We were lucky to catch up with Jose Romero recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jose thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career.

When I went to High School in Schenectady, NY my counselor placed me in the tech program. The tech program was funded by GE and introduced students to all facets of technology. I took classes in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and architecture. Not only because of the program, but also my teachers, I was shaped as an architect and studied at New York’s Pratt Institute. Not only are these programs fundamental to the development of a student, but also the teachers who are selected. This would improve in our school system with more funding of such programs and higher wages for our educators.

SAMO

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I studied Architecture at New York’s Pratt Institute, ranked 7th in the country for this program. When the opportunity came up to apply for the study abroad in Rome Program I decided to put together a portfolio and apply. After I got in, I spent the Spring of 99′ in Italy. I learned about art and architecture, and began my senior year the next Fall, also it was then that I started painting.

I am an artist and architect. I practice both disciplines, as well as work full time for a fiber optics engineering firm. In fact, I am meeting clients this afternoon about their dream home. I have been designing on my own since 2018 and have been seriously exhibiting my art since 2005. I have sold about 50 pieces and have amassed a collection in my home of about 250 pieces, both drawings but mainly paintings.

I love meeting new people who become clients and friends. My paintings are colorful and light, a transcending style which has been forming and changing since back in 1999. I spent a few years experimenting with wax and twine with acrylics on canvas. Then came the dots in 2002. I did a series of paintings in black and white with wax, of which two I still have. Then I decided to go bigger and steered away from materials and concentrated on creative imagery for a few years using just acrylics. Now I introduced oil pastels into my pieces and combined them with acrylics and then the gesso dots.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When we first came down to Greenville, SC in 2009 with our first born Marcelo, the economy was in steep decline and the only option for us was with to live with my parents for a while and look for work. The only thing I found was with a dear cousin, delivering furniture and setting it up in folks homes’. From there I went to work as the warehouse manager of a large and reputable furniture company in Greer which is a town nearby. That went away…

I did jobs like these for the next six years, worked third shift jobs and cleaned schools. It was good work don’t get me wrong, and I’m thankful that we had it for I was the sole provider for my family and we now had our little girl…

I was just climbing out of my depression that had developed from PTSD in 2015 when I landed my first architectural job. It’s from then that I was able to grow and develop in both disciplines…

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

To grow in both disciplines so that I can transition into them full time when I retire from full time work and can have a little pension.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zhibit.org/chemaro
• Instagram: @romerojoseartist
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641224125
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-romero-066451/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfwe7TY2bc4