Meet Randy Evans of Elusif Xklusif in Downtown Glendale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Randy Evans.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Randy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember growing up in Virginia. My first love was the pencil & pad. On the east coast, sneakers are a way of a life and I would always want the freshest pair. Whether or not I could afford them was another matter & when I could too often, I wasn’t the only person wearing them. My personality is one that likes to stand out from the crowd. This leads to customizing sneakers. Beginning in my junior year of high school, I would take my old sneakers & paint different designs on them in acrylic paint, puffy paint, foam letters, whatever I could get my hands on. The first pairs weren’t too durable, so I set my goal to create a customized/painted shoe that would last like a sneaker from the manufacturer itself. Thanks to the internet, I stumbled upon a community of people which has ballooned into what is, today, the custom sneaker industry. There, I learned the proper materials & techniques for creating a painted sneaker that would last and still look good.

In 2009, I painted my first pair of shoes for a customer a pair of TOMS. I began to paint on everything else as well walls, canvases, tables, chairs, jeans, watches, etc. I always wanted to offer a bit of my flavor to the rest of the world. In the same year, at Impact 360 in Pine Mountain, GA, Elusif Xklusif was officially started complete with email & website domain (www.xklusif.me), then an Etsy Shoppe (elusifxklusif.etsy.com). Fast forward ten years later & I’m making artwork for people all across the nation & overseas. Custom sneakers still make up the bulk of my volume, where I specialize in making 1-of-1 pieces, catering to the individual. I do offer some limited run options in my Etsy Shoppe as well. Just last week, I delivered a personal pair to be donated to Impact 360 to showcase; the pair is inspired by my experience there, all I learned, & how it helped to catapult me to where I am today.

Has it been a smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Sales have been up & down over the years. The trial & error of figuring out what type of paint and brushes to use. I’ve been using Angelus Leather Acrylic paint for a decade & it is not cheap; finding the funding for my dream was a great obstacle. Discovering new & better techniques to create more innovative, durable, & better looking pieces of art. I had to figure out how to market myself, both online & in-person, to appeal to buyers & make sales – this is something that I am still learning. I photograph everything myself mostly, so I had to develop my photography skills. I’m still fine-tuning my airbrush skills. Elusif Xklusif & I are still, very much, a work-in-progress.

We’d love to hear more about your art.
I’m an artist. I take inspiration from a person’s story, their interests, dreams, background, etc. to create a 1-of-1 piece of artwork that is specific to them across any canvas of their choice. Recently, I’ve been making limited runs of different ideas of mine available for people to purchase as well. My most popular canvas is footwear, particularly sneakers & heels. I use a lot of vibrant colors & odd color combinations. I enjoy mashing up patterns and exploring the boundaries of shape, line, & color. I’m not afraid to try anything once. I consider myself to be a painter with a wide spectrum. I pride myself on super clean lines, execution, & top notch quality.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Phoenix is an excellent place for artists like me. The city has a dedicated district for the arts, as well as festivals and many different communities. The booming economy is also a plus when thinking about sales and gaining some traction. Phoenix has many visitors from all over every year, so there are opportunities for your work to go abroad as well. Our close relative location to Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las Vegas is also a networking plus.

Pricing:

• Adult Shoes start @ $150
• Kids Shoes start @ $100
• Toddlers Shoes start @ $75
• Custom Denim starts @ $200
• Custom T-shirts start @ $50
• Custom Hoodies start @ $100
• Custom Hats start @ $75
• Custom Watches start @ $60
• Custom Purses start @ $120
• Custom Vests/Jackets start @ $150/$200
• Custom Chairs start @ $250
• Custom Tables start @ $350
• Custom Heels start @ $120

Contact Info:

• Website: www.xklusif.me
• Phone: 7697770278
• Email: daretobe_@xklusif.me
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xklusifly_me/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/be.xklusif/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/xklusifly_me
• Other: elusifxklusif.etsy.com

Image Credit:
Tiffany Ashley

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