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

Eric, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Every year I participate in the Red Dot Charity Art Auction. The auction raises crucial funding for The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity which sponsors community art programs and works directly with children, seniors and those on the autistic spectrum. They teach students to nurture the creative genius that exists in all of us. I, along with many other artists, donate artwork each year to this great cause. As an artist it’s a small thing I can do that makes a meaningful and rewarding impact.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m an artist living and working in California. A graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. For quite a number of years I worked in the computer industry doing graphics and animation for various software and videogame products. This included work on early Mac/Windows software, the Game Boy handheld game consoles, and cellphone games. I even did a bit of work on some consumer toys. The computer industry has really given creatives a great place to exercise their talents and support themselves with fulfilling work. While some of the projects can be fun and rewarding, it is of course hard, demanding work that can require long hours, and the industry itself can be a bit volatile. All that said, I’m proud of the work I did during those years. Today I’m more focused on my fine art projects. The majority of my art work is again being created with traditional art materials rather than being created on a computer. While I never really stopped creating fine art, it’s been an interesting journey to return to it having used a computer as a “paintbrush” and creative outlet for so many years. I’m really enjoying the tactile, hands on work that comes with the more traditional art processes.

In your view, what can society do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

The most obvious answer is to fund the arts. Make sure the money is there for art programs to remain in schools and in communities. Support museums with donations and by visiting them. Put an emphasis on the arts and realize that creatives are absolutely vital and should be encouraged and valued the same way we encourage and value doctors, lawyers, and engineers. Society has always greatly underestimated the importance of art and artists. Tell people you’re an artist and you might get an eyeroll. That beautiful piece of clothing you’re wearing, that super cool car you drive, that movie with the amazing special effects, that videogame you’re telling all your friends about, that book you can’t put down, the packaging that made you pick up and buy a product…it’s all ART is various forms. Art isn’t just the painting hanging on the wall, although it can be that too.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I find being able to create something from nothing is very rewarding. But it’s not just the end result itself, it’s the entire process. Whether you’re trying to capture something that’s right in front of you (like a still life) or creating something from your minds eye, there’s always a struggle involved. There can be many ways to go about creating something and some ways are easier than others. Your approach can determine the number of challenges you might encounter along the way, but all that matters is how you handle those challenges to achieve the result you ultimately desire. There’s just great satisfaction in looking at a canvas that was once blank but now has a beautiful painted image on it. Or looking at a sculpture or a piece of pottery that a short time ago was nothing but a ball of clay. Seeing something come to life can bring great joy when things go well, but also great frustration when things don’t go so well.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.ericsgallery.com

Image Credits
All photos and artwork by Eric Calande