Story & Lesson Highlights with Levon Ravenell of Phoenix

We recently had the chance to connect with Levon Ravenell and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Levon, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
Has to be a tryst fund to leave my kids and future generations

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Levon Ravenell is a multidisciplinary artist born in North Charleston, South Carolina in 1991 and now based in Phoenix, Arizona.
Key aspects of his work:
Primary Medium: Oil painting, with occasional use of digital art and photography.
Focus: Figurative paintings exploring the complexities of human nature, moods, and feelings.
Style: Often presents his work in thematic series and uses a distinctive red frame.
Technique: Inspired by the old masters, using oil paint on primed canvases stretched over wood frames.
Emotional Resonance: His art is known for its deep emotional impact and intricate details, encouraging viewer introspection.
You can find examples of his art on his website levonravenell.com and Instagram accounts (@levonravenell and @levonpaints). He has also worked as a songwriter.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
March 1st, 2009, was my 18th birthday. I was almost killed in a head-on collision in Charleston, SC. It gave me this surreal understanding of life, death, and my purpose for being here. It taught me that you are not promised tomorrow and that at any moment, you can be taken away. It motivated me to use what I feel like is borrowed time to not only achieve any goals I set from that point forward, but also to try everything win, lose, or draw because at the end of your life it’s your experiences and what you left with people that determine how your life went.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I’ve had a very tough upbringing. I am most thankful for the ability to utilize compartmentalization. It has been one of the most valuable skills you can have. We are humans, we all feel emotions, but after those emotions, you still have a job to do. The faster your mind starts working on a solution, the easier it is to get through whatever you are going through. Every obsticale I’ve faced, has allowed me to utilize this skill and not dwell on momentum killing emotions that can cripple you.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
Before you die, try everything. Leave behind an instruction manual for your descendants on how to build on top of the foundations that you’ve spent your life creating. Focus on things that will outlive you.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
There are probably thousands of stories out there that could be told. I think what I hope people talk most about is that I lived my life with the purpose of fulfillment. No matter what the outcome was, I was willing to try everything.
That the experience and journey of discovery is the key to fulfillment in your life, and you shouldn’t let pressure from anyone dictate that.
When it’s all said and done, only you can decide if your life was worth it.
Regret to me is the 2nd greatest sin.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://levonravenell.com
• Instagram: @Levonpaints