I’ve always loved to draw. Growing up, you could usually find me doodling in class when I should’ve been doing my schoolwork. Dragon Ball Z, Gundam Wing, and Yu Yu Hakusho sparked my love for anime, while comic books fueled my imagination. Those influences still show up today, especially in my pop-art-inspired customs.

My older brothers introduced me to sneakers, and Air Force 1s were where it all started. Then Nelly dropped “Air Force Ones,” and that definitely didn’t help my obsession! By the time I was working at Hibbett Sports in high school, I had a mountain of white-on-white lows in my room.

After graduation, a new job and everyday responsibilities pushed art into the background. For a while, I lost touch with that part of myself.

Then I met Jessica, the woman who would become my wife. A talented artist herself, she helped bring creativity back into my life. Her passion reminded me how much I loved making something of my own—and inspired me to start again.

Eventually, I brought my two loves together: sneakers and art. That became Fly Paper Customzz.

What started with sneakers has grown to include custom apparel, helmets, murals, and other original artwork—with plenty more still to come. Through it all, our purpose stays the same: to bring imagination to life and create pieces that mean something to the people who make them their own.

For me, Fly Paper Customzz is more than a business. It’s a return to something I’ve always loved, and a journey I get to share with my wife.

Your imagination. Our artistry.

#StayUp
— Brian

I’ve been drawn to art for as long as I can remember. As a child, I noticed the little things—the shapes, colors, and expressions that made something unique—and wanted to recreate them. Over time, that curiosity became a desire to capture not just how something looked, but how it felt.

Around age 12, I began taking art more seriously. I started with anime, then explored realism and surrealism, discovering how each style offered a different way to express an idea.

For me, art makes something personal tangible: a feeling, a memory, or a part of someone’s personality. Whether a piece sparks excitement, nostalgia, confidence, or connection, I want people to see something in it that speaks to them.

When I met my husband, Brian, art became one of the ways we connected. We worked together, and I would start a drawing and pass it to him. He’d add something, then pass it back. Those shared drawings gave us a chance to discover each other’s perspective and learn how to create together.

I always knew Brian was a massive sneakerhead. What I didn’t expect was how bringing his love of sneakers and art together would open a new chapter for both of us—as artists, business partners, and two people building something we genuinely love.

Sneaker customization introduced me to an entirely new canvas. Sneakers are expressive, personal, and meant to be lived in. They let art move beyond a wall or a page and become part of someone’s everyday story.

Through Fly Paper Customzz, I get to bring the art forms I’ve loved for years into work that people can wear and make their own. Whether I’m developing a custom design or creating live in front of someone, I’m still following the curiosity that started it all: taking an idea or a feeling and finding a way to make it visible.

— Jessica