We recently connected with Geancarlos Martinez and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Geancarlos thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

No, it definitely wasn’t like that from day one. I’ve been painting for over 15 years now, but it took time, consistency, and a lot of trial and error to turn my passion into a sustainable living. I started like many artists do—taking on whatever jobs I could find, building my skills and portfolio one mural at a time. I didn’t have a blueprint; I just knew I loved transforming spaces with my art, especially when it came to bringing natural elements into urban environments.

What really changed things for me was leaning into why I create. I grew up in the Dominican Republic, where nature was always my refuge from life’s difficulties. That connection never left me, and eventually, it became the soul of my work. My art brand, THERE ALONE, is rooted in that philosophy—using nature as a symbol of healing, solitude, and self-discovery. Once I embraced that, I stopped trying to be everything to everyone and focused on creating work that truly reflected my story and purpose.

That clarity helped me attract the right clients and collaborations—from community-based organizations to private homeowners to commercial spaces. I’ve been fortunate to work with groups like Marriott International, Studio USAN, and the Anacostia Watershed Society, and to paint murals that not only beautify spaces but speak to themes of environmental awareness and mental wellness.

Do I make a full-time living from my art now? Yes—and it’s growing. But it came from years of saying yes to opportunities, staying consistent even when things felt slow, and building a reputation for quality and integrity. I also diversified what I offer—hand-painted signage, lettering, gallery work, YouTube content, and even international commissions. All of that adds up.

Could I have sped up the process? Maybe. If I knew earlier what I know now—that my personal story and connection to nature were actually my superpower—I might have found my niche sooner. I also would’ve documented more of my process earlier on. Sharing the why behind your work can be just as powerful as the work itself.

But I don’t regret the journey. Every setback taught me something, and every mural helped shape who I am—not just as an artist, but as a person. And now, I get to use my art to help others reconnect with themselves too.

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?

My name is Geancarlos Martinez. I’m the artist behind THERE ALONE, a name that holds the weight of solitude, survival, and self-discovery. I create murals, fine art, and hand-painted signage that bring nature into our everyday environments—but the truth is, my work is much more than just decoration. It’s rooted in healing. It’s rooted in pain. And most of all, it’s rooted in the idea that peace is something we create for ourselves—especially when the world around us is anything but peaceful.

I didn’t grow up in a place that nurtured art. I grew up in the Dominican Republic and later in low-income neighborhoods where survival came first. Where gunshots weren’t rare. Where mental health wasn’t a conversation. Where being sensitive or creative could feel like a weakness—especially as a young man trying to find his way. And yet, even in all that chaos, I always noticed the trees. The colors. The small details of life that reminded me that beauty still existed. I clung to those things quietly.

When I came to the U.S., I thought things might get easier. But the struggle followed me. I found myself surrounded by concrete, noise, and systems that weren’t built for people like me to thrive. I dealt with depression. I carried trauma from childhood that I didn’t have the tools to name yet. I’ve been in those dark places—the ones that feel like you’ll never get out, the ones where you question your worth, your future, your purpose.

But through all of that, I kept painting.

At first, it was just for me—scraps, sketchbooks, stolen time. But over time, I realized that when I painted, I felt again. I could breathe. I could express what I couldn’t say out loud. And I started sharing it, little by little. A wall here. A canvas there. A mural for a friend’s business. People started to notice—not just because of the colors or techniques, but because of how it made them feel. That’s when I realized this gift wasn’t just for me. It was something I could offer the world.

THERE ALONE was born from that space—from solitude, from silence, from sitting with my own pain until I found something worth growing from. That’s why nature shows up in every piece I make. Tropical plants, bold animals, colors that evoke breath, movement, healing. Because the same way nature helped me survive my darkest days, I want my work to give that same kind of refuge to others.

My murals now live in homes, schools, restaurants, and wellness spaces across the DMV and beyond. I’ve collaborated with artist around the city. I’ve painted for openings at spots like Ciel Social Club, and I recently shipped my first international commission—packaged with care and love like it was a piece of me (because it was).

