Today we’d like to introduce you to Alejandro (Alex) Garcia.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I’ve been an artist ever since my first painting in kindergarten. I remember painting the bowling alley/arcade that my father would take me to as a child. Ever since that day, something clicked inside of me, and I loved to make art. All through school I was known as the “artist” of the class. Comic books and cartoons were my first influence. Then being an LA teen in the 90’s I was exposed to graffiti, and that influenced my art in a good way but my life in a bad way. When I was about 16/17 my friend came to visit me from prison and showed me how to make a homemade tattoo machine and that later lead to a career that I didn’t see at the time. When I was about 23, I attended mission community college and took some art classes and learned some basic art schooling. Life drawing and painting kick-started my art career. I had one of my class paintings exhibited at a student/teacher art show, and it made me realize that I could succeed as an artist. I then began submitting paintings to galleries, and my tattoo career started to slowly grow at the same time. My journey as an artist hasn’t been like most artists, and it came at a heavy price, but I made it because I kept going.
Please tell us about your art.
I currently tattoo full time at Dolorosa Tattoo and paint part time but thats always changing. I like to paint with oil on masonite but recently been exploring new materials. I also create graphics for clothes and been getting more into that these past few years.
Each piece has its own message. My earlier work leaned more into darker imagery but for the past 4/5 years have been trying to produce more images that invoke something positive. If someone smiles when they see one of my paintings then I know it was a success.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
Accept it. It comes with the territory. Even after you “make it” there will be dry spells. You will do/see many awesome things that the average person doesn’t get to experience, but you will also suffer for your art. If you can’t suffer for your art and still persist, then you didn’t love your art. And if you don’t love your art, then why should anyone else. Financial struggles happen outside of this field so minus well suffer for your passion and not a job that you hate.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I haven’t been really exhibiting my paintings in the past couple of years. A few shows here and there but I mostly keep everything in my room at work. I’ve been building a new body of work to sort of “reinvent myself,” but it has become difficult when I sell my work instead of keeping it for a show.
People can support my work by either coming in and getting a tattoo or collect a painting next time I have a show.
Contact Info:
- Address: 11930 Ventura Blvd. Studio City CA 91604
- Phone: 818-287-8842
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Alejandro Garcia
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