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

Caleb, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I’ve been creating since I was 13/14 years old. When I sold my first art piece (framed) I was 17 years old. Didn’t really know what to make of it, that I could make money off my own art. I have always worked in restaurants and cafes at the same time I was making work. It would frustrate me a lot not being able to create and being stuck at work for 8 hours washing dishes. All sorts of different jobs. Having these great ideas for a painting, song or installations while I was on the clock. Would make me wonder if I was really running out time being here.
So being in this mind set of wanting to make art all the f’n time, but I had to pay my rent and bills; just to live and able to eat and party too- It was exciting times. I had to take to risk of being an artist. I knew at 17/18 years old I am going to create and connect. By connect I mean with people that are going to be on my path and see, feel, get what I’m putting out with my work and ideas. Since then I’ve met some beautiful people from all over this planet.
If I didn’t take this risk of being who I am, definitely wouldn’t have these stories to share with everyone right now. Super happy and proud to say. ” I am a risk taker! “

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?

I’m most proud of the fact that people have told me that they know its my work, my style, and that part hasn’t really changed over the last 18 years. Its unique, its my own. I’ve never been one to copy or rip off. I’m always inspired by things I see.

I’ve never been told my work reminds someone of another artist, that makes me proud as well.

Something that looks so complicated to create can actually be quite simple. But sometimes simple is hard.

I create many of my paintings using recycled chopsticks. At first, the process took a very long time, but the more I do it, now, moving the paint with wood, its become second nature, its meditative. You definitely have to have patience for this creative process. I’ve also never met anyone else who paints with chopsticks.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the reward would be that I’ve met the people I’ve needed to meet so far, being the artist who I am. The people I’ve shown with, the artists I’ve met; Olivier Mosset, Graciela Iturbide, Ay-O. Fluxus (Japanese rainbow artist), Kenny Scharf, Money Mark.

The creative part is being able to not be stuck in one place, traveling, being inspired by other places and cities, branching out.

Writing new ideas down over the years and then stumbling back on them. It feels like its been charging itself in a way, then I forgot, and then I find it years later and its the perfect time.

For example, a series I did for Girl Skateboards, I took photos, wrote the idea down, sketched it out, and then I found it again four years later and it made sense that it was the right time to create this work and present it to the company. I think the timing was just right.

The reward of that was having a world wide release of my artwork on skateboards for a company that I really admire.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Always write it down on paper.

A lesson I’ve learned is how to get fully paid, mainly for commissions. Getting paid first before you give a client the work.

You can’t return art.

Get a deposit. Nowadays there are so many ways to pay someone that there is no excuse not to.

We live in a world that is so easy to receive funds, there is no reason someone should not pay an artist.

This is how I make a living. Its a full time job, I have to eat and survive so if I don’t get paid then I can’t pay for my day to day. If I need to get my car fixed, I can’t go into the mechanic and ask if I can pay half price.

Getting respect as an artist just as any other worker would.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://escgdd.com
• Instagram: @desertdeer @es.cgdd
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Calebz14
• Soundcloud: @desertdesert
• Other: @Bigcitysleep is my band. Some music and music videos are on my youtube channel and on
  Spotify and Bandcamp .