Today we’d like to introduce you to Gustavo Rimada.
Hi Gustavo, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Mexico, I migrated to Southern California when I was seven years old with my mom, brother and sisters. I grew up in Indio CA and after High School moved to Los Angeles to go to college for aniimation at The Art Institute of LA in Santa Monica. I quickly realized that animation and attending art school wasn’t what I wanted so I dropped out. When I returned home, I enlisted in the military, where I served three years as an infantryman in the state of Alaska. Towards the end of my service, I met my wife and after five years of working job after job in Alaska, she encouraged me to peruse painting when she purchased supplies and panels for me to paint. I spent a couple of years working non-stop at night after I got out of work on my craft and after a few years and a lot of encouragement moved back to California to pursue an art career. It has been a non-stop rollercoaster since then but I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything. Today I work with some of the galleries I had always dreamed about showing with and most importantly support my family with my art.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t and I don’t expect it to even be completely smooth, I tend to work a lot better under pressure anyways. With that said one of the biggest hurdles was early on when I made the move back to California alone back into my mom’s home. It was really hard to leave me wife and newborn daughter for four months while I established everything here in California. Through this up-and-down journey, I could have never gotten through any of it without their love and support
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in acrylic painting, I am known for my bright/bold colors and working really technical and clean. I am most proud that I get to display my culture and story throughout my art. It’s tough to set yourself apart in a very crowded field but my love and passion for my culture along with my skills like the way I render has been told to me that makes my work instantly recognizable.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I have always defined success being able to support not only myself but my family with something you love. I have been fortunate enough to do that with my art for the past 13 years.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.artedegustavo.com
- Instagram: @arte_de_gustavo_
Image Credits
Tomas Karmelo ( photo of me in studio) Netflix & Rhubarb agency ( narcos mexico & que viva mexico )
