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

Hi Manuel, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Well my father was a part-time artist. He was a painter. And of course he was a fan of art. So I grew up drawing and doodling since I can remember. I’ve never really stopped. But unfortunately I lost my father when I was young at the age of 10. A couple of weeks after he passed I was drawing. It was a very large drawing of the main dragon all z characters. As I was drawing I felt a sense of euphoria, a sense of love . That’s when I decided that I was going to be an artist. I’ll never forget it.

Manuel, 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?

I was born in Mexico City. Came over to the United States at a very young age, settle down in South Texas. Where I still live and work from. I’ve always been into art and surrounded by around art. Once I started forming ideas and started pursuing art more seriously I got into graffiti which led me into the world of low brow/contemporary art. Once I learned more about that world of art I pursued oil painting more than any other medium. After losing my job in early 2019 I decided to go full-time as an artist that’s when I began to push my skill set as a painter and tried to find the right avenue to share my work. During this time. Is where I really learned discipline. I learn how to structure my workday and my work week. Painting anywhere from 5 to 12 hours a day. Giving myself the time I needed to develop my skill and my ideas. Going for long runs, watching a lot of films, listening to a lot of ambient music trying to world build and build the ideas i wanted to explore in my head. Which is very important. Once I starting to feel more comfortable and confident with my work. I started applying to any open calls that seem to fit my work. I was very lucky to be able to get into some big shows. Arc Enemy Arts and the Luz De Jesus Gallery were some of the biggest galleries I was able to get into. Shortly after that I was picked up by ThinkSpace Projects, they put me in some great group shows and offered me a solo show in 2020. I learned so much from working with Thinkspace which really is one of my biggest accomplishments to work with a Gallery on that scale. I just had my second solo show with them in February 2022 which was a great experience. Being thrown into the art world without knowing much, has taught me a lot on how to work full-time as an artist. Seeing my art not only as a creative outlet but as a business. Learning how to meet and work with collectors, how to reach deadlines, how to quote for commissions, how to calculate pricing and shipping etc. I never would’ve thought that I could’ve done it any of this but it just goes to show you if you work really hard you can achieve anything. I thought working as an artist was impossible.

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

The most rewarding aspect is being able to live as a artist. Being able to have the freedom to create, not only physically like a painting but to be able to have your mind free. To not have anybody breathing down your neck for anything, to be as free as you can get. To be quite literally your own boss. Creative freedom is something most don’t have.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My main goal is to keep working. To keep pushing myself and keep trying to find ideas and stories to tell. I wanna be able to make all the work I can before my time is up.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mzamudioprojects.com/
• Instagram: @Raid_33
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mannyzamudio