Meet Jorge Gutierrez García: Painter/Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jorge Gutierrez García and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jorge, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Ever since I was a child I always wanted to be a painter, my father painted in oils as a hobby when I was young and seeing him made me want to try it. But oil paints are toxic so I wasn’t allowed to go near them, so instead I grabbed a pencil and started drawing, and drew untill my senior year in high school. Once I was an adult, around 20, I remember working in a factory where we made all types of tactical gear for the military, it was very mundane and unfulfilling. I asked myself if this was what I wanted to do for the forseeable future and the answer was absolutely not, a regular 9 to 5 was never an option in the long run for me since then. So I enrolled myself in verious art classes at the local Community College. Once there I saw others live the art lifestyle like showing artwork in local art shows and galleries, having art discussions and traveling. I was enamored with the thought that I myself could one day become an artist and fulfill my long time dream, and from there on I never looked back.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I like to think my art stands out because of the basic geometric and colorful asthetic, its simple yet complex, the complexity being the meaning behind my work wich deals with the emotional impact of the conscious and subconscious. The beings I paint represent my ego, conscious and subconscious, the colorful settings represent the vastness of the mind and the unlimited possibilities that lies within. Creating this simple yet complex style has taken me over a decade of hard work, in the beginning things weren’t easy at all, there was many hardships along with self doubt and many instances where I pondered of I should quit it all. I think part of the success I have now I owe to being so hard on myself and always finding faults and errors in my work, a little self-deprecation never hurts if you’re an artist. You gotta always ask more of yourself if you want to improve your work. I’ve never really been one to bask in flattery, instead I simply focus on how to become better and better as the years go by. If the world is to know me someday and it’s not for my art, then let it be for my unrelentless passion of the craft.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I absolutely love my home town, I haven’t traveled as much as I want but I’ve been to all 4 corners of our great nation and I have to say, San Diego is an absolute jewel. Some of my all time favorite spots in the city would have to be places like north/south park for its night life, art and incredible viraity of restaurants like Leftys Chicago Pizzeria, City Tacos, Duniden and my favorite restaurant ever Piacere Mio, best Italian food in town and best service in my opinion, simply magnificent. Chicano park for its cultural and historic significance, not to mention its blossoming art scene, sunset cliffs for its natural beuty and incredible sunsets, San Diego was blessed with such sights. But my all time favorite place on the world would have to be balboa Park, the museums, botanical garden, the Japanese friendship garden, to me nothing comes close, I say that as a local of course, but I stand by my statement 100 percent. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
One of the most influential persons in my persuit of becoming and artist and over all in life was my San Diego City College professor Wayne Hulgin. He thought me everything I know about manipulating paint, my love for composition and figurative art, he showed me all the artists that now influence me on a day to day basis, he is an amazing artist and human bieng. Once I was out of school and on my own I was a little lost, but connecting with other artists gave me a bit of a life line while I was figuring out who I was as a painter. Fellow artists like local tattooer Gustavo Razo, street artist Mr Eye Gato, artist Nick McPherson, Victor Villa, and anthropologist/dancer/ choreographer Henry Chavez III have all thought me a different art, the art of perseverance.

Website: Jorge-gutierrez.com
Instagram: @jorgegutierrez226
Facebook: Jorge Gutierrez Art