By Nebulus Flair

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
I was born and raised in West Philadelphia, and right now, I'm still living in Philly. I dont think I'll leave anytime soon.

WHAT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR PRESENT CITY OR YOUR HOMETOWN?
For me, the best thing about Philly is everything, if you ask me. From the good to the bad. I just feel like Philly births some really resilient people and it constantly serves an a reminder to remain resilient and to persevere.

WHAT WERE YOUR INFANT ASPIRATIONS?
At first my aspiration was just to have something to look forward to. And although that's still part of my reason it turned to really wanting to use this gift that seems like it just dropped in my lap. Like now I aspire to constantly amaze myself or shock myself. I aspire to really come out of this shell I've been in my whole life. I aspire to be more than I've ever fathom. It's a thrill when I think back on how art entered my life.

WHAT HAS BEEN A SEMINAL EXPERIENCE?
I would have to say it's my whole artistic career in general. Art has really changed me. It has been the only thing I've "stuck with" and it just never ceases to amaze me.

WHY ART?
At this point art is my reason. It's my joy. It's how I break away from this crazy ass world and what it tells and forces people to be or do. I look at art as a path or like a journey, what I'm witnessing along the way that I couldn't have seen any other way. Or, by doing what I was doing before the art came. Art is the infinite catalyst to my purpose.

WHAT'S YOUR BACKGROUND TRAINING?
I honestly have no formal background training in art. I lept and found my wings on the way. I didn't go to school or partake in any lessons as a child. So far my training has been trial and error. A lot of erasing and prime.

DO YOU PURSUE ANY THEMES THROUGH YOUR CRAFT?
The idea of freedom is reoccurring in my art. Freedom to be yourself, to break away, to find your own truth, to make your own way.

WHAT TOOLS AND MATERIALS DO YOU USE?
I'll literally use anything. Paint / body paint of course. But I find thrill in anything really. Anything big. I dont like small canvases. Glue. Glitter. My mind.

WHAT’S YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS?
I normally freestyle when I body paint. When I paint on canvas I usually have to see a vision of something cool. Or, I have to see colors. Like right now for some reason I see light blue and like fire truck red. It always starts as something I see. Then I get some water and turn music on and get busy.

WHAT OR WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOU?
Well when I first started painting I spent a lot of time alone. I sat with my thoughts a lot and when it got to be too much I would go to the library in the center city and just roam the art section. I was inspired more so by the stories of artists. When I got to Basquiat's name I feel like I fell in a hole reading up on him. I was heavily influenced and I think it was because he seemed like he couldn't paint at all when you saw his paintings, and there I was with no art background telling people I was an artist. And so I connected with him on another level. Thought it was hilarious when I found it he actually could paint and draw. I've had dreams about Basquiat. It was some time after I did a few art shows in the city when he came in my dream as the old Samo with the blonde Mohawk and he asked me if I was gonna have fun and I took it as like, "Hey, listen the moment your not having fun with this shit be done". So I'm constantly influenced to stay inspired and to have fun with this stuff. Basquiat keeps my art from the heart. I barely paint things I don't wanna paint or do things I don't want to do.

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE? 
My name is Nebulus, without the "O",  Flair...If anything my style will always let you know I do what I want. It's wispy and warm. Sugar and spice. This all goes for my fashion sense and art. My style is never the same two days in a row.

HOW DOES YOU AESTHETIC TRANSLATE IN OTHER ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE?
I'm so before my time I think, so spaced out that I kind of created a whole world with a population of one, to the point people in my city will know when I come around or know when I had my say in something creative because I just exude Nebulus Flair. Everything spills over to being raw, untamed and infinite.

ANY BEAUTY RITUALS YOU SWEAR BY?
Rest! I'm not one of them I'll sleep when I die persons. I think rest is very important. I also love drinking lemon and honey infused water. I notice it helps clear my skin if I drink enough.

HOW DO YOU SPEND A DAY OFF?
Resting and listening to music. Daydreaming.

HOW DO YOU STAY MINDFUL?
I spend a lot of time alone.