I kept wanting to push my image as validity; I wanted to see my portrait on a wall and know it was okay.

It is hard to produce work in New York. You kind of have to center yourself - do some Zen meditation exercises and just focus. It is very distracting, and money, of course, is an issue.

Being a black artist, the first thing people want to talk about is your blackness, the importance of your blackness and your black presence.

Hank Willis Thomas is great. He's the one who "discovered" my work and saw something that I didn't see. He's still constantly pushing me to try out new ideas and not be afraid of what other people will say. He truly is a mentor, and I often ask him about the art world, how to juggle it all and not lose your mind. It would be like accepting an award without thanking him because he really has been so supportive.

Kerry James Marshall especially was a huge influence on me in graduate school, as were Wangechi Mutu and Julie Mehretu. These artists are titans. My education was also very much in comic books, so I've been going to comic book events in New York and have met a few artists there.

I dont think about race before I start drawing. I think about how to make that mark to fit whatever purpose I need it to fulfill.

I needed to create something I could take with me wherever I went.