Artists of the Week
11/11/2019
1. Who are you?
Hello, I’m goose. I’m a nonbinary artist using they/them/theirs pronouns & sweating through my shirt.
2. What are your favorite 3 colors?
My three favorite colors are all the types of green, teal, & bluish purple (indigo?). Red is definitely a close fourth, though. Lol
3. What does art mean to you?
Personally , art is a huge part of how I process & express thoughts & feelings. Its very much something I couldn’t live without.
4. Did you want to be an artist when you were young?
Once it actually occurred to me that art could even be a job, oh absolutely, completely & totally. There didn’t seem to be another option. Especially once my definition of “art” broadened.
5. Any advice for a new artist?
My advice for a new artist would be to create as often as possible, do what fulfills you, & experiment (& by extension, fail at experiments)
6. What message do you convey through your artwork?
I don’t know if it’s really a message but, right now, I’m kind of trying to draw a bunch of very differently presenting nonbinary people with bizarre or surreal backgrounds to express the kind of weird & wonderful & varied ways people come to understand the nature of their gender(s). This is subject to change, though. I don’t like doing one thing for too long.
7. Where did you derive your inspiration from?
I’ve been drawing weird surreal faces forever but I did also take some clear inspiration from Steven Universe. & I mean, I’m also drawing from my own experience for sure.
8. Do you have any pets?
Yes! I have a poodle mix of some kind named Pepper.
9. If you could spend the day with any person, dead or alive, who would it be?
Freddy Mercury.
10. If you could change the world, where would you start?
I mean, it’d be rad if we could stop the earth from being destroyed so I guess I’d dismantle capitalism. That’d be a lovely start.
1. Who are you? My name is Jose Luis Yepez, I am 21 years old and I am from Southern California.
2. What are your favorite 3 colors? Pink for fierceness, black matches with with anything so there’s that one and red because it catches the eye.
3. What does art mean to you? To me, its your stance and take on reality. What you feel or felt at the time, you can re-create it with art or vice-versa.
4. Did you want to be an artist when you were young? No not really? I never liked the idea of being ‘ something’ or committing my younger self to a future I didn’t know I would like or dislike. I still don’t know if I want to be an artist, but sometimes it feels like there’s no choice, the ideas and inspiration can be overwhelming.
5. Any advice for a new artist? It’s ok to struggle and get frustrated. Art can be like that but trying is what I believe makes you better. So practice practice practice because in art there is no such thing as a failure.
6. What message do you convey through your artwork? This is me and this is who I am , from thousands of lines drawn together side by side to little scribbles that are completely inconsistent with each other, it all depends on how I describe my work.
7. Where you derive your inspiration from? A lot of pain. Life really challenges me with all the messes it throws so art became a way to escape from being in mental and emotional pain. Its important to cope with pasts like these because we have to move on with our life eventually and get through the bullshit of struggling. We all deserve comfort because I know there’s a lot of people like me who have lived undeservingly uncomfortable for too long. Too those of you who are like us: art is the escape that saved me from literally just myself, you are your hero, become your inspiration, and be patient because it will come.
8. Do you have any pets? Paku my cat my baby,Akasha my dog my smile and sunshine, Daisy my dog my joy and comfort, Joey my dog and special loving boy, and Benji my puppy my miracle and perfect friend. Together we are all a team and family.
9. If you could spend the day with any person, dead or alive, who would it be?
My dad, I miss him.
10. If you could change the world, where would you start? In the hearts of the people of our world. We are all capable of finding love and changing the world to be a place of love so if I could change the world I would start in the hearts of the people of our world.
10/30
9/2
Question: Any artist advice?
"The best artist advice I can give you is to just never stop. Whether your making art for your eyes only, or to share with other people, just keep creating. And always create for yourself, and don’t compromise your own style to please others. Stick to your guns and stay true to yourself and your art."
Question: If you could have dinner with any artist, who would it be?
"If I could have dinner with one artist is would be Jean Michel Basquiat."
Question: What's your process and your fav. part?
"My favorite part of the process is feeling like the piece itself takes over and I become an spectator of my own work, it allows me to feel connected to my artwork in a really cool way."
8/08
When did you first discover art?
