David Simms: Making Pencil Dust creations

Ask him anything about his talent and David Simms will tell you about his relaxed world. An effervescent countenance marked by a smile as wide as the ocean and bright, engaging eyes filled with passion when he speaks about his drawing abilities.

Pencil Dust, is his brand, and producing portraits that reflect stark realism is his expertise. The 25-year-old artist treats his skill like a job, one that he adores chiefly because of the therapeutic properties that are associated with it. He works a nine-to-five in the business industry, which leaves him with limited time to exercise his craft. Still, he makes the most of it, especially on weekends. He draws from pictures.

Only recently did he consider using his talent to earn a profit. For years, it was just a hobby and a pastime activity when he was bored. In fact, he landed his first client by ‘mistake’ after being caught doodling in a conference.

ART AND CRAFT

Simms’ artistic aptitude has been obvious ever since he was a child. Recently, he sat with Outlook and reminisced on his early years when he first discovered and started to appreciate his capability. Drawings that superbly mirrored characters from the then popular animated film Dragon Ball Z signalled to him that he was capable of greatness.

“When I was in grade one, I used to get beatings from my teacher every day because of drawing in the back of my book at school. Sometimes, she would beat without even seeing the drawing. She would notice that a page was torn out, and instantly, she knew that it was because of a drawing. So, over time, my book got very thin. I remember her asking me one day if I wasn’t tired of her hitting me for the same thing. And I had to ask her the same question. I knew I wasn’t going to stop,” he said.

He stressed: “If I can conceptualise, then I can draw it. I try to get my work to look as realistic as possible. I don’t like when it looks like a drawing even though it is and I won’t give it to you either because I don’t want you to tell your friends that I did that. My art teacher taught me several techniques: grid method, freehand, and patching, just to name a few. I mix all of them to get the result I want. I don’t stick to one method.”

IT’S MY BUSINESS

The art enthusiast gives much credit to his high school art teacher at St George’s College, who he believes gallantly prepared him for the creative realm. Apart from this guidance, Simms has not received any other formal training. This is the only reason his work distinguishes him from others in his field.

“I wanted to go to the Edna Manley College of Visual and Performing Arts. I got accepted but when I saw the amount of money for the tuition I had to forget about it. That’s when I decided to pursue business and I went to the Portmore Community College instead,” he explained about the disappointment that eventually morphed into an advantage.

His knowledge in the enterprising sector is helping him to accurately balance and bolster his growing entrepreneurial venture. As he explained, this opportunity has caused him to realise that drawing is only half of what is required to have a flourishing business. The other half, he asserts, is having the knowledge to market his service.

For more information, contact David Simms at (876) 367-6767, or visit his Instagram page @ Pencil Dust.

rocheda.bartley@gleanerjm.com