Daily Inspiration: Meet Alex Tovar

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Tovar.

Hi Alex, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I come from a humble home of eight that includes my parents. Raised in a traditional Mexican family where I was the third in line. I was the last of the family that was born in Mexico. Five boys and one girl. My parents both from respectable large families saw the opportunity to find the American dream and head North from Jalisco, Mex. in the early 1970s to the large, busy city of Los Angeles where most of our relatives were also migrating. I was raised in the “Dog Town” projects near DTLA, south of Chinatown and surrounded by the railroads and all sides. I have great childhood memories there and where I found myself to be the person who I am now. Here in the projects is where all my early childhood experiences came to form memories that I still carry inside me. I learn how to ride a bike, play marbles, catch pigeons, play baseball and form bonds of friends who I cherish till today. Growing up with competitive siblings, sports was not for me. I found out early that what I really loved was wondering DTLA with my friends and seeing what was outside the brick-covered apartments that we lived in. When I was 12 in 1984 and LA was the center of all sports, the Olympics were in LA and The Night stalker was roaming the streets. This was a time in my life that I got to witness the historic takeover of the new big city of the world. LA.

At this moment in time I picked up my first camera from Time magazine and this began a long life and career in photography. At 16, we finally moved from the government apartments to the city of La Puente which is 20 miles east of LA in the San Gabriel Valley. After 49 years here in the Los Angeles area. A place I call home and where I think I will always belong. My journey in life started with the spark and opportunity to find the right people at the right time. In my last 30 years with two different careers, it has been an absolutely joyous experience to find time and fine-tune both art crafts that I’m passionate about. In my early 20s, photography and painting have always been part of my creative ambition, learning and a way to escape the complexities of life in general. I can’t say for certain that one I favor more than the other, but I know for certain that I have put my life on this train of art to express my point of view. Photography is unique and realistic, where painting is a mindset and an empty canvas. I juggle both arts in unison with my lifestyle and the way I was raised. My family and children are the backbones of my life and I will continue to strive for the next moment, opportunity and expression.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Growing up in a rough neighborhood of struggling families was a rollercoaster of ups and downs in life. Managing all the kids was tough on my mother and father, especially with only one parent who was working. With mostly boys in the family and gangs everywhere, we managed to find school and extracurricular activities instead of the streets. When my parents found the opportunity to move out and find a home brought new challenges to the family and both my parents had to work. These years of my life is what shaped the person that I was to become. I found new faces, friends and my first love in my town. I accepted school and the social life that came growing in the late 80s. It was all about belonging and socializing. Although we were relatively new to the town, my brothers and sister easily adapted to the change. My senior year was the best. I couldn’t believe a nerd like me, the field science president, the club who mapped and tracked satellites to bring up weather reports, the student that was voted for best dress, the person that was in charge as a liquor runner because of my fake ID, is the same person who was chosen as prom king along with my high school girlfriend who was chosen as the queen. Those are memories of a lifetime with friends that till this day I cherish. My college years were decide by love, pure and simple. Instead of a manic aerospace engineer. I started in a dark room inside the photo lab of the college newspaper. Took all the photo courses and art classes to get my AA in Commercial Photography. By then, what was my love of my life was just a memory and a great time in my life.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Photography and painting span for almost the same time. I can say that those two forms of art have always been part of my sub-conscience life. Understanding the fundamentals of the working camera and image manipulation has changed my direction and point of view. My career as a fashion photographer has branched out to many aspects of photography, bands, celebrities, magazines spreads, portraiture and landscapes. Off them all, landscapes are the most challenging. Painting has always been the escape or the calm after the storm. The escape of mind over matter, conscience and sub-conscience. The thought process from start to finish is not necessarily the final outcome. My art depends on a spontaneous decision to find an object of interest. Which most of the time has no meaning. It’s all about imagery and timing. I paint with various mediums and inks. For the past ten years, I have been incorporating coffee as a dye and ink to make my art pieces. I use pomegranate, tequila and other organic dyes. The majority of the pieces are small, themed and usually with two pieces per theme. My style differs from abstract and natural to sexy and science. Opposing subjects and an unnatural style. Whether it’s a beautiful natural landscape photograph that I prefer or the unnatural process of coffee dyeing the canvas. I’m proud that I’m still passionate and seeking the next wave of self-expressing your thoughts, ideas and creativity.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Art cannot be art if nobody is looking. My work seems complicated but it’s mostly timing. Since most of the pieces are small 4×6, 8.5×11 and sometimes 20 x30. The process is easy but your outcomes can differ and are all one of a kind. I have showcased some of my art but my newer pieces along with my t-shirts haven’t been displayed. I have a couple of shows lined up and would love to collaborate with other artists. I’m open to different styles and mediums and go mostly by what I feel at the moment. I started experimenting with the digital print and different dyes to clash photography and painting all mixed in one. Like many who have spilled coffee on a napkin and have shared what they see, I find the same logic from that stain of coffee to the stroke of a paintbrush.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alextovarphotography.com
• Instagram: @alextovarphotography