We recently connected with Damian Gary and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Damian, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
My childhood was filled with cartoons, probably more than other kids. From morning to night, cartoons were playing in my house – everything from Tom & Jerry, Looney Tunes, Scooby Doo, and so on.
I’d draw and color with my crayons as I watched these shows. However, the real icing on the cake was Final Fantasy X (circa 2001). When I laid eyes on that game, a spark grew within me. The visuals, the characters, the story – they all inspired me to draw more and create my own characters.
Art was mostly a hobby until I was in high school. As a New Yorker who grew up in The Bronx, I was exposed to a lot of graffiti and street artists. One day, I was researching NYC graffiti and came across Keith Haring and fell in love with his wacky art.
That was when I knew I wanted to pursue my own career in art. Eventually, I attended School of Visual Arts to obtain my Bachelor’s in Illustration.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I grew up in The Bronx and was exposed to tons of cartoons and street art. This resulted in me having a very wacky art style that combines these elements with my own personal touch.
In fact, many have said that my art is so crazy, they have trouble understanding it. I purposely draw strange anatomy, insane facial expressions, and so on. My art is fun and colorful – but mostly it’s unique.
I’m very proud of getting into SVA and graduating, despite my art style being avant garde. My professors didn’t always understand my art, but I actually found this to be a fun challenge. I still managed to take their advice and improve my skills while still staying true to my style. Some of my professors said that I use elements that usually don’t go together yet I somehow make it work.
Clients who work with me will get a taste of my unique art that sets me apart from others.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
For me, the best part is that I’m able to express myself any way I want through my art. The possibilities are endless – there are so many different things to explore and so many things to try. I like to think to myself “How can I make this even wackier or crazier?”
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My ultimate goal is to have my very own gallery or exhibit that displays my art. I’d love for people to walk into the show and get a glimpse of the craziness that goes on inside my head.
Contact Info:
- Website: tubbie2k@com
- Instagram:@tubbie2k
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damian-gary-0ab107195/
Image Credits
All image credits belong to me.