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For Detroit artist Phillip Simpson, creativity isn’t something he discovered later in life—it’s something that has always been there. At 43 years old, Simpson jokes that he has spent nearly his entire life painting.

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“That’s all I know,” he says. “I’m 43, and I’ve probably been painting for at least 40 of those years.”

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An artist, muralist, father, and husband, Simpson carries many roles, but they all connect through the same foundation: a lifelong commitment to creative expression. Raised on Detroit’s east side, his work reflects both the energy of the city and the personal experiences that have shaped him over time.

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Simpson primarily works with acrylic paint and pencil, mediums that allow him to move fluidly between detail-oriented drawing and expressive painting. During the warmer months—especially when he can work outdoors—he often turns to spray paint, embracing the scale and spontaneity that mural work offers. But for Simpson, creativity is never confined to a single tool.

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“It doesn’t matter the medium,” he explains. “As long as I’m being creative.”

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That openness to materials reflects a broader philosophy about art itself. For Simpson, the act of creating is more important than the specific form it takes. Whether he’s working with paint, pencil, or spray cans, the goal is always the same: to remain connected to the freedom that first drew him to art.

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Today, one of his greatest sources of inspiration is his family—particularly his daughters.

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“My daughter inspires me,” Simpson says, before quickly correcting himself with a smile. “Actually, both of my daughters.”

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Fatherhood has deepened his perspective as an artist, but the energy he draws from youth has been a guiding force even longer. Long before becoming a parent, Simpson says he was inspired by the creativity and fearlessness that young people bring to the world.

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“I try my best to keep that youth energy in my work,” he explains.

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Sometimes that means intentionally resisting the rules he has learned over the years.

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“I’ll even rebel against my trained skills sometimes,” he says. “Just to make sure I stay free.”

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That tension between discipline and freedom is something many artists wrestle with. For Simpson, protecting that sense of creative freedom is essential to maintaining the spirit behind his work.

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When asked what advice he would give to artists who admire his success and want to follow a similar path, Simpson’s answer centers on one core idea: passion.

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“Keep that close to your heart,” he says.

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He explains that artists often face pressure to create for financial reasons or external expectations, and those pressures can sometimes pull them away from the feeling that first made them want to create in the first place.

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“You can stray off and start doing things just for the money,” he says. “But if you find a passion for something—something that gives you that feeling when you create—don’t lose that.”

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Simpson believes that feeling is universal. Whether someone is an artist, fashion designer, photographer, or any kind of creative, the emotional connection to making something meaningful is what sustains the journey.

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Life, of course, doesn’t always make that easy.

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“Sometimes you get hit with a blow from the world,” he says. “But don’t let that take away your purpose.”

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For Simpson, purpose is the word that ultimately defines his relationship with art.

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“I know I was put on this earth to do this,” he says. “This is all I know. This is all I ever wanted.”

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His message to other creators is simple but powerful: if that same calling exists within you, trust it.

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“If it’s in you,” Simpson says, “go for it.”