The word “versatile” is used to describe a lot of things and people, but it won’t be a waste to use it on visual artist and illustrator Marlie Decopain. She’s designed storyboards for Nike, Time Warner Cable, Coach, Dove, Prudential, and even a Ricky Martin music video. Her professors at the prestigious School of Visual Arts (from which she graduated) taught her well you might say. But as she explains during our interview, she was born into it, thank you very much.

Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, she immigrated to the United States when she was sixteen years old. She recently joined forces with the entrepreneurs behind the Haitian chocolate brand Askanya, and yielded a stunning design for their candy bar.

Kreyolicious: How did you become an artist?
I can’t say that I came to be an artist. Being an artist as always been a part of my identity. I’ve always loved to draw, and I drew all the time as a very young child living in Haiti as many young children do. But while some kids stop when they find new interests, I kept going. In my early teenage years a woman moved next door and told my parents that she was running an art school out of her home. Naturally my parents enrolled me. There, I continued improving on my drawing skills and also began painting seriously and exploring pottery. I was introduced for the first time to European art history and various drawing and painting styles. This is where I really got my foundation, in my neighbor’s home in Haiti. I moved to the US at 16 where my creative pursuits continued. I signed up for art class at the High School I attended and within the first few classes I realized that I needed more from the class in order to advance my craft. I spoke to the teacher and got moved to a higher level class. At that point I really knew that when it came to art there was no turning back for me.

Kreyolicious: People find it hard to grasp that visual creatives can experience blocks. But some do. Is that the case with you?
Yes, of course. I think any creative person can experience blocks. It’s part of the journey.

The wrapper design for Askanya, a Haitian chocolate brand.

Kreyolicious: How do you resolve those moments?
If it happens while I’m in the process of working on something I usually step away or put the piece aside and come back to it later or in a couple of days depending on my schedule. This allows me to look at the piece with fresh eyes and brand new ideas. If it happens before I even start, I typically turn to things that inspire me.

Kreyolicious: You attended and graduated from the School of Visual Arts. What were some of the most important things you learned while there?
Not only did I learn a new art form, but I learned how to be a professional. SVA sets high standards and demands a high level of skills and work ethic. I learned that being a creative isn’t the same as being a creative professional. Being a creative requires skills while being a creative professional requires that and much more.

SVA also taught me the importance of collaboration. While you might see your peers as competitors they can be great assets in building your career and your brand. Bringing your voices and skills together and cultivating one another’s strengths becomes an enriching experience for everyone.

Above: A storyboard Marlie Decopain designed for one of Nike’s campaigns.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT MARLIE DECOPAIN’S WEBSITE!

Follow along as I continue my interview with illustrator and visual artist Marlie Decopain. Marlie has worked with Nike, Prudential, and pop star Rick Martin, creating eye-catching visuals and illustrations to help them promote their brands. She’s a graduate of New York’s School of Visual Arts. If you missed the first part of the interview, CLICK HERE.

Kreyolicious: When you’re creating, what do you surround yourself with?
I don’t surround myself with anything in particular, but being in solitude is important in the beginning of my creative process. It’s when I’m alone that I get inspired. It’s like filtering out everyone’s voice and energy so that I can hear and feel my own.

Kreyolicious: Would you say that being a creative has more plus than minuses?
I don’t think it can be measured in that way. I think that every day brings its own joys and challenges in various degrees and it’s just a matter of perspective. I do think though that there’s something special about being an artist and it’s that it requires that you touch your soul to create.

Kreyolicious: You have this piece entitled “Naked Roots”. How did that come about?
Naked Roots came about some time after I cut off my relaxed hair and started wearing my hair in its natural state. It was inspired by my journey of discovering my natural hair. After I cut off my hair, I realized that there was a whole community of women embarking on the same journey. Naked Roots was for me and also for them. These women were learning, unlearning and relearning how to properly care for their hair. Some went from seeing it as something to mask to loving it for its beauty and authenticity.

For me, this piece started out as an homage to hair but over time also became about making peace with and finding power in who you are as a person naked at your roots.

Kreyolicious: Out of all your visual creations, which was created with the most glee?
I enjoyed making all of my pieces, but I think that my series called ”Tribute” was the most special to me. It’s a series of 10 artwork, each featuring one of the many aspects of Haitian culture that I experienced as a child living in Haiti. This series allowed me to reconnect to my country through my art and to also bring those memories back for many Haitians in the diaspora.

If you missed the first part of this conversation, please CLICK HERE to read it!