Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Prieto.
Alex, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawing. During grade school, I quickly became ‘the quiet guy who draws a lot’ and have kind of just rolled with it ever since. I started drawing what I was into, which at the time was Dragon Ball Z and Pokemon, and found the practice to be an incredibly calming and meditative outlet through which I could continuously set up goals and knock them down. It’s never gotten stale!
A big breakthrough for me was taking summer art classes at the local small-town artist union where I grew up during my middle school years. It was there, under the tutelage of Mrs. Virginia Leonard, that I was first exposed to a (albeit small) gallery scene and made friends who also called themselves ‘artists.’ It was a great experience which I grew a lot from, but most importantly it showed me that drawing/painting/making art doesn’t have to stop in my room, with my pencil. It can be a healthy outlet through which I can make connections and constantly better myself.
Flash-forward a few years, I did fall out of practice for a while during high school and my early college career. I did a lot of soul-searching, switching majors, etc. during this time and ultimately concluded that for me, everything outside of making art was ultimately debilitating and soul-crushing. With this epiphany on the mind, and after a healthy hiatus from college, I decided to re-enroll within GSU’s arts program and have been pretty consistently shocked at the quality and helpfulness of the staff ever since. The faculty at GSU have been integral in helping me not only learn new techniques and practices but also opening doors to external opportunities to grow outside of the structured classroom.
At this moment, I am wrapping up my final year of undergrad and feel incredibly confident about my prospects. Post-graduation I plan on having an official website up and running, a steady career doing what I love with lots of opportunity for growth and to keep making art for as long as I can. I’ve made a point to keep in touch with the important contacts I’ve made here in Atlanta, both in school and out, and am looking forward to the future and whatever it may hold!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My artistic endeavors have certainly been met with, and sometimes fueled by, a lot of challenges over the years. The challenges of working filler jobs and going to school at the same time aside; I’ve lost many friends to various demons while attempting to keep my practice, and it’s starting to look back and notice the clear impact these losses have had on my work. While I’ve made a personal note to never delve too deeply on details surrounding these haunting events, I feel I have to harken back to the meditative nature of making art for myself here. I’ve spent a lot of time wrestling with the emotions dredged up from my traumas, but without a doubt, the act of making art has helped guide me out of potential emotional pitfalls and build something constructive from feelings I would otherwise find myself lost in.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Artsy Fartsy Funtimes – what should we know?
I am a drawer by nature, and screen printer by trade. I’ve always been inspired by gig posters from bands I see and awesome designs on T-shirts, etc. and knew that screenprinting was the best method for me to bring my drawings to a broader audience while still maintaining the work’s integrity. I am beyond excited to finally wrap up my undergrad and officially hit the scene in a whirling storm of ink, paper, and fabric!
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
First of all, huge shout-out to every one of my mentors, from the Mrs. Leonard to Ms. Kolpy, and everyone else in between. Without your support and guidance, I would still be in the small town I grew up in being miserable like the rest of its populace. My friends have always played a pivotal role in egging me towards any goals I choose to pursue and honestly mean the world to me. Lastly, the entire crew at Danger Press, a local print shop where I previously interned a few years back, have played an integral role in deciding my career choice post-graduation. I am truly humbled and blessed to have had the opportunity to learn from such an amazing group of artists/business-peoples and look forward to whatever the future may hold.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 770-500-5993
- Email: artfartfun@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artsy_fartsy_funtimes/?hl=en
Image Credit:
Rebekah Madden
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