His mind is twisting and his hands are steady. All these ideas just waiting to be spat out onto paper. The indecisive resolution on what piece to start on next. His ideas racing each other to be the next work of art that was created within him. The art that breaks the rules and the art that sets them, each piece that is made breaks different guidelines and creates new visions. Visions that take you to a whole world of spiraling art and creativity.

Junior Tristan Phillips spends most of his free time creating digital art for well-known musically talented artists. He thrives in the work he creates. The effort put into his art didn’t sprout from nothing. The inspiration that his music and art provides for him keeps him creating masterpieces and it has left a permanent mark on him. It encouraged him to continue on with this joy, to embrace it.

“It started off as regular digital artwork and then I decided to get into the musical field as well because I wanted to be known,” Phillips said. “I wanted to be more than just a regular artist. I wanted to do something that made me different from artists around the school.”

He started out a non-profit art account, but as he became more skilled, he found a way to make profit from his digital art. The price for his art ranges depending on the customer and their specific preferences for the designed piece.

“I ask them what their budget is, and they tell me what they need. I give them an estimated value, and usually it’s [between] $60 and $70 per cover if they want an actual cover,” Phillips said.

The quality of each art piece continues to rise as he designs more exclusive covers for more popular influencers such as Yung Smoody and GlockFive.

“I got tired of doing [my art] for free, and it seemed like I needed to be able to afford to upgrade and constantly push out more, better quality artwork.” Phillips said.

Overall, Phillips ends up pleased with the time and effort he puts into his work and never lets himself down due to his high expectations that he sets for himself and the art he creates. It’s only a matter of time before his digital art takes him places he thought he could only dream of.

“I plan to keep this as a job. After highschool, I plan to go to art school, UNT or UT. I plan to make money as a freelance artist and make album covers one way or another,” Phillips said.