We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Trew Love a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Trew, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Each of my projects has a unique meaning to them so it’s difficult to say that one means more than the other. Trew Basics, my illustrated makeup tutorial book, is significant to me because it was the first project I created for myself after deciding to leave my makeup career and set off as an artist.

My Sugar Coated exhibit was a turning point in my career where I stepped WAY out of my comfort zone to create a completely unique concept to address social and political issues of our time using clever humor and layered neon acrylic panels. It was the first time I stepped into my voice as an artist and into the world of conceptual art.

Then, there are the cartoons, Rhyme and Reeson, SophistiCats. I had focused all of my energy into art, so when I began writing with my partner, Boris Amado, an entirely new form of artistic expression emerged for me. Adding the story element to my work has been deeply enriching and so much fun.

My latest collaboration, “Lost Angels” is a completely new concept where I, and two other LA street artists, Plastic Jesus and Risk, will be turned into superhero cartoons playing ourselves in a comic book series and potentially a TV series as well. I have no idea how this will turn out as we just signed the contracts on October 31, 2022 but needless to say, being turned in to a superhero is pretty darn meaningful!

The biggest most impactful projects I have brewing will be rolled out over the next decade so be sure to subscribe to my email for news and updates. Its going to be an exciting ride.

Trew, 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?

You could say I’ve been an artist since birth. My mom, an art teacher, had me in crayons and clay as soon as I was able to hold them. I didn’t however, ever think that art would be my career. I wanted to make MONEY! And everyone knows artists don’t make money right? (sigh)

I found that makeup artistry was an excellent way to express myself and use my skills as an artist, so from 18-33, that was my profession. I did everything including a music video for Zhu, backstage makeup for Marc Jacobs and Philip Lim, celebrity red carpet and everyday women alike. It was a great career that had a very bright future, but overtime I realized that I needed to find a profession that expressed my individuality on a greater level.

My professional art career started as the artist and co-founder of a company we named SoundStrokes. We made custom hand made paintings of audio wave forms so people could purchase their favorite song or sound. From there, I was introduced to pop art. I fell in love with the bright colors and cartoon imagery. Yet while I loved it, I felt that I needed a message in my work.

In 2017, I found my voice through activism. I was galvanized by the battle at Standing Rock and got involved with Divest LA, a coalition of activist organizations that were pressuring the city of Los Angeles to pull the city’s funds from Wells Fargo for funding the pipeline. I learned so much about the world and the plight of others and I sprang into action. I knew I needed to use my art as a way to speak to these complex issues that our culture faces today.

Art can convey truths that are often too hard to approach through other methods. We can speak through art, raise money through art to support causes that we love. It can lift our spirits and touch our hearts.

The messages I bring forth through my work convey that even with all of the challenges we have in front of us, the human spirit is resilient and by bringing humor, love, and kindness into our hearts (and our art) we can all grow through our adversities and find greater compassion on the other side.

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

The most rewarding part of being a professional creative is also what makes it the most challenging. My experience is that I am wandering, somewhat lost on an adventure of creation. I don’t know what will come to me next. This was unnerving in the beginning, but as I’ve grown, