We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Raul Cruz a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Raul, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
When I was a child, a neighbor who was a teacher knew that I liked to draw, so she asked me to draw some pictures of some classical Greek philosophers for her class.
They liked them a lot and at that moment I realized that what I liked to do so much, drawing, could have great social utility.
At that moment I decided that this is what I wanted to do all my life, I was 10 years old.
I did it just because I liked to draw, but the teacher paid me two 5-peso coins. Coins that I keep in a small box to this day, as my first payment for a drawing.
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?
– How you got into your industry/ business / discipline / craft etc?
In the 80s, when I was 19 years old, I went out with my personal illustrations under my arm to knock on the doors of publishers and advertising agencies. I sensed that out there (the city) there would be companies that needed art like the one I liked. do.
Most of the doors never opened and the few that did open would turn me away without even seeing my work.
But I persisted, my energy level and love for art were very high, once the first publishing company gave me an opportunity, I gained more experience and little by little other companies added to my list of clients, until these days I work for some very important companies.
– What type of products/services/creative works you provide?
At the beginning I offered traditional illustration, currently also digital illustration, I have done many illustrations for advertising with all kinds of themes. Currently I offer fantasy and science fiction art, especially concept art, character design, environments, etc. for video game companies, trading cards, publishers.
-What problems you solve for your clients and/or what you think sets you apart from others?
I offer the creation of scenes and/or characters that express the concept that clients need to show.
What I think makes me different is the concept that I have created and worked on for 30 years, the combination of Sci-Fi with Mesoamerican cultures: Mayans, Aztecs, Olmecs.
-What are you most proud of?
I feel very proud of my personal works, my own concepts that lead me to imagine a different way of seeing the history of my country from fantasy and Sci-Fi. This work has given me the respect and admiration of many people and a place in the art world of my country. It has opened many business doors for me, it has taken me to know beautiful countries and wonderful people.
In addition, it also makes me proud that all my life I have been working on my own as a freelance in my own studio, building myself on my own terms.
-What are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/ etc?
That since I was 10 years old I knew what I wanted from my life, that I have devoted all my time to creating my own work, that it has been a passion much greater than any other known. None of the social rules or traditions could overcome this passion I have for creating fantasy and science fiction art.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The best thing about being a passionate artist is feeling that life has an important meaning, that every day is different, each project fills you with energy.
In the artist’s life there is no room for monotony, the artist always knows where he is going and there is no room for frustration.
The passionate artist does not need to follow social rules nor does he need to belong to a tribe just to be accepted, the artist builds his own world and is happy in it.
The artist takes advantage of every minute of his life and does not waste time on banalities.
Creating art is a justification of human evolution
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
It is difficult for non-artists to understand the happiness that the passionate artist experiences through creating his work, it is an experience that most people do not know.
It is difficult for non-artists to understand why the artist does not follow social rules or care to be fashionable and does not enjoy what the majority enjoy.
For non-artists it is difficult to understand that the artist is happy for what he is and not for what he has.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artstation.com/raulcruz
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/racrufi/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/racrufiart/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raul-cruz-83907325/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RACRUFI
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7xGpfQdVP8
- Other: E-mail: [email protected] Pinterest illustrations / Paintings https://www.pinterest.com.mx/racrufi/paintings-illustrations/ Pinterest Concept Art https://www.pinterest.com.mx/racrufi/concept-art-sketches/ Pinterest Comissions https://www.pinterest.com.mx/racrufi/commissions/ Pinterest Cartoon Character Design https://www.pinterest.com.mx/racrufi/cartoon-character-design/ Libros RACRUFI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUT9wQEnlNE