Today we’d like to introduce you to Logan Pierson.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like everyone else, I’ve had obstacles in life to overcome. Still, if my final chapter were to be written today, it would be filled with stories of a largely charmed existence and a deeply held thankfulness for the incredible opportunities I’ve been given to succeed in life on so many levels. I grew up in a family full of love and genuine interest in my well-being and that of my two siblings. My older sister and twin brother helped make my childhood an adventure, one I look back fondly with so many terrific memories. Though my father was not prevalent in our lives, my mother’s father enthusiastically took over the responsibilities of head of the household. We moved in with my grandparents when I was in second grade in Miami, Florida. Soon after, my grandfather built a specially constructed wing just for us, including a large backyard pool. My Scottish grandparents and my beloved mother believed in education and that a positive attitude can go a long way in a happy and productive life. They also believed in giving back to others less fortunate.
Having such a big pool fostered a love of the water and revealed a heretofore-hidden talent to swim faster than any of our friends. This led years later to dozens of complete scholarship offers from colleges nationwide for my brother and me. We eventually both signed our “full-rides” to swim for Auburn University, but not before I had the honor of swimming for The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, where we won the State of Florida High School Championship and were later crowned Prep School National Champions, as well. I then qualified the summer after graduating from prep school in two events for the US Olympic Swimming Team Trials, held in Chicago, IL. My time in the 400-meter freestyle at the trials was good enough for a Top 25 World Ranking. My years at Auburn were also fantastic as I became an NCAA All-American, voted Team MVP, and Captain. Positive thinking played an essential role throughout school and after.
Soon after graduating from Auburn University with a BS Degree in Marketing, I was very fortunate to land a position with South East Toyota Distributors, a relatively small company at the time that distributed Toyotas to 165 dealers in the five Southeastern states of NC, SC, GA, AL, and FL, but one that would become a Florida-based automotive conglomerate that included financial services, warranty companies, and insurance entities. The owner of the privately-help company was Jim Moran, who would prove to be a one-in-a-billion mentor, benefactor, and leader to all of us lucky enough to be in his fantastic universe. Other company leaders such as John McNally, Al Hendrickson, Dick Knox, and Ted Pass followed his leadership. They helped turn the company into a $16B juggernaut, including large port facilities in Jacksonville, where our Toyotas would arrive from Japan. Over an eighteen-year career with SET, I was given countless opportunities to grow with the company and eventually became Group Vice President before leaving to start a series of my own tech-related companies—six to be exact. My talent extended into identifying trends such as WiFi before the name was even used. Starting up and later selling them is an adventure that is too long and involved to go into here. Positive thinking was a much-needed trait when dealing with start-ups.
Thanks. What else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I began practicing what would become Digital Art in 2007 when a land development company I was involved with offered the seaside Town of Briny Breezes (in Palm Beach County, Florida) $510M for its thirty-nine mobile home-filled acres nestled in between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway with A1A running through it. I became the go-to person for creating what our development might look like. At the same time, I became the press person for the worldwide media attention we received. We were featured on the AOL internet feed, all the major US TV Networks, Nightline, the BBC, and countless local and regional news TV and Radio broadcasts. Of course, the newspapers kept an almost daily log about what we were up to (some of it was accurate, but only sometimes).
My days were spent creating digital renderings of what we might develop on the beach or speaking with another news organization. My interest grew in the new technology not yet called Digital Art, and it soon became a passion that I practice today, being in two galleries in Fernandina Beach, Florida.
My Digital Artwork led to the creation of the Amelia Island Water Taxi and Amelia Island Rodeo series, featuring various cowboys riding hummingbirds. About 60% of my artwork involves commissioned pieces where I’ll place people in my images, from family members to business associates, pets, etc. Whatever I or my clients can dream of, I can create. Creativity and a willingness to go down rabbit holes are what distinguish me. Sometimes, going the wrong way on a project and having to back your way out is an excellent way to learn. Again, a positive attitude and a never-give-up mentality, plus a desire to learn, is a must if you’re going to succeed.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Health, Happiness, and Love come from family and giving back to others in any form you can. It doesn’t have to be financial giving. It can be simply serving. When I graduated from Auburn, I was an avid reader of Dr. Wayne Dyer. He, like my grandfather and Jim Moran, was a great believer in the power of giving.
Pricing:
- Most of my Digital Art pieces range from $150 to $500. Commission art may be more, depending upon the scope.
Contact Info:
- Website: LoganPierson.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/pierson.logan/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loganpierson/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LPierson72