But let me be clear: I’m not here just to be “an artist.” I’m here to build safe emotional spaces through color, nature, and vulnerability. I want the person walking past my mural to stop and feel something. I want the client in a high-stress environment to walk into their space and breathe differently because of the art on their walls. I want the young kid growing up in the hood—just like I did—to see someone who looks like them doing this full-time, and believe it’s possible.

What sets me apart isn’t just the aesthetics. It’s the story. The spirit. The why.

Every project I take on comes from a place of intention. I don’t believe in painting just to fill space. I paint to honor it. I paint to give it purpose. Whether it’s hand-painted signage for a local business, a healing mural for a trauma-informed school, or a gallery piece that reflects rebirth after loss—it all comes back to connection. To transformation. To showing people that there’s still softness and beauty in a world that can be hard and chaotic.

And I’m proud of where I’ve gotten—not just because I turned my passion into a career, but because I did it without selling out who I am. I didn’t come from money. I didn’t have connections. I built this from scratch with consistency, grit, and the belief that my story matters. And it does. Just like yours does. Just like every one of us trying to climb out of generational pain and do something different.

If you’re reading this and you’ve ever felt stuck, unheard, or invisible—just know that I see you. I was you. And THERE ALONE is for you. My work is a reminder that even in silence, there’s power. Even in struggle, there’s beauty. And even when you’re alone… you’re never really alone.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Yes—I believe without a doubt that my calling is to heal.

To heal the pain.
To heal the trauma.
To heal the hurt that so many of us carry but have never been taught how to release.

I’ve been there. I know what it feels like to grow up with wounds you can’t explain. To walk through life with silent battles in your chest, pretending you’re okay when everything inside you feels broken. I know what it’s like to live in environments where survival takes up all the space, where there’s no room to dream, to rest, or to feel.

But I also know that healing is possible.
And I know that solitude—real, quiet, intentional solitude—is where that healing begins.

In a world that moves too fast, that pressures us to keep going even when we’re falling apart, I believe in the radical power of slowing down and going inward. I believe that when we allow ourselves space to sit with our pain, to be still, to reconnect with nature and breath and spirit… that’s when the transformation begins.

That’s where you begin.

My journey as an artist wasn’t just about picking up a paintbrush. It was about picking up the pieces of myself. It was about unlearning the idea that my softness was weakness, that my sensitivity was a flaw, that being alone meant being abandoned. What I’ve come to learn—and what I want my work to show others—is that being there alone isn’t a place of emptiness… it’s a place of return. It’s where you rediscover your strength. Your voice. Your calling.

Through my art, I want to create spaces where people can breathe again.
Where they can feel held, even if just for a moment.
Where the colors and movement remind them that they’re not stuck, that they’re not broken, and that healing is not only possible—but theirs to claim.

I believe a healthy mind, a healthy spirit, and a healthy body are the foundation for everything we want to become. And when we take the time to nurture those parts of ourselves, we unlock something powerful. We become who we were always meant to be—unapologetically, fully, and free.

That’s what I’ve experienced. That’s what art gave me.
And that’s what I want to give to the world.

If my work touches even one person in a way that makes them feel less alone, more alive, more seen—then I’ve done my job. Because healing, at the end of the day, is a chain reaction. When we heal ourselves, we open the door for others to do the same.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being an artist, for me, is freedom.

The freedom to wake up each day and create on my own terms. To decide what I paint, when I paint, and how I show up in the world. I don’t have a boss. No one’s telling me what to do or when to do it. If I want to take a break, travel, or go on vacation tomorrow—or next week—I can. If I feel good and my funds are right, I move how I want. That freedom isn’t luck—it’s something I fought for. It’s something I built.

Every mural, every late night, every moment I chose art over comfort, I was laying the foundation. And now, I stand on something solid—something real. Something that will only fall if I fall. No one can take it from me. I can’t be fired. I created this life from the ground up, and I own every part of it.

That kind of freedom didn’t come easy. It took years of resilience, consistency, and showing up even when I was tired, broke, or unsure. But deep down, I never wanted anything else. I didn’t chase status or titles—I just wanted to be free, to live off my creativity, and to make a life that felt true to who I am.

And now I have that. That’s what being an artist means to me. Not just painting walls—but building a life that reflects my soul.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.therealoneplus.com
• Instagram: @_therealoneplus
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@therealoneplus