Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gabriel Karagianis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Gabriel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Shortly after graduating from the American Academy of Art in Chicago, I started renting a studio in a, mostly abandoned, factory space in Harvard IL, a small town northwest of Chicago. About 3 months after moving in, I hosted an art show in the space featuring a group of my friends and my own work. I sold some paintings, and that was the beginning. I reinvested my earnings on new tools and supplies. I quickly made a reputation locally doing murals, illustration, and graphic design work. Also, I began to reconnect with artists I went to school with, most of whom were active in the Chicago hip hop and graffiti scene. After a couple of years, I gained the support of some art collectors and sold to them directly out of my studio. They continue to collect my work. The most important thing to me has always been to focus on developing the content of my paintings. The main art scene that I was involved in was the one that I was generating in my studio and the uninhabited spaces in the that vast factory building. Looking back I have no regrets, but I certainly didn’t realize the importance of establishing a presence in other art scenes aside from the one I was involved in cultivating. It took me a long time to gain confidence in my work, to begin to push myself to higher levels professionally. I’m not sure if that part of the process can be accelerated. It just took a lot of time and personal work, just simply wanting to be a better version of myself, using my work as the metric to measure my prosperity.

Gabriel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Most of my paintings focus on tying the ancient roots of our collective psyche into the tapestry of our modern world. Strip aside all the technological toys and flash pop fizzle cultural snacks, we still possess the strong and resilient beauty of the ancestral mind. The focus of my work has always been to speak to this truth, to remind us visually – the depth of our inner strength. My work has been described as being dark, which I perceive as meaning that it’s “confronting”. I think that when we are touched by music, art, film, poetry, or painting, what we are feeling is a deeper connection to the true capacity and value of our experience as human beings. When I am asked to do commission work, I have to discuss with my patron – what it is that makes life meaningful to them? I’ve developed ways to direct this kind of conversation when someone is more reserved or if they aren’t forthcoming with their personal life. I always try to make something that is deeply meaningful to them. I’ve been asked to make paintings to help people process a personal trauma or significant moments in their lives. I’ve painted commissioned work to celebrate personal relationships. I’ve been asked to paint socio-political commentary. Some paintings are just motif or decor. In all cases my goal is the same. It is to tell a story that gives us meaning and resilience and strength by drawing connections to our ancient memory. This is where I draw inspiration from to create.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Human beings made art before they began to farm. Artistic expression predates civilization. Cave drawings and bone whistles mark the oldest and most ancient of human antiquity. Our relationship to art is more fundamental to our humanity than all the materialistic luxury we could ever muster. Take it in. It’s yours. Art is a treasure that belongs to humanity. Not everything is going to speak to you, but you will have a fuller, richer experience if you actively engage in art. Seek out music and imagery that you like and just enjoy it. Certainly buy it if you can.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Resources are always all around us if we make ourselves aware of them. I am currently in a season of tuning that awareness, trying to make use of the possibilities available. It’s not always easy to put the ingredients together, but the more the mind thinks about opportunities rather than limitations – the more projects line up and an artistic career can be very fruitful. I do wish that I thought this way earlier in my career. But it is something that had to be revealed at the right time. Whatever baggage you have in life, it’s not worth carrying around. Confusion and suffering does not feed your art in the long run. It runs out and requires more suffering to feed on – and you get no where. Getting the mind and spirit whole and resilient is the key to living a good life and making great art.

Contact Info:

• Website: gabrielscrolls.com
• Instagram: @gkartwork
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gkartwork
• Youtube: @humfreenoregard
• Other: mail order print subscription: https://www.patreon.com/gkartwork

Image Credits
Green Angel Project