Today we’d like to introduce you to Louie S.m. Sanchez
Louie S.M., we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Calling myself a creative has never been in my vocab when people ask “what do you do?” I have always downplayed it and called my artistic interests ‘hobbies’ ‘stuff I enjoy in my free time’. Heck, I haven’t even been able to introduce myself as the name I prefer to go by. My name is Sarah Margret Sanchez but all my friends call me Louie, which is what I prefer to be addressed as.
It wasn’t until earlier this year I really started to own the title of being an artist and dove head first into more freelance gigs. I quit my very depressing retail 9-5 and began working with a friend/mentor who owns an indie bookstore in Long Beach called Bel Canto Books. Here I have felt myself, my jaw has unclenched and I haven’t left a single day feeling a bit drained. I have found more time for creating, energy for meeting new friends and gaining clients. I was able to begin volunteering at my local print lab, where I have gained niche print knowledge and been introduced to many zine makers and creatives alike.
Prior to this shift earlier this year I have had small glimpses of what is presently happening. Like many folks during the pandemic, there was time to hone in on crafts. I began diy screen printing out of my then boyfriends garage, witnessing the process of beat making/sampling music, learning about spray painting and the history behind some of the oldest graff crews here in LA. That led me to exploring my deeper interest in industrial and landscape film photography. Becoming more comfortable carrying my camera around to photograph as many bridges and trains we could make time to find. I picked up on mixed media pieces, combining my film photos with handmade collages and learning about scanning high resolution images, designing for print, discovering that I can self publish my work as a small magazine. There is quite nothing like that feeling of holding a tangible piece of work that can be passed around for years down the road.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The universe always seems to find a way to send a message. Sometimes a major catastrophe needs to happen in order to shake up your life path. In spring of 2023 I was in a major car accident, hospitalized for 23 days. I had broken my pelvic, lower spine, broke 11 ribs, damaged my bladder, a collapsed lung and had my spleen removed. I had to relearn how to walk and regain my bearings as to who I was as an individual in this world. I have accepted that I was not acting my best, true self, that clearly I needed to get off whatever life path I was living in. Through my physical and mental recovery my biggest breakthrough that I had was that truly, nothing mattered. To some that may sound pessimistic but for me it translated into only accepting things that made me happy in life and keeping people around who charged me. Folks, who after spending time with made you feel like you could conquer anything together. Still learning how not to sweat the small stuff, but one day at a time.
During my period of recovery I also came across a book which I believe also helped alter my mind in the best way. It’s called the Meaning in the Making by Sean Tucker, a film photographer, filmmaker and now author based in the UK who was only speaking from general experience. His writing is so honest, unbiased and open to sharing his opinion without sounding pretentious. Covering topics of philosophy, ego, artist blocks, spirituality, and process, that book became my bible for the next year, filled with highlights and writing notes in the margins. I had never read a book quite like this and have yet to find another close to shaping me in the way Sean’s book did.
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?
I run an independent zine circulation called All We Do Is Float, it’s focus is on uplifting and showcasing creatives near and far. I also run a micro-gallery out of Bel Canto Books here in Long Beach, curating fresh bi-monthly art exhibits, helping with offsite events, author panels, and occasionally reading to the kiddos. On Wednesdays you can find me running the weekly All We Do is Draw, drawing club out of Place LB – a communal media and print lab located in the Wrigley neighborhood.
For the past three years I have worked closely with my one of my best friends Vanessa Jimenez, who is the founder of Be Here Now Affairs, an event planning company based out of Long Beach which specializes in curating music and art experiences like no other. Together we have collaborated on numerous zines, making each release special for each event. She has allowed a lot of creative freedom for my process and helped introduce me to many other talented artists here in Long Beach and LA.
Through these large scale projects I was sourcing local printers, which is how I was able to become connected with Place LB. Being a volunteer with the lab has allowed access to a high quality printer and ability to work with more clients one on one, become connected with community initiatives, and a space for creative endeavors. Being drawn to Place has allowed opportunity for my weekly drawing club to flourish. Every Wednesday I host an open studio time which focuses on the practice of creativity no matter the level. I wanted to create an open environment which allows folks to practice with different tools and meet other creative brains without feeling pressured to create the next great Picasso piece. It is all about the literal exercise of creation and being part of a communal space.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Create, create, create. Let your brain be messy, create bad art, and always take a chance on yourself. Don’t live life filled with the ‘could have, should have, or would have’s’. Be kind, be honest, and open to what possibilities are around you. Form meaningful relationships, nourish yourself and live every day like it is a Friday. I can’t help but feel deep gratitude for all those around me and how big of a part each of you are in my life. I look forward to so much more, growing as an individual, hopefully expanding as an artist and getting to experience much more in this lifetime.
Pricing:
- $30/hr design rate
- $650 – 32 page zine, original design
- $400 – 32 page zine, design/assembly
- $30 – 1 HR nonrefundable consulting fee
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.allwedoisfloat.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allwedoisfloat/?hl=en
- Other: https://linktr.ee/placelb
Image Credits
image 4 – Vanessa Jimenez
image 7 – Nannette Ricaforte
everything else is by Louie S.M.S.
