We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Daniel Toledo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Daniel below.

Hi Daniel, thanks for joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Well in my early twenties I decided that I wanted to do something with my life that involved art, so I went to coleman university to get my associates degree in graphic design. At the time I thought it was the right decision since most art jobs around San Diego involved the graphic arts. I always wanted to do graphics with clothing, and I did that about 8 years working with several apparel companies being the lead artists making graphics for several brands and designing custom apparel. After a while I started to be unhappy with my art since I spent so much time making art for someone else instead making art for myself, so I decided start taking art classes. I really wanted to learn more traditional art like oil painting, portrait and figuring drawing. I started working at a local gallery(Vista ArtBeat) and joined a non profit(back fence Society) as way to get more involved in the art community. It was great finding a community of people that love art, and I got to learn from them. It was going great I was being more involve helping out art events, and I started doing murals again which I use to do when I was really young when I use to do graffiti, but the company I was working at the time put a lot stress on me and I was very unhappy.

All that change when I went to a spiritual type of art experience in LA in 2017 that motivated me to go follow my passion. I always doubted myself and my art, but opening up and telling that to a group of strangers help change that. I always knew that I was going to move to LA, but I was always scared to make that huge step forward. Thanks to that art show I decided to leave my job, my home, my basically everything to start new in LA to become a full time artist.

October 2017 I moved to LA at my aunts house, and I was staying there till I was able to find my own place. I honestly had no plan on what I was going to do with my art I just had full faith and go whatever direction my art takes me to. It was tough just because I was struggling looking for work I really wanted to get like a artist assistant job. There was so many times I was felt lost, and if I should get a graphic design job instead. Thankfully I already had some connections so I was able to do some freelance work. Also I had a friend Jaime Guerrero who ran a creative studio named Artchemist. Through that I was able to do a lot of mural gigs and meet a new artists. Murals were great for exposure because its basically a giant billboard for your art for everyone to see, and people get to see the process. Art live battles was another thing that I got into which really help get my name out there, and it was a fun challenge to create a big art piece in about an hour.

After a couple years I started to try to focus on my own art since the first couple years I was painting mural gigs. I wanted to paint what I wanted, so I started applying for mural events. Doing that totally help me to travel and get to meet artist from all over. The more I do this the more I get better at my craft, and I get to learn from other artist. I even share my knowledge to other artists.

Besides doing murals I have been trying to get more into the gallery scene. I been showing a few galleries like Giant Robot, The Hive, Garage Gallery, and Ewkuks. This year I finally got my first art studio, and got back into doing oils paintings. Ewkuks was the first gallery I showed my art when I first moved in to LA, and just last October I did my first solo show there.

If there was a thing I wish I would’ve done is that I should’ve pursued this a lot sooner, but its never too late. Im so happy I took that risk and follow my passion. So many great memories and so many more to come.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

The way I got into the art industry is by going out and being social. Before I moved to LA I would come to check out art shows and be involved in art events. When I go out I try making connections with other artists or business individuals, and trying to leave a good impression so I can hopefully work with them one day. I would have business cards and stickers to give out to everyone as a way share my art, and social media like instagram has been a great help for that. Also having a professional portfolio and website helps because many people ask for that.

As I mentioned before like I wanted to be more involved with the art community, so I volunteered in a gallery and a non-profit. Through that I got to meet and learn from bunch of artists, and motivated me to work more on my craft. I always felt like always a student and never a master just because there’s always something new to learn. Depending on what field you want to get into just go to any event and ask questions to the people there. If you want to work with a certain client/company just do your research, and find who to reach out.

There’s a lot that I’m learning especially like the business side. That’s something I wish I would’ve learned in college instead I’m figuring out as I go, and I ask other artists on how they deal with certain things.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

There’s so may rewarding things of being an artist like I really love is inspiring the younger generation to follow their passion. Being an artist helped me to be able to express my ideas and feelings for everyone to see. Me doing murals has help beautify this blank wall that has help change not just the building but the community. I’m leaving a huge piece of art for the community to enjoy and learn from. It sparks an interest of people wanting to learn whats the story behind the art.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Well I have several goals like showing at certain galleries and museums. I’m trying to follow the advice I got from a famous artist “Go big”, and that’s what I been trying to do. Trying to do bigger murals, bigger paintings, and bigger art shows. Doing those things I just have to keep on creating, and continue to show my art to the world. I have to make sure to never give up even when times get hard.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mistertoledo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mister_toledo/?hl=en