Conversations with Nano Rubio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nano Rubio.

Hi Nano, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Nano Rubio. Like many artists, I started drawing at a young age and my parents encouraged and nourished my abilities. I am the youngest of three. My dad worked for an oil company gauging tanks and my mom cut hair. My dad was around and showed me how to draw some things. He bought me drawing pads, a drawing desk, clay, paint, and brushes. My mom bought me a scanner later on to help with my interest in digital art. When it came time to graduate from high school, I prepared to go into the military to be a Marine. After much debate from all in my family I enrolled into community college instead and started my education in visual arts. I excelled in digital drawing and earned a degree in Computer Graphic Arts. I got really into painting while working under A.S. Ashley who is a great painter and mentor. He started putting art shows together and I worked with him to create graphics for the flyers, posters, and shirts. He also hired me to do layout for a small rag called The Random Times. This was in 2004. I continued my education while being involved in local art shows and along with a few other artists started an emerging artist group in 2006 and, the next year I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art. After graduation I worked as a graphic designer beating out 10 applicants for the work, and it was the first time I got a job that was based on my artistic skills. I was elated and was making $10 an hour. After switching to another print shop, I learned plate making, pagination, and how to maintain client relationships. Two years later I applied to get an MFA at Claremont Graduate University. When I arrived, I was in a different world of highly educated and creative people. I wasn’t well read in art theory, but faculty made it clear that my main goal was to figure out why I make the work. Upon graduating, I started to figure out a lot of the concepts faculty referred to as I developed context. I figured out that my work is all me, it’s physical, it’s about careful creation and destruction. My work formed out of punching a bag full of paint to crawling on the ground creating line after line to eventually be destroyed with gestural painterly marks. Currently, my work holds digital references with layers of mark making with either putty knives or brushes. The work has grown from inspiration from my wife and encouragement from all who I have met and I am always excited to paint something new.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the biggest challenges has been the choice to make bigger work and transporting it. I remember borrowing a trailer from my uncle and schlepping a 14ft painting to a show. The repair that went in to that giant was not fun. My grad show displayed paintings that were as large as 15ft, but I can’t do that anymore. My current work ranges from 20”x24” to 48”x72”. Size matters these days.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I want readers to know that I made a lot of pictures and other things I thought was art before I understood what art really is for me. I have experienced what art is for a lot of other people too. I can be myself in the work with my arching ideas and that’s what you get in each painting. You see almost 30 years of someone who’s used visual language as an outlet. You get tactility, illusion, mistakes, and breathing room.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Leave your ego at the door and be loyal to those who show interest. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Just be kind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artsy.net/artist/nano-rubio
• Instagram: nanorubio_art

Image Credits
Endure 13 Photo By Sookyung Bae ([email protected])