Equal Time: Nothing But Blue Skies with Xavier Cheek

By Tim Miner & Matt Olin

What can you create in five minutes?

We were inspired to ask this question of Charlotte creatives when OrthoCarolina rolled out a new online system that allows you to make an appointment in five minutes or less.

Five minutes. That may not seem like much. But, for a talented creative … five minutes is a world of time to make something amazing.

Thus far, we’ve seen a five-minute jazz piece from Maria Howell and Noel Freidline and an amazing Mandala design from Harvi Panchal. After finding his work on Instagram, we challenged 19-year-old painter, Xavier Cheek, to show us what he could make in 300 seconds. And, boy, did he answer the call.

Take a Five-Minute Flight with Xavier Cheek

An Artist from Jump

Xavier Cheek moved to Charlotte with his family 11 years ago. He was just 8, but he felt a creative call long before that.

“Ever since I could hold a pencil, it has been my dream [to be an artist],” said Cheek. “And 2020 was when I decided to make it my reality.”

Cheek creates digital art and works in watercolor, line art, graphite and spray paint. He just launched an online shop and is open for commissions. While Cheek’s had other jobs, art is now his main source of income. And, that’s just how he wants it.

“The vision of me being able to take care of everyone around me through art drives my work ethic,” he says. “My friends and family, especially my parents, have put too much time and effort into helping me succeed for me to not reciprocate the effort.”

Excited, but Cautious, About the Road Ahead

Cheek said he’s excited about the year ahead and that he’s “learned the power of speaking positively.”

But, he also sees that, though he’s confident in his abilities, the path of a full-time creative isn’t necessarily an easy one.

“Support is what’s needed,” said Cheek. “I would not have been able to make it this far without my support system, and I am fully aware the vast majority of people are not as fortunate. If the community as a whole feels [creatives] can succeed, more effort will be put in, resulting in more successful creators.”

Insight like that demonstrates that, while Cheek may paint clouds, his head isn’t lost in them.