Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Redd
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Art was my first love. Before I even knew the depths of creativity, I found solace in a sketchbook, filling pages with anime characters, each one a reflection of the world I admired. But that love was short-lived.
In 5th grade, after returning home from Louisiana, I lost a binder that held over 60 drawings—a collection of my childhood passion. Whether it was misplaced or thrown away, it didn’t matter. That moment crushed my spirit. I felt like I lost everything, and with it, my love for art faded.
From then on, I threw myself into sports, finding a new passion in basketball and cross country throughout middle and high school. It wasn’t art, but it gave me a sense of purpose, something to chase. Then, in my junior year, I took a leap and joined speech and debate, where I fell in love with theatre and competitive acting. That passion carried me into college, where I pursued theatre further, believing I had found my true calling.
But something inside me whispered otherwise.
After a few years, I made a bold decision—I dropped out of college. Not because I wasn’t capable, but because I knew deep down that theatre wasn’t my true purpose. There was something greater waiting for me, something I couldn’t quite define yet.
For the next couple of years, I worked at Chick-fil-A, using my free time to study finance, investing, and business. I connected with like-minded people, hungry to build something meaningful. I even launched my own business, teaching others how to invest. But after a couple of years, that business failed. I found myself back at square one, wondering where to go next.
Then came the voice of my grandmother.
She would remind me constantly:
“You need to start drawing again. Don’t waste your talent. You’re blessed by God.”
At the same time, a friend of mine, a tattoo artist, echoed the same sentiment. I ignored it at first, but after my grandmother passed in August 2022, something changed. Her words stayed with me, urging me to pick up a pencil once more.
One day, I sat down with that friend, considering an internship under him to learn tattooing. But the moment I started building a portfolio, frustration set in. My interests had changed from when I was younger—I didn’t know what to draw anymore. And tattooing? It just didn’t feel right.
I wanted to create, but I wanted to do it on paper, on canvas—not on skin.
Then, one day, I saw my friend experimenting with white charcoal on black paper. Something clicked. The idea of drawing in reverse, using light instead of darkness, fascinated me. I had always used lead pencils and black ink, but this was different. It was new. It was a challenge.
At first, I struggled. Blending was a nightmare. The contrast felt unnatural. But then, I had a breakthrough. I realized that by manipulating the black canvas itself, I could create different values of white, forming shadows and depth without needing other colors.
By mid-2023, I had finally found my artistic voice. People online and in person reacted in awe to my work, and that energy fueled me. It wasn’t long before I sold my first piece, and at that moment, I knew—this was it. This was what I was meant to do.
But success wasn’t without struggle.
As I launched my business in late 2023 and early 2024, I was in a toxic relationship with a Latina woman who drained me emotionally. She cheated on me, breaking me in ways I never imagined. The pain was unbearable, and for three months, I couldn’t draw. My art—my newfound purpose—felt impossible to touch.
I spent most of 2024 trapped in that cycle, giving her chances she didn’t deserve, hoping for change that never came. At the same time, I lost close friends who resented my growth. They couldn’t stand to see me turn my passion into revenue, into a business. Envy can turn even the closest friendships bitter.
But then, something happened that reignited the fire within me.
Anointed and Called to Purpose
In March 2024, I went to church for the first time in over six years. I sat among nearly a hundred people, just looking for some clarity, some peace.
Then, out of nowhere, the pastor stopped his closing remarks, looked straight at me, and said:
“You look like a millionaire.”
He called me forward, bringing me to the pulpit. In front of the entire congregation, he anointed me, affirming something deep inside me that I had always felt but had been too afraid to claim:
I was meant for something greater.
That night, I had a dream that shook me to my core.
At first, it was a nightmare—the girl who had cheated on me appeared again, repeating the same betrayal. I woke up inside the dream, sitting alone in my car, hurt and confused. My phone was open, the screen glowing in the darkness.
On the screen was my bank account balance: $108.
I woke up immediately, heart pounding. That number… it meant something.
I started researching and what I found blew my mind. 108 wasn’t just a number—it was a symbol of infinite possibility, divine alignment, and abundance. It wasn’t about money—it was about purpose.
God was speaking to me.
He was telling me that my value wasn’t measured in dollars, but in the path He had laid out for me. That I was exactly where I needed to be. That abundance wasn’t just coming—it was already mine.
From that moment on, I pushed forward like never before.
I rebuilt myself. I trusted God completely. And the blessings came pouring in.
By the end of 2024, I had:
• Booked 50+ commissions in one year
• Performed a live speed painting for Wiz Khalifa at the Voyage Music Festival
• Gained massive recognition for my work, opening doors I never thought possible and so many other opportunities I was honored to be booked for
I was also let go from my job I had designing sprinkler systems in 2024, I made a choice. I went all in on my business. No more distractions. No more doubts. 110% faith in myself and in God.
