Meet Eduardo Acosta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eduardo Acosta.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I’m a California native, born and raised. Family is everything to me. I had a great childhood and spent time with my cousins, and friends riding bikes, going camping, and enjoying more carne asada BBQs than I can remember. My parents are both Mexican immigrants who came here long before it was a political hot button issue. They did the best they could raising me and my three siblings with what little money my dad earned. My father was the stereotypical hardworking man, and my mom was a housewife who made the best food on the planet. We didn’t have the latest and coolest toys and gadgets like the other kids, but we had great food and plenty of love.

I began drawing at an early age and was constantly drawing my favorite cartoon characters. My goal was to be as good an artist as my dad; he was my inspiration for drawing. He would sit at the kitchen table and draw animals for me, which fascinated me to no end. I guess you can say my dad planted the artistic seed and it over the years that seed grew within.

I dreamed of being an artist ever since I can remember and would draw every chance I got. I also dreamed of going to college, which would make me the first college graduate in the family. This was very important to me. Like many, I got stuck in a directionless list of community college courses. I attended Cerritos Community College for far too long trying to figure out what I wanted to do, and trying to find a career which I could make a living at which seemed at the time to be two different things. I started off taking computer programming classes and hated it. After a few years of that, I wanted to quit and get a job, but my school counselor must have recognized a spark in me or maybe he sensed that seed my father had planted many years ago. He asked a simple yet life-changing question, “what do you like to do?” Everything became clear at that point. I changed my major to Art, and shortly after that, I transferred to Cal State University Long Beach to complete my education. After working full time, married with two kids, I finally graduated earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Drawing and Painting.

So now I’m finished with college and ready to begin a career in art, but I had little clue as to how to use my BFA degree for work, how to use my acquired knowledge, nor where to show off my artistic skills. To add to my confusion, I was about to leave a steady job in the medical field, go through a divorce, and take that leap of faith to become a working artist. It was definitely a scary time. I have no regrets as I have two intelligent and beautiful daughters from that relationship, and my ex-wife is a great mother to girls. As frightened as I was back then about a career in art, I can’t think of many other career options that would have allowed me to provide as well as I have for myself and my two little monkeys.

That’s my life, and life’s been good to me so far. I love animation and have been fortunate to have worked on some great shows like CatDog, Spongebob, and Family Guy. The animated TV show which I’ve worked on as a character designer for the past decade or so. Most recently, about just a little over a year ago, I became a grandad, and I’m so much looking forward to that part of my life.

Please tell us about your art.
Photography has always been a part of my life, but I never really considered it my art. I always dreamt of creating works of art, paintings, printmaking, showing in art galleries, etc., but never really thought about photography that way. Recently I really started taking it more seriously at least in the way that I really love it now. I can’t wait to go out to shoot, and when I don’t get to shoot, I feel like I’m missing something. My photography is a way to get me off my ass and out into the world. Most of us LA people spend our time working or driving to and from work, and there’s not much time for anything else. At least it feels that way. I love being out in the street with my cameras (Leica mostly) taking pictures of whatever catches my eye. What may seem insignificant to us are usually the things we end up missing the most when they’re gone. I guess I want to record universal human experiences in a way that has an emotional impact and a sense of story. I’d like to create images that make one pause and reflect a little on what a precious gift life is. Photography is an escape for me physically as well as mentally. It gets me outside into the world and interacting with different people, and I am fascinated by people. Their faces and body gestures tell stories, and I want to be there to capture these fleeting moments.

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?
I would say to live within your means and prioritize your art over material possessions or wasting your money on frivolous things. Surround yourself with other like-minded people who appreciate you for who you are as an artist. Be very stubborn about your own work and don’t listen to others if they’re not being constructive and supportive. Even if you are struggling financially, don’t quit your art. Find a way to make your art; however, you can.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I would love my work to be in a gallery setting sometime soon, and I’m working towards that goal. I have no clue how to go about getting a show of my work, so maybe someone will read this and offer up some much-needed advice. Currently, you can see my work on Instagram or on my website.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://eduardoacosta.photoshelter.com
• Email: acosta440@hotmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leicajockey

Image Credit:
Eduardo Acosta
Jester Jungco @streetshooter.la – Personal Photo

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition, please let us know here.