Today we’d like to introduce you to Rey Contreras.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Starting from a very early age, without any conscious understanding of why, I began developing an appreciation for the visual arts and designs in life that were created through a variety of mediums. With having a diverse range of interests in music, films, video games, sports and television shows, there was also an equal amount of interest in all of the additional art and materials that came with these subjects.
Album covers, movie posters, toy packaging, trading cards, magazines, billboards–the list goes on, all had their own specific look and style that matched perfectly with whatever the main subject or theme was. In my youth, I knew that there was something more as to why certain colors and compositions made more sense than others, but at the time it wasn’t anything I could elaborate on. There was something fundamental about it. As if there was this silent communication going on between me and whatever art form I was witnessing, with my mind’s eye being the interpreter, as I subconsciously absorbed every bit of visual information possible.
Balance, shape, composition, as well as color theory and psychology were all terms and ideas that I would soon come to fully grasp as I continued on my journey.
Throughout my primary and secondary grade school years, I was mostly fascinated with music and the imagery that bands would portray in their albums, photographs and music videos. This had a direct influence on me wanting to start a band with friends who shared similar music interests, as well as enroll in an advanced Multimedia & Design course at El Centro Community College during my junior year in high school. It was in this class where my passion for art and design was ignited.
Needless to say, my rock-n-roll dreams were short-lived, but the fire to create and design had already been fueled by continuous school and personal projects involving Photoshop and Illustrator. With these skills, I was presented with the opportunity during my senior year in high school to intern as a graphic artist for Roma Corp Inc. where I assisted in the production for various digital and print promotional items such as posters, flyers, mailers, coupons and restaurant menus.
When the time came to apply for college, a recruiter from The Art Institute of Dallas had made a visit to my high school and gave a presentation on everything the institute had to offer. I immediately felt as if they were speaking my language with the focus being primarily on visual arts and graphic design, so much so that all other college options for me went out the window and I was set on where I wanted to go. In May 2009, I graduated from the School of Business & Management, completed my internship at Roma Corp Inc., and two months later continued my journey at The Art Institute of Dallas.
Life during the next three years was a roller-coaster of experiences. Working through various positions at Home Depot, later as a cashier at Central Market, while trying to balance school and my personal life, would at many times leave me in a state of introspective reflection. Moments where I’d question what all of this was for. However, the answer I’d find was to always be able to inspire and create imagery that had just as much positive impact and influence as all of my inspirations had done for me. All I had to do was keep with it and soon all of the all-nighters working on school assignments, sleepless nights when I worked the overnight shift but had class at 6am, the stress, oh, the stress, would be worth whatever was to come.
September 2012, I graduated from The Art Institute of Dallas with an Associate’s Degree in Applied Arts & Graphic Design. Upon graduating, alumni are given the opportunity to showcase their work at a portfolio show where many employers are invited to see if any recent graduates would be a good fit for their company. There, I was able to shake hands with many great individuals, pass out my business card, network with potential employers, and ultimately managed to set myself up for three interviews that following week. It wasn’t long after the interviews when I had accepted a three-month freelance position at Gemmy Industries with hopes to be hired on as a graphic artist by the end of the freelance term. Three months went by and I had proven myself to be offered a full-time position as a graphic artist.
Today, I still hold the position as a graphic artist for Gemmy Industries, as well as provide freelance services to clients outside of my corporate career. In my freelance experience, I had been getting tired of using stock images in my designs that were taken by other individuals, so I made the decision in 2016 to invest in a DSLR to be able to combine my own images with my own designs. This jump into photography, along with the foundation of graphic design, sparked a new passion, interest, and currently is the main substance of my work.
Has it been a smooth road?
“Comparison is the thief of all joy.” -Theodore Roosevelt
During a good portion of my college years, I would find myself comparing my work to others and questioning if I was “good enough”. This was a very unhealthy thing for me to do, as I realized how it would put me in an unproductive mental state. True, by comparing work, one can see the areas in which they may like to progress, and then pursue to get better, but that was not the case for me. It was not until I had a shift in my perspective, which allowed me to accept and love the process of progression, expression, and creativity. The shift came in understanding that we all progress in different ways at different times, and understanding that there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. These days I have learned that a negative mindset will only hold you back from pursuing the things you’d truly like to do. Acceptance and appreciation helped me gain confidence in my work as well as realize that we are all creatives and create beauty in our own unique ways.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the REY Creative Design & Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
REY Creative Design & Photography is my freelance business outside of my 9-6, specializing in art direction, digital photography (portrait, travel, landscape, lifestyle), branding, logo design, corporate identity, typography, and package design.
Every step that has led me here today is something to be most proud of. The appreciation for the small things that constantly get dismissed everyday is what I feel sets me apart from others, while at the same time, grounds and keeps me connected on a fundamental human level.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
As long as humans are around, art, in all forms, will continue to inspire and influence the world we live in, be it digital or physical.
Contact Info:
- Website: reycreativedesign.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/rey.contreras
- Facebook: facebook.com/rey.contreras09
- Other: linkedin.com/in/rey-contreras/
Image Credit:
All photos by Rey Contreras
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