Today we’d like to introduce you to Zeek Ruvalcaba.
Zeek, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The dream was to always become a full-time artist and live off my art. Art has been something very important to me since I can remember. As I was getting older and growing as a person around middle school/ high school, I started to leave it behind. Around that time, I wasn’t focusing on what I should have but instead, I was introduced to gangs and started to fall into the wrong paths till I met one gang member that introduced me to graffiti. The art form of lettering. I knew I had learned this and incorporate my lost art skills. I was told I had talent for picking up a new skill so quick that even some of the members new I could definitely go far with what I was doing. Around my last years of high school, I knew I wanted art in my life forever and I was told to make a business and not to follow in the wrong footsteps. From then on, I took few art classes and knew that if I tried my best at making art my main thing I can make a childhood dream come true. I learned more about my techniques and went from graffiti street art into big canvas pieces into gallery rooms filled with other amazing artists.
Fast forward a few years, landed my first art gallery show at the age of 21, but of course as any 21 years old the party life started taking over… art was still there but not as much, till the age of 22 I was asked to showcase at a group gallery show where I met other artists that were living the dream of living off their art. I had the honor to meet some very inspiring artists that at that point, I knew art wasn’t going anywhere and I knew it’s what I wanted. So for the next few years, I produced work for myself and others, and as all this was going good more and more art shows. I was getting exposure and meet more and more people, but of course, I was still working a 7-5 job as a diesel mechanic. I had landed a really good job that I was just too scared to leave because of the comfort I had with knowing I had a stable job, but as we all know 2020 came in with an amazing start that I was tempted to leave my job and become a full-time artist.
As the months went by more and more crazy things were going around that I was more scared of leaving the job because of the stableness I had with the money coming in. I flow out to Miami with my family for a trip and as we were there, I came across a few art galleries that I knew I had to check out. One of the galleries was ALEC monopoly’s gallery that truly gave me more inspiration to just go for it and do art, because if someone is doing what they love, why can’t you? But of course, as we were coming back home all you heard was COVID and how things were changing so fast and jobs were closing and people were losing jobs, so from there I knew I couldn’t leave my job to chase my dream because I needed to stick at my workplace just Incase something happened.
Months passed and little by little things started to open up and of course it was not like before but it was something that was working. I had nights were I thought long to myself “if I don’t do this now, I’m going to grow old and look back and say I never did it” so around September my birthday month, I put in my two weeks notice at my job and as scared as I was I knew I had to just go for it and pursue my dreams of becoming a full-time artist. So I did and already first week, I landed three big murals. My 25th gift to myself had to be one of the best things I’ve done. This is only the beginning and I know I will go far in my career as an artist.
Has it been a smooth road?
Every road you take will always have its bumpy and smooth rides but it’s all in the matter of how you take it and ride it. For sure, one of the struggles would be this pandemic of COVID that changed everything for people around the world. This was definitely an eye-opener that we really only live once and you definitely want to make sure you lived your best life no matter what. As an artist, the fear of not making enough because most people weren’t buying art was a bit of a struggle but for some reason, I feel as if this brought people closer and more open to buying and sharing more art to support everyone.
Please tell us more about your art.
I am a muralist/visual artist that can go from painting on a big scale wall to jumping into my iPad to create illustrations for others and myself. Being able to land big murals as a full-time artist has to be my proudest moment yet. As for smaller proud moments doing logos for business and designing a face for them and seeing the customer react with joy of their business new look is definitely something I am proud of. There are truly amazing artists out there but what I think sets me apart from others would be the type of connection I make with the customer and how I can make their ideas come to life by using my skills and my color ideas to come together as one.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
There’s so much out here it’s hard to choose but one thing for sure there is to like would have to be the food. Everywhere you go there is an amazing food truck or restaurant serving delicious foods from all over the world in one place! As for the least thing to like would probably be the long hours stuck in traffic…
Pricing:
- Murals $500-1500
- Logos -$120-200
- Illustration$10-$30
- Shoe customs – $100-200
Contact Info:
- Website: Zeektheartist.com
- Phone: 7204746194
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Zeek.vazquez
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