We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ignacio Escobar. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ignacio below.

Alright, Ignacio thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I was 20 years old. I landed a job in Set Decorating on a movie set. It was a sci fi movie, we were designing space ships. I was blown away, I discovered my passion for creativity.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I was born in Madrid, Spain. My Colombian artist father had moved the family there from Bogota, Colombia so he could paint in Spain, home of some of the painting greats of the late 60″s. Shortly thereafter we returned to Colombia. My father took his own life. My mother remarried and the family moved to Vancouver, Canada.

I worked in an intensely creative field for over 2 decades. The art department of the motion picture industry in Vancouver, Canada. In 2014 I moved to LA and got married. I had decided to leave the movie biz behind and was unsure of my next career. I struggled at first but maintained my creative “tinkering”.

I designed a men’s sandal, and went as far as manufacturing an entire line. I realized I was a good creative but terrible entrepreneur. I knew nothing about the footwear industry. I’ve never felt so lonely in my life. One day I burst into tears and the shoe biz was over. What a relief!

Next up, I found myself with some aluminum sheet in my hand. I hand formed about 10 pieces and joined them together as wall sculpture. I liked what I saw and felt the fire of making art ignite. At the same time a long time childhood / film friend asked me to design and manage the build of a full on Pablo Escobar style hacienda in Nicaragua. ( My Colombian heritage and design background helped). I jumped at the opportunity. In between trips to Nicaragua I continued to experiment with aluminum. I added powder coating and epoxy resin to the mix. The experiments were heating up and getting better! My artist father’s paintings hanging in my house encouraged me to keep going.

At the end of 2021 we finished the Nicaragua house. I had designed most of the lighting and the furniture as well. It is a stunning Spanish style property. I returned home and found myself with no creative outlet but I had time, a space , and a little money. I decided making art was my new thing. I reno’d my garage, built my studio and have worked everyday since. At the moment my work consists of 3 dimensional wall sculptures, pigmented and hand formed in epoxy. I am now represented by Andrew Myers Art Gallery in Laguna Beach, CA. I am very grateful and stoked for this. It is a beautifully curated gallery by Andrew Myers. A piece of art in and of itself.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I feel I’m finally becoming whom I was always meant to be. The artistic process is a purging of traumas and struggle and self sabotage.  The voice in your head which is aware of the negative voice in your head is where the signals come from. This is awareness, it is very present and healing. I’ve never felt at peace in my life until I was making art. I now wake up every morning super excited to hit the studio!

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

There’s a lot of good mental therapy support online for free. Only you has to know you’re using it. This wasn’t the case before social media. I wish It had been available when I was younger.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ignacioescobarart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nacho_mcb/

Image Credits
Ignacio Escobar