BIRMINGHAM, Al. -- Breath. It is the only focus on DeCario Allen’s mind. He sits perched upon the floor of his home. His legs lay crossed over one another, and his eyes are closed. He must balance his breathing as he awaits inspiration for his next painting. He is meditating before he creates his next masterpiece. His mind begins to wander. He sees captivating colors and the journeys he has embarked on in his exploration for inspiration. He welcomes this, remembering that his travels have always brought him to wondrous destinations.  Allen is a self-taught multi-dimensional visual artist. He paints, creates digital art, and produces artistic soundscapes. With a passion for creating alluring visuals, Allen hopes to reach more people to inspire. He honed in on his love of traveling to venture across the country to continue finding new inspiration. He considers himself a nomad. 

Allen grew up in North Carolina and began illustrating by hand at a young age. He remembered having a love-hate relationship with art when he first started. Allen watched as his peers endeavored in sports, clubs, and other activities. He sketched his interests like anime, cars, sneakers, and musical artists. Allen says it was his grandmother who noticed his talent in art.

She pushed him to continue taking art classes in high school and pursue enrolling in an art institution. Allen found himself fighting the stigma of art being a hobby instead of a reliable career. He worried about stability and took up studying business management at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. His degree landed him a career in information technology (IT). He moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and worked at The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). He continued to contract in IT but found some jobs stressful. He realized he needed to get back to his passion, art. He immersed himself back into the artwork to realign and relieve himself from stress.

“[Art] is an escape; it helps me clear my mind a lot,” Allen said. “Art fuels me with everything that I need.”

A medical journal published by The American Art Therapy Association stated that cortisol levels significantly reduce when a person engages in art-making. Cortisol is a hormone in the bloodstream that can increase as the body reacts to triggers from stress and anxiety. These studies have made way for art to be useful for therapeutic purposes. Art as therapy has helped people with various afflictions like anxiety, cancer, and PTSD. Creating and interpreting art allows people to self-reflect, focus, and process emotions. Art can uplift spirits and distract even the most stressed people.

“I like that art allows people to have their own interpretation to it,” Allen said.

Allowing art to reach others has been a struggle many artists have encountered. Art exposure is necessary to help others embrace its positive impact. When many people can experience art, it allows an artist’s passion to shine and inspire others. One of the benefits of being a multifaceted artist is Allen’s ability to expose it to different communities. He is currently using his IT experience to create audible art through musical soundscapes. He is presently researching animation as a new way to inspire more through his artwork. 

Allen has embraced his art career by moving across the country from Atlanta, GA to Washington, D.C., and relocating back to North Carolina. He worried about being perceived as a failure for moving back to his hometown. 

“Something told me I have another purpose somewhere else, ” Allen said. “I came back to a thriving city that loves art.” 

Allen described moving back to Durham, North Carolina, as one of his favorite accomplishments. North Carolina gave him more exposure to where his artwork could take him and what it could do for others. He had the opportunity to encapsulate his art in Durham by designing the cover art for Durham’s history book, The Bulls of Durham by Sheila Amir. This experience allowed him to prepare for his next journey, moving to Los Angeles, California, where he currently resides. 

Allen considers his travels as significant achievements because he could hone in on his craft in multiple communities. Art has allowed him to reach new places and people. He has enjoyed collaborating with others and uplifting aspiring artists from younger generations. 

Allen encourages aspiring creatives to continue doing what they love without seeking immediate validation. By staying true to his passion Allen has found success in art and says this is necessary to create the most inspiring artwork. 

“We need laughter; we need creativity, ” Allen said. “I know it sounds cliché, but children are the future.”

He says he is excited to see what young creatives can bring into the world by letting their personalities shine through their artwork. 

“I never thought in a million years I would be someone to inspire anybody,” Allen began. “But I just love it; I have a passion for what I do with my art, and no one else is going to have that passion like you when it's not theirs.” 

Recognizing this personal passion in a craft takes hard work but is worth it in the end. Allen can access his passion by pushing himself to collect new experiences with places and people. Meditating on the emotional connections he makes along his journey produces his best artwork. When a craft is recognized, it can vilify a person’s purpose and create happiness for themselves and others. This ability is what makes artists like Allen so inspiring. To support Allen and purchase his inspiring artwork, check out decarioallen.com.