Today we’d like to introduce you to Gooey.
Hi Gooey, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am an LA-based artist. I started my art career relatively older in life. I have always loved painting, drawing and making things, but I never thought I had the ability to make art for a living. I never thought that my style of work would be popular because when I was growing up, it was either cartoons and high-quality illustrations or graffiti and I couldn’t do any of those things right so I never pursued an artistic career. I became a photographer by a couple of crazy life decisions and I started painting as a hobby to compliment my passion for creating things. As my painting evolved, I started to get rid of my old ideas of what was “good art” or “bad art”, and I just went for it. I created an icon and started putting stickers all over the street just for fun. I painted everything I could and explored with so many mediums until one day I found it. I found a style, a name and a vibe that represented who I am and that I really liked, so I rolled with it and here I am!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There has been so many struggles. Struggle is one of my best friends! It has not been an easy road, but it has definitely been a very rewarding one. As an artist, the biggest struggle is opportunity. You need people out there to give you a shot. Also there is always a creative and inner struggle. You always think if what you are doing is cool if you are choosing the right colors, if you are being original, have your own style, vibe and so on, so it is a constant struggle but in a fun way. I believe that if I hadn’t struggled, I would not be where I am and Gooey would have never happened.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work is rooted in painting, but it has evolved into mixed media and immersive art. I specialize in creating artworks that go beyond two dimensions and become part of our three-dimensional world. I love creating pieces that are not only a painting on a canvas, but that can be wearable objects like shoes, bigger objects like cars, or public art where people can interact with my work in different ways. My artwork is vibrant, eye-catching and unique because it has very specific “line-work”, colors and it has a retro-modern aesthetic that I am quite proud of.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Reach out. If you admire someone and want to get involved, send an email and be a part of the world you want to belong to. I have found that reaching out to people I want to work with, in a genuine way has worked the best for me because then we can connect beyond a job and more at a real level.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.artbygooey.com/
- Instagram: @gooey_xx
Image Credits
Profile Image: Nora Schaefer Other images: Gooey Studio
