Cloudy Visions is a really dope local Jersey City artist when I first saw his work it gave me a huge smile. You can tell by his pieces that he is a really happy and positive person, so of course I had to meet him! We met up for coffee one day at the Warehouse Cafe and talked about life, music, and art. Now that’s my kind of morning.

What’s your name?

My name is Danai Graham, and I go by the name Cloudy Visions.

Why Cloudy Visions?

Cloudy Visions: I think that clouds can be interpreted in many different ways and by many different people. Like some people will say I see a guy, or it looks like a female, or a dog, so that’s the way I feel about my art. I want people to look at it from different angles and have different views on it to understand my story. So yeah the visual part is obviously I paint with a lot of colors, and bright, kind of in your face so if you are walking pass it, I want you to see it from far away.

What do you do? Do you just do art?

Cloudy Visions: No. I am an engineer, which is my nerdy job.

So this is your passion.

Cloudy Visions: Yeah. Absolutely.

How would you describe your art? It’s very colorful and happy.

Cloudy Visions: Yeah. Exactly. Very colorful and happy. I base my art on the music that I am listening to.

Which is?

Cloudy Visions: I listen to everything. My favorite group is Slum Village, A Tribe Called Quest, Fantastic Two is like my favorite album of all time. I listen to a lot of Selection, Monty Booker, and a bunch of other people.

Positive, happy music.

Cloudy Visions: Positive happy music, but I paint.

A message.

Cloudy Visions: Exactly, but when I paint I only listen to instrumentals. When I paint I listen to instrumentals because I am thinking of the words that I would put in it if I were a singer or a songwriter, and then I paint what I’m feeling.

How long have you been painting?

Cloudy Visions: Seriously a year and a half or two years ago. I have always drawn, kind of sketched things around, but yeah.

Tell my a little more about your subject matter.

Cloudy Visions: This one is called, In My Emotions. It’s just me kind of like he is giving away like he is pulling his heart because he is very passionate about the things he is, but he’s also super insecure, super emotional. These colors are how I feel like anger and joy. I just kind of sketch what is on top of it last minute.

I love it.

Cloudy Visions: Yeah, this is probably one of my favorite ones. It sold, which is cool.

Oh, that’s awesome.

Cloudy Visions: Yeah. I get to drop that off in a couple of days. Somebody brought it in California from Instagram, which is cool. Yeah and this one I don’t have a name for it. This is kind of trippy colors and cool. And this one I love, it’s called I Hear People Talking. This is me on a day to day. I am always zoned out; I always have headphones on, and its like my boss is here, a picture of my boss and it’s just like blocking out everything. Just doing what you got to do and in your zone. Yeah, I wrote a few little things I’m hearing so when people read it, it’s like little sayings and stuff.

That’s awesome. So where in Jersey City are you from?

Cloudy Visions: I live near Garfield.

Did you grow up in Jersey City?

Cloudy Visions: No. I grew up in London. We moved here when I was twelve.

You don’t have an accent.

Cloudy Visions: I know, and it sucks! It would be cool if I could turn it on once in a while, but when I go back, which is like every year I kind of pick it back up.

I hear a little bit.

Cloudy Visions: Sometimes, certain words I say people be like oh that’s weird.

So you moved to Jersey City from London. Why Jersey City?

Cloudy Visions: My mom wanted me to come out here and be the best I could. There was a lot of weird stuff happening when I was living back home. So we came here, and we were like all right we are going to start fresh, and everything is going to be brand new. It was hard for me to get adjusted to Americana and the school systems are different, but it worked out for the good.

How do you feel Jersey City has changed in the last couple of years?

Cloudy Visions: I love, love, love Jersey City. I am trying so hard not to move away from here; it’s crazy. I just need to buy a ground spot, and I will be set for life. I think it’s so dope especially down here it’s like really artsy. It is like an extension of Manhattan but in its own cool way. I drive around a lot just looking at murals and random pieces of art. I don’t know it’s just such a cool vibe.

It’s inspiring.

Cloudy Visions: Yeah, super inspiring. I just can’t wait to see how it’s going to be in the future it will get even doper.

Do you have a favorite hangout spot in Jersey City?

Cloudy Visions: Two. I’m free, so I love going by like the Waterfront. This summer I plan on painting out there a lot and just kind of just have my drawings out there and vibe out. My favorite restaurant is Karverie.

Everyone loves Kraverie. So what inspires you to paint? Do ideas just come to your head?

Cloudy Visions: Yes. Music or if I hear something somebody says or if I see something randomly on my phone like Instagram or anything. It kind of catches my eye and then I just let myself zone out. Concentrating on it and then whatever comes out just comes out.

Do you have any plans for your art?

Cloudy Visions: Yes. I want to do my own solo art show this summer. It’s like killing me that I need to finish this thing and get it done. I think to have a location, which is awesome, but I kind of want to try and get a better one.

In Jersey City?

Cloudy Visions: Yeah, it’s going to be in Jersey City. Realistically I just want people to see my art. I can be careless; I make stuff super affordable, so I am not one of these people thirsty for money for art I just want you to have it in your home. Just to make your space happier, that’s all.

How long does it take you to do this?

Cloudy Visions: A couple of hours. I kind of go over everything 150 times over and over and over.

Do you do any commissions?

Cloudy Visions: Yeah for sure. Absolutely. I have my site up CloudyVisionsArt.com You can hit me up there or on Instagram.

Anything else you want people to know about you?

Cloudy Visions: Yeah. I just love what I do. I do what I love and like I said my art is super affordable. I just want people to love it and put it in their homes and just enjoy it and get to know me, too.

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