"hmm i would draw when i was little and then when my parents divorced in 8th grade that was when i really dove in. I didn’t realize at the time how much i was using it as a tool to release my emotions. I explored it more in high school and my senior year when i took AP studio art i did some hyper realistic colored pencil pieces and i realized that i had a talent and that i didn’t ever want to stop."
What inspires you the most?
"Everything haha, but the last year for me has been about highlighting the expansion of our consciousness. Art has always been cathartic so allowing each of my experiences to channel some kind of visual representation of what i’ve journeyed through. I found a lot of inspiration also when i read a book by the artist Alex Grey called “The Mission of Art” and it talks about how much of an impact you can have on the collective when you create from the heart."
What are your plans for the future? Are you on the path?
"Plansssss for theeee futureeee, i’m definitely manifesting to do a mural, so if you know of any places let me know!<3 Honestly each day i've been learning to create all that serves me most in that moment. All i’ve ever wanted to do is make art from the heart to inspire and be able to fully support myself. So each day i’ve been putting my ego in check and listening to my higher self, the possibilities are endless and i’m open to whatever resonates most. "
What is the message conveyed through your art?
"I know, feel, and have experienced that we are all one collective consciousness. I feel that my soul came here to deliver that message through visual arts. So i really try to highlight the presence of energy and the interconnectedness of life. I’ve also always really embraced the female form in its natural state so nude women are always incorporated into my pieces."
Any advice for future artists?
"If you’re scared or have any doubts about putting yourself and your art out there put all those aside because that’s just the ego trying to hold you back from reaching your highest potential. Create from your heart, don’t let others projections about what is “right” and “wrong” keep you from expressing yourself. It’s just an illusion that you can do something wrong everything serves and can be learned from. You’ll learn so much about yourself and what you’re capable of<3 "
How do you seek out opportunities?
"I just ask. I got my first opportunity with Basrev<3 and then I seen a flyer from another local production team and asked if i could set up a table. Instagram is an awesome tool to find shows. There’s also the local art walks that you can apply to online, riverside is a really good one so is Pomona. I’ve been vending for a lil more that 2 years now so from reaching out and making friends people do reach out to me and ask if i’d like to be apart of the space. But yeah just ask! The worst they could say is no, and DON’T let that stop you from asking some more :) "
What is your favorite piece of personal artwork and why?
"Honestly i don’t know if i could pick one. I love them all and they’ve all had such huge learning lessons for me<3"
What’s your favorite memory so far as an artist?
"Recently i went on a self discovery retreat in Canada and we had an experience where one of the gentlemen played some of the music that he composed and it took us on a journey through all of the different emotions that we experience in this existence. I set all of my supplies out and when the music started i just started channeling and listening to the guidance from my higher self and allowed the music flow through my heart and into my hand. I had so much appreciation for having such a beautiful talent and for being able to purge some programs that no longer serve me."
Message to the world if they’d listen?
"We’re all souls that have came to have a human experience. We are one and we are all just different aspects of each other. There’s always something to be learned, be thankful for everything we’ve ever been through because it’s all served and brought us to this moment. Give more love, stop passing judgments."
What do you like most about being an artist?
"Being able to inspire others<3"
Question: Where do you find inspiration?
"I find inspiration in the natural things that are uniquely compelling to me, like mushrooms and tongues."
Question: What's your process and your fav. part?
"I start with a sketch, and develop that into a three dimensional positive. I make silicone molds of these positives and make multiples in different materials - like plastic and cement. "
Question: Why do you create art?
"I create art because it is my way of communicating about myself to others. It is a very elevating experience for me."
7/15
Question: Where do you find inspiration?
"I find inspiration in feelings and emotions the very things that make us human. When I first picked up a camera I wanted so badly to be able to take pictures of every single person I ran into because to me it meant even if I never spoke to them again that moment and that memory would be captured for eternity."
Question: What's your process and your fav. part?
"I used to have a process where I would get home right after work get ready and either find a ride to a show or a party. And just take as many pictures as I could that night and make as many friends as I could. But at the time I was lonely. Present day me seems to have it more together so whenever I do take pictures nowadays I stack up the rolls and get them developed out of the good ones that come out I post up. Or if we are taking about video wise I have these ideas that come to me randomly through out my days and when I do finally get the chance to shoot one I do and it’s marvelous. We just shot one about a month and a half back where I have someone getting there head shaven while wearing clown makeup and the song playing in the background is the opening song to Mr Rogers Neighborhood haha should be out soon."
