We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rafael Blanco a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Rafael thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Today I’m a full-time muralist. I travel the world painting large-scale artworks, I help beautify communities, and meet amazing people in the process… oh! and I get paid by doing what I love!!!
I have never thought I would become a muralist. I was classically trained to be a studio painter for many years. I followed the academic route, earned a BA in Studio Arts, and later an MFA in Drawing and Painting. I did gallery exhibitions and sold paintings while I was teaching art at the university level. Even though I have always admired murals and large scale works, I was a very slow painter. I could take months and sometimes a year to finish a single painting inside the studio.
My perspective of art dramatically changed 10 years ago (2014) when I had to paint my first mural, and I only had 1 day to complete it. This was part of the 24 hour Mural Marathon at the Circus Circus Resort in downtown Reno NV. I was one of the 7 artists invited working side by side each painting a wall of 15′ H x 20’W in less than 24h.
Being at the mercy of the elements, watched by hundreds of people and under a time restrain was the exact opposite from the studio experience. Even though at the beginning it was really hard, it actually it became a liberating experience. I actually ended up painting 24 hours straight!
Since that day I fell in love with the amazing potential of public art. Little by little I started to leave the studio behind and paint more more in the street. To the point that my career as a muralist was launching, so I decided to ditch the studio and eventually quit my full-time teaching job.
Even though my purpose for painting has changed through the years, my love for the act of painting has always remained intact.

Rafael, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Probably one of the most things I’m proud of is to have always found the time to practice what I love, painting. I have done many different jobs, lived different roles, but always put time aside to practice through the years. I have sacrificed a lot, but it has been worthy.
I usually don’t recommend anyone to become an artist, unless you can’t imagine yourself doing something else. It is a lifetime commitment and persistence is probably the key to success.
I remember after I graduated with my BA in Studio Arts I set up my mind to enter into an MFA program. I applied for 7 years in a row to many different programs around the country. I was submitting applications to 12-15 different universities every year. I was denied every single year! Can you imagine what is like to be rejected for years?
After my fourth year of rejection after rejection I actually decided to quit painting. I was questioning myself and my vocation for the arts. Was I good enough? Was I following the right path in life?
After few weeks without painting I felt kind of “weird”, probably anxious. It took me a while to understand what was happening to me. I finally realized I was missing the act of painting!
Since that moment I started to paint for myself and not for the acceptance of others. I realized that being successful nor accepted was something I could control, therefore it shouldn’t be my purpose. I understood I love the process and that helped me to be fully immerse and present in the moment.
The following three years of rejection were easier to accept. In fact, I still get rejected, probably every week at least once from RFQ I apply continually. Rejection has made a better artist and has taught me my true purpose as an artist.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I knew about Public Art when I went to school! I did my first mural when in my early 30s and didn’t realized it is an actual job until probably few years after that.
During my years as an art student I had to study a lot of art history, art appreciation, and art concepts. We briefly touched public art and it was explained as the creation of monuments or large sculptures placed in the streets. And even though this is true, there is so much to it. I think if the current movement of public was seen and taught in colleges as the art that is thriving in many cities in the US, we would have more and better public artists. There are actually tons of jobs and opportunities out there to be part of, but you have to actually know they exist in the first place.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think most of the artists are not motivated by the financial reward. They do what they do because they are passionate about their discipline, and in many cases, they are obsessed about it.
I remember the day I told my father, “I’m going to become an artist. I’m going to study Studio Arts in college”. He almost had a heart attack!!!
Today, I’m a father myself and I completely understand my father’s or society’s point of view, to pursue a more secured avenue where you can actually find an stable job.
However, the choice of becoming an artist is the choice to a creative path, a life-time exploration, and unforeseen future.
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is to be able to keep improving every time I paint. Even though I have been painting professionally for more than 20 years, I can say I’m still learning, and probably I have the feeling, I always will.
With murals I get to transform ordinary walls and sites into exciting places, but most important, I get to do projects that are unique, that no one has ever done before.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rafael-blanco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rafaelblanco_official/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafael-blanco-murals
• Other: TEDx, Ditching the Studio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDicxeOb9hY

Image Credits

Nicole Abbett, Stan Clawson, Lucas Boland, Michelle Dumont