Now, in 2025, I’m coming for everything.
Bigger commissions. Larger platforms. More opportunities. This is just the beginning.
To those who doubted me? Thank you. To those who supported me? I appreciate you.
To the ones still stuck in fear? I hope my story shows you that purpose isn’t found—it’s forged. Through pain, through loss, through faith.
And to God? Thank you for never letting me give up.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life has a way of shaping us through the hardest trials, molding us into versions of ourselves we never expected to become. For me, that journey started with one of the greatest losses I’ve ever faced—losing my grandmother in 2022. She wasn’t just my grandmother; she was everything. She raised me, my brothers, my mother, my cousins—even distant family members. She was the rock that held us all together, a force of strength that carried us through every storm. Her words of encouragement were the fuel that pushed me forward for years, and when she passed, it felt like the world shifted beneath my feet. But as painful as it was, her passing opened my eyes to life in ways I hadn’t seen before. It forced me to confront who I was and where I was headed, and ultimately, it became a catalyst for change.
That change came faster than I could have ever expected. Losing my job was another blow I wasn’t ready for. It was unexpected, unsettling—I had no plan for what was next. But looking back, I see now that it was the very thing that set my true path in motion. It forced me to take my art business seriously, to push harder, to invest more into my craft than I ever had before. What felt like a loss at the time was actually a redirection, one that led me to opportunities I never could have imagined.
But not everyone was happy to see me rise. Losing close friends due to envy was another battle I never saw coming. It’s a hard pill to swallow when the people you thought would be in your corner turn their backs on you. What hurt the most was realizing that strangers were often the first to support me, while those I held closest hesitated. The truth is, not everyone wants to see you win, and sometimes the ones you least expect are the first to root against you.
And then there was love—or at least, what I thought was love. The relationship I had in 2024 was a challenge in itself, testing my patience, my peace, and my sense of self. I lost myself in ways I never thought possible, and at times, it felt like I lost everything. But even through that darkness, I found a fire within me that refused to die. Every hardship, every betrayal, every moment of doubt only fueled me more.
When I look back at everything I’ve been through—the loss, the heartbreak, the setbacks—I don’t see failure. I see growth. I see a path that was never meant to break me but to shape me into the person I am today. Every challenge, every moment of pain, it all had a purpose. And for that, I’m grateful. My journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s mine. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My art is a reflection of my journey—one that embraces light in darkness. I work with white charcoal pencils on black canvas, flipping the traditional way of drawing upside down. Instead of adding shadows to a white surface, I pull light out of darkness, carving out highlights where others would typically create depth. This approach isn’t just a technique—it’s a metaphor for life, for my own story. I’ve always believed that even in the darkest moments, there is light waiting to emerge, and my art embodies that philosophy. Over time, this unique style has become my signature, setting me apart as an artist known for breathtaking white charcoal pieces and captivating live paintings. While my roots in theatre and acting have also made an impact on my creative journey, my heart now belongs to the canvas, where every stroke is a testament to faith, resilience, and purpose.
What I’m most proud of isn’t just my skill—it’s the person I’m becoming. I started with nothing, and through faith in God and unwavering trust in His plan, I’ve transformed my passion into something real. While I know there’s still so much more to accomplish, I can feel myself stepping into the best version of who I am meant to be. What separates me from others isn’t just my art—it’s the energy I carry. People have told me countless times that they can see something in me before I even speak. A presence, an aura of purpose. Many have said they see God in me, that there’s something special about me that radiates without words. I believe that’s not just talent—it’s divine purpose shining through. And this? This is only the beginning.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is my faith in God and making my grandmother proud. Those two things are what drive me every single day. My faith has been my foundation, guiding me through every challenge, every setback, and every success. I know that everything I’m doing is part of God’s plan, and that belief keeps me going even when things feel uncertain. My grandmother always saw something special in me—she believed in my talent before I ever did. Honoring her and making sure I don’t waste the gifts God blessed me with is what pushes me to keep creating, no matter what obstacles come my way.
At the same time, I use doubt and negativity as fuel. When people question what I’m doing or don’t believe in me, it only makes me work harder. I’ve learned that not everyone will understand the vision God has placed in me, and that’s okay. Instead of letting negativity break me, I let it motivate me. Every time someone doubts me, I take it as a challenge to prove to myself—not them—that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. I know who I am, I know what I’m capable of, and I know that God is leading me to something greater.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanreddcollection?igsh=ajB6bG5wajkwMG44&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16ELbfQtse/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://snapchat.com/t/dlU2CDpJ
