Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Garcia.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I have always known I was creative and would pursue art in some fashion but never knew what that would specifically look like in my life. In college I started as an Art major and the courses were very broad and I didn’t feel that I was growing much so I transferred myself to the Art Institute of Dallas, which is now closed, back in 2008. I was studying animation there and began to grow and learn exponentially. I relearned how to draw and how to use software like Photoshop and After Effects. Throughout this time, I was working as a barista in a handful of Dallas coffee shops and taking on freelance clients through various friend and word-of-mouth connections. With each new year I would learn more and more about what it meant to be in the animation industry and to be a character animator, which is what I was focusing on. Eventually, as I was nearing graduation I realized I wasn’t quite up to par to go into the animation industry and was noticing my design skills improving and more work coming in. So, I pursued illustration and design. I would eventually see that my hand-drawing skills from animation would come in handy and be an advantage in the design world.
After 8 years of being a barista I finally decided to quit and pursue freelancing. Turns out, that’s easier said than done. I fell flat on my face. A friend told me about a teaching position that opened up so I applied and with nothing to lose, I got a job teaching high schoolers about art. Throughout this time, my side work began to build back up again to where I had a consistent amount of jobs every semester I was in school teaching. Although this has proven to be very stressful, it has also led to some wonderful rewards. Eventually I was able to begin a design program at the school I’m teaching at and continue to teach 11th and 12th grade Graphic Design & Illustration.
If you want to know more about yourself and the work that your passionate about, teach teenagers how to do it.
I have continued to learn from people all around me as I did coming out of college and not knowing what it really meant to be a designer. I continue to learn from my mistakes and victories and hopefully will never stop growing and discovering where my creativity will take me next.
Please tell us about your art.
I am an illustrator and designer. The majority of my work is all developed and finished by hand-drawing designs which provides a tangible and comforting end product. I use pencil and micron pens which eventually is converted to vector designs. Throughout the time I have been doing freelance work, I have noticed that not too many designers are skilled draftsman, which isn’t a fault at all but an opportunity for my work to stand out from other styles of design. I mainly work with small to medium sized clients seeking branding or illustration work to build or supplement their identity, and also the occasional storyboarding gig here and there.
I attempt to dig deeper into what I am presenting to the client and their clientele by researching heavily and not accepting the first obvious choice of imagery, type and icons. I am highly critical of my work because I know it can still be better but am always thrilled when a client finds joy and satisfaction in what I provide for them.
The question of inspiration comes around every now and then and I never know how to really answer that…I guess I just let the question pass by and come back around.
As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
As an artist, I am constantly wanting to redefine anything and everything including the idea of success. For the work I currently do, success would present itself in the relationships I have built and maintained through the years. I can always get better at drawing and designing or even venture into a new sect of art but no matter what I do, there is always relationship and the understanding of another person. Have I been unsuccessful within these parameters? Yes. Have I found some success within these parameters? Yes.
This would be at the heart of whatever I do whether as an artist or not-but it is also difficult to separate an answer from artist-self and true-self, they are extremely and closely intertwined and continue to draw closer together as I grow older.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
The more you explore Dallas, the more you may find my work hidden around the corner. It’s very subtle.
Some clients that carry or showcase my work in some way are Davis St. Espresso, AJ Vagabonds, Oasis Plant Shop, Petra & the Beast, Fox and the Bird, Garrett Owen, Gossling Aprons, Life in Deep Ellum, and Ruibals.
Support my work by visiting and buying merchandise from the wonderful retailers and musicians mentioned above and say “Aaron Garcia says hi.” Or you could just go follow my Instagram.
Contact Info:
- Address: Oak Cliff 4 Lyfe
- Website: www.aarongarciastudio.com
- Email: aarongarciastudio@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aarondavid_design/
Image Credit:
Lorea Coronado-Garcia
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