We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jorge A. Perez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jorge A. below.
Jorge A. , appreciate you joining us 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?
Earning a full-time living is no easy task in the creative world, especially when you work as a independent contractor. I have learned the importance of saving for a rainy day, that said it’s important to always celebrate your wins no matter how small or large they may be. I will never forget the first time I made money from doing a shoot for someone, I never thought it would be something that would grow into an evolving career with mixed media. I mean imagine going from someone who was always in-front of the camera to going behind it for fun & then getting asked to shoot for a reputable business. My journey has been insane and has been filled with a lot of ups and downs which at the end of the day have taught me and helped me continually grow as an artist. I believe a HUGE milestone which really paved the way for me as a mixed media artist in a competitive market like South Florida was just learning to believe in my work. As an artist we tend to be extremely self-analytical as well as tend to fall into the bad habit of comparing our work to that of other artists who may be a few steps ahead of you. I learned that it’s not so much about the art in itself or whether I am doing a photoshoot for someone, creating a Fine art collection for my CultClassicshop.com which I recently launched or even if the video is recorded with an extremely HD camera, etc. What’s most important is the relevance your art has to the viewer and the feeling you convey through it. Confidence in your work cannot be taught, it has to be smelted & cast in the fires of creativity over time. My advice to a person looking to make a full-time living doing creative work is to never give up & find purpose and growth even in the not so great moments and with time and persistence they will reach their destination. Just don’t forget to enjoy the journey, if not once you get there you won’t realize you’re there!
Jorge A. , 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?
Hi, my name is Jorge Alberto, from as early as I can remember I have always been heavily involved in the arts. My first passion has always been music. I grew up taking vocals lessons, being in chorus groups & learned to draw from an uncle that was one of Disney’s top animators at the time. I first dived into the arts however as a teenager when I began modeling full time. By the age of 22 I had already done everything from commercials, magazine to runway. I always had a fascination for photography so throughout my modeling years I learned a lot of tricks from some of the top photographers at the time. One thing led to another and before I knew it I went from taking photos of friends for fun to shooting my first Indie apparel line and from there I began to grow as a photographer. Fast forward a few years and I came out as a recording artist and was fortunate enough to release my first full length album along with a series of singles that got a lot of airplay in Europe & South America. Becoming a singer is what lead me to the next phase of my creative growth as a video producer & director. I began self-producing my own music videos, promos and even website. I have always been known for working outside of the box & creating compelling eye-catching visuals. This led to me getting hired to create websites for a series of other artist. A few years in and thats when I first decided to launch my first business Skytowerstudio.com a multi-service agency originally made to help struggling artist get quality professional work without breaking the bank. As years progressed other businesses began to reach out for photoshoots, commercial shoots, web design and even help with branding and social media. I have always had a huge passion for the arts and have always said “if you’re going to do something, do it right”. That’s when I decided to go to school to learn as much as I could about Social Media management, Digital Marketing & branding. Anything I could do to better serve my clients & my growing business. Fast forward a few more years and although it may seem like an easy journey reading it here, there’s been many struggles and growing pains along the way from learning to not stretch myself to thin all the way to learning the real value of your work and not under-charging. The journey has not always been easy and like every other person I have wanted to quit many times and asked myself “Why do I do this to myself? Why don’t I just get a regular job” Off-course I’ve always been a very persistent individual and luckily the universe at times of great need has always thrown me a bone to let me know I am on the right path. Always listen to your gut and pay attention to the details as they are the guiding light through the rainy days. Through the time of the pandemic I did some re-adjustments & was able to launch my first fine art collection along with custom apparel business Cultclassicshop.com . On a personal level, brands began reaching out to do collaborative work together and without even realizing it I began on the journey of becoming an influencer/ brand ambassador during the pandemic. I am proud today to stand here and say that Skytowerstudio.com is now taking on clients at a national level which I still handle personally while still launching and also managing/ creating a whole new brand CultClassicshop.com . When Covid first hit I also stopped releasing music even though my last two videos had hit over 200K views upon release and are available worldwide on all major digital platforms (Feel my love- Jorge Alberto). I just felt I needed to focus on other aspects of my life. Two years later, a music manager has reached out and I am currently in talks for a management deal, new music & so much more! I guess my point with all of this is that what has really led me has been 3 things: First and foremost the inexplicable drive I have to create mixed media art, it’s something inside me that is my guiding light. Second the support I’ve received from clients, music fans, digital friends (or followers as some say) and family and friends. Having a support system that positively motivates you is very important. Third I would say is being able to read between the lines and follow the wave while still making it your own. I never sought to be a video producer, photographer, web designer, social media manager or even influencer. You could say I just followed a series of opportunities that presented themselves and I found a way to incorporate my Artistic flare to it. whatever you do in life, make it your own!
: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Yes, there’s definitely a strong force within me that drives my creative journey and truth be told I sometimes can lose sight of it but the universe will always ensure I find my way back to it. As early as I can remember I’ve always found there to be great power in being an Artist. Artists help shape society as we know it. They help bring calm during times of great distress as the one we are all currently experiencing with the pandemic. Artist inspire and give other people and specifically children something to aspire to. I can’t tell you how many times I have felt up against the wall and have heard a song that’s just really taken me out of that funk. Or times I have doubted my work as a photographer or videographer and learned that I am not the first nor will I be the last to feel this way. I’ve learned to study the journey of other people in similar paths and learn that it’s all about persistence. When I create ANY kind of work my goal is always to inspire others to aspire as others works have done for me. My mission in life is to create timeless works that will stand the test of time and continue to inspire people for many generations to come. Yes my goal is ambitious but any artist will tell you that whether it’s through applause and hollering from fans while you’re on stage or the gratitude from a happy client or that first sell of your Fine art print. Those feelings are intangible, priceless moments in time that for someone like me is the fuel of life itself.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2022 if you’re not pivoting one way or another you are stuck in stale murky water. No matter your field or creative focus we must learn to grow & pivot with the times & demands of the fast paced consumer driven world we are a part of. This is something I have found myself struggling with before because as an artist we get very attached to what we create and sometimes fail to remember that this one piece you are obsessing about will only be a spec of the work you create throughout your life. I began my creative journey as a model and once I reached a certain level I pivoted towards photography. As I became better in my craft as a photographer I had the financial backing to pivot towards a music career. The need for a low cost music video and promotion made me pivot as a singer and learn to produce and direct videos as well as create website. Little did I know that pivot would lead me towards the life I live today. After years of honing my skills as a photographer and videographer and having the stability that my previous pivots provided I was able to work on new dreams that came from these pivots such as releasing my first fine art photography collection ( 10 years in the making). Life will ALWAYS pivot whether you want it to or not. What will make the difference in your life I believe is how you take on those pivots and make them your own.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.skytowerstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjoral
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJorgeAlberto
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgealbertoperez/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/iamjoral
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL_s5BWa1I5KWxro6EmAZvQ
- Other: Music website: https://www.iamjorgealberto.com/ Fine art photography/ Apparel: https://www.cultclassicshop.com/
Image Credits
Jorge A. Perez