We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Francisco Lopez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Francisco, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. The first dollar you earn in a new endeavor is always special. We’d love to hear about how you got your first client that wasn’t a friend or family.
In September 2017 I got my art into a high-end barbershop named RUDY’s located in Los Angeles, I had already been painting for a few years as a hobby when a friend visited the barbershop for a haircut and noticed they had the place curated with art from a local artist. Without asking me he asked on my behalf if they would consider having my art as the next local artist in the shop.
A few emails and introductions later I became the featured artist in the shop having no clue about hanging art, no website, no business cards just an Instagram and an email sometimes you have to say yes and figure it out as you go. After about a couple of months, the clientele along with the staff found my art enjoyable.
A barber Client named Julio had come in a couple of times and noticed my art on the walls, he reached out to me on Instagram and asked if I would be able to meet him to discuss a commission idea he had. Never receiving a message like this, especially from a stranger I was excited, nervous, anxious.
We met for coffee and Julio was an avid art and watch lover he mentioned he had gone into the shop and noticed my art and was a fan of my style of collages and color selection but not of the cartoon characters I was painting at the time. He asked if I would be able to paint his favorite watch he owned a Panterai in my style of painting and incorporated collages in the background. Without hesitation, feeling terrified, I said I could do it! We agreed on a price of $600 we walked over to the bank and he took out $400 from the ATM and handed it over to me and the rest on completion.
Francisco, 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?
I go by the artist name Cisco born and raised in California currently in Los Angeles. Growing up as a kid in the 90’s I was always drawn to pop culture; MTV music videos, playing video games, and watching cartoons from the classics of Hanna Barbera to Nickelodeon whether it be after school or waking up early on weekends. Watching these toons and mixed with everything else led me down the curiosity of learning how to draw I can remember having a binder of my collection of drawings, pencil box, and Crayola crayons and markers as a kid, and doodling anytime I could.
As I grew up from elementary school through high school I never stopped drawing, in high school I started taking classes in art, animation, and photography which led me to attend The Art Institute of Santa Monica to pursue Graphic Design. Learning color theory, layout and design, typography, and photography, mixed in with the technology of Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator I cannot tell you how much that would influence my art to another level down the line years later. Imagining I would find myself as a graphic designer after school was my dream but in reality, it wasn’t I never finished, fast forward 10 years later after working numerous 9-5 jobs I tried jumping back into Art School again but came to the realization school wasn’t for me and with an art supply kit given to during enrollment, I started drawing again in my kitchen. I loved being creative for myself with no rules, and no direction, I could create what I wanted. After drawing for a few months I got curious about using paint, I had never in all my years attempted to buy a canvas, brushes, and paint. I started using spray paints from hardware stores and creating my stencils on Adobe, everything I learned when I attended The Art Institute started to coincide.
Now I find myself creating custom multi-media commissioned artwork for clients with an emphasis on a variety of pop and street culture. My mediums include; acrylic on wood and canvas, mixed media skillset, Graphic Design, digital renderings, fine lines/detailing, client relations, project execution, communication, time management, painting, drawing, and Adobe Creative Suite.
Artist Exhibits/Clients: MTLE Gallery, ATO Platform, Culver City Infused Social House, BFree Studio, TeaPop, and RUDYS
barbershop. Collectors include Slim JXM and Jeff Hamilton.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
In October 2018, I applied and got accepted to be a part of an art show put on by a company called SupeFine in Downtown Los Angeles in February of 2019, little did I know this would be an expense lesson. Being a solo artist and not being represented by a gallery I had to come up with 2700 dollars for the wall space my art would be put on to be sold. The company broke down the payments to 900 dollars to be paid over the next four months. That month my sister helped me start a GoFundMe we were able to raise 1300 dollars I was able to buy myself some time until the next payment was due in November.
Through the grace of god in November before the payment was due I got a call from a client who wanted to hire me again for a big commission later that day I received an email from my website that I sold two paintings to a person in Illinois, and a few days later that buyers friends saw my art and reached out to hire me for another big commission and just like that I had more than enough money to pay off the balance for the show. It felt like a miracle.
Fast forward to February, my head held high thinking I was going to sell out all the art I brought for this three-day event, I did not sell a single piece of art, I felt defeated, confused, and wondered why. Devastated I hadn’t painted for a month but looking back on that weekend I had to realize what I learned, I met new artists, who also changed my perspective on techniques, new styles, and learning how to become a better salesperson when it came to my brand. Most importantly I started in my kitchen drawing for the pure joy of it and look how far I’ve gotten.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The feeling of deep satisfaction, accomplishment, and pride that comes from bringing an idea to life, expressing myself authentically, and being able to see my art as a result of my imagination on people’s walls.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ciscolopezjrart.bigcartel.com/
- Instagram: ciscolopezjrart