Question: Why do you create art?
"I create art for the sake of feeling alive and feeling as if I could put my feelings and my emotions towards building something other than just having them be useless within me. Without art I feel life is useless. I create for myself and I create for the Audience I’ve some how managed to build. I create for every single person that always comes up to me and says they love my work. It’s all for me and it’s all for you."
7/1
6/10
Question: How did you start?
"Ever since I could remember I loved to draw, my uncle and cousin were a big inspiration when it came to drawing. At first I would only draw but over time I got pretty comfortable so I explored further and started painting. Now I like to challenge myself and add more details into what I’m creating."
Question: What inspires you the most?
"I make art because it gives me a sense of freedom. I like to express myself through my art in ways I could never in words. Sometimes when I’m having a bad day I like to draw and illustrate how I feel on a piece of paper. But it’s not all bad I love my work and that’s something no one can take away from me."
Question: As an artist, what's your message to the world if everyone would listen?
"My favorite part about making art is the process. Working on an art piece can take awhile especially under certain circumstances of life. I’ve had art work that literally goes through changes with me. There’s nothing like seeing a finished piece that you created. And if other can enjoy it too then it’s worth all the time and hard work that gets put into it."
Question: How did you start?
"I started my artistic journey when I was s toddler i Drew my first little stick man in my moms bible and after that just grew into a undying passion."
Question: What inspires you the most?
"I find most of my inspiration containing to the concept of nature, life, color, shapes, sounds etc. Death has a huge part to do with my ideas because it’s a point in all or lives that we all have in common. I love to base my doodles off illness, either mental or physical , i want people to feel something when they view my pieces either it be comforting or odd."
Question: As an artist, what's your message to the world if everyone would listen?
"My message to others is, feel, express, have a reaction, voice it, question it, GROW ."
6/3
5/26
Question: When did you start?
"i first started in high school when i was going through a lot of hard events that gave me complicated emotions art was something that would become meditative, i started painting on my own at night as a way to focus my energy into something creative and i ended up falling in love with the process."
Question: Why do you make art?
"I make art as a meditative practice, it’s an intimate way of releasing emotions and express an idea through colors and composition."
Question: What's your favorite part of the process?
"My favorite part of the process is being completely in the zone of creating, allowing myself to do what feels natural or right for each specific piece. I have also have a fascination with turning a simple idea for a piece into reality, seeing an idea transform into a real painting that i get to share with others is a beautiful feeling."
5/20
Question: When did you start?
"Besides always doodling and coloring on whatever I could get my hands on when I was younger, I “officially” started art maybe like 3 years ago when I was bored at my job and decided to pass time at work by doodling so I bought myself a sketchbook and some drawing pens which eventually led to me picking up a brush and experimenting with different mediums and techniques to find what I was comfortable with."
Question: Why do you make art?
"I make art because to me I feel it as sort of a calling. I constantly find myself going back to it no matter how long I take a break from it. I always like to keep an open mind to messages the universe is putting out for me and every time I look into to interpret it, it somehow related to the arts and creating. So now it’s a want, instead of something just for fun, to be constantly creating."
Question: What's your favorite part of the process?
"My favorite part of the process is the calm before the storm. The inspiration behind the piece and what put me there to create it."
5/13
Question: When did you start?
"I started art as early as I can remember! I have always loved everything creative from writing, to acting, drawing, painting, and everything else. Art class was always my favorite. I got really serious about finding myself as an artist this year along with a spiritual journey that has inspired most of my work."
Question: Why do you make art?
"I make art because I think that art heals the world and is what separates us as human beings as unique spiritual beings. I think our desire and need to create is evidence of our coming from a higher place of creation. I want my art to bring healing to people and show them that they are more than they realize. That they are infinite and loved."
Question: What's your favorite part of the process?
"My favorite part of the process is really all of it, I love the headspace I get in when I am just purely focused on my work. I also love the end, of bringing something into creation that is a unique part of your soul that didn’t exist in the physical until now. ❤️"
