Corry ROTTENCORR Rogers
5(ish) Questions for is a chance to discover and learn about St. Louis Creatives, Community Champions, and, well, just interesting people in and around our city. It's a deep dive into what they love and where their passion lies. It's an opportunity for all of us to see our region from a different perspective. This written interview is a peek into their lives and their outlook on St. Louis.
Corry Rogers is a passionate artist and former police officer who left his job to follow his dreams, creating bold and imaginative artwork through his brand, "RottenCorr Art." He balances his roles as a husband and father while inspiring others to take risks, pursue their passions, and find purpose in their work.
Hi Corry! Tell us a little about yourself…
I've had creative talents since I was a kid, but I never considered that I could really be an Artist as a career. I believed that I just needed to get a job. I want to encourage people that a job is not enough! It took some life experience and time for me to realize that I needed to follow my dreams. It may seem scary to take risks, but your heart always knows what you should pursue and the direction you should take.
In 2020, I took a risk at quitting my job as a Police Officer and pursued my career as a full time Artist. Prior to resigning, I would paint as a side job, but long work hours made it very difficult to complete any artwork. I expressed my desire to pursue my artwork fulltime to my wife and she encouraged me to resign, but I was afraid. My wife was also pregnant at the time, but I decided to take a risk on myself, so that I could provide a better life for my family. Since then, I've built my brand, RottenCorr Art, in which I specialize in paint on canvas. I also create digital art, murals, etc. My art is bold, bright, and whimsical. I also have a YouTube channel where I document each creative process.
What drives you; what gets you out of bed every morning?
My passion for art and providing for my family drives me. My “work hours” are constant, while balancing being a husband and father. I am my happiest when I’m creating. I get in my zone and it doesn’t feel like work to me. I believe, when passion meets purpose and hard work, success will follow.
How do you measure success, both in your personal achievements and in your contributions to the wider community?
I measure success by being a role model and inspiration to others and being able to leave a legacy for my children. My 3 year old son is my biggest fan. He loves to paint with me and knows every one of my YouTube videos precisely. It’s important to me to instill passion and work ethic in my children and ensure that they know they can achieve anything. Success for me is being financially secure in addition to being family oriented. I also hope to one day provide scholarships and mentorship to upcoming young artists.
What are some of your goals for the next year, or the next 5 years?
My goal is to continuously sell artwork, grow my YouTube channel, and keep sharing my talents with the world.
What do you do in your spare time?
I am a husband and a father of a toddler and an infant. What is spare time?! (LOL) If I’m not creating, I’m doing something fun with my family or enjoying a cigar with friends.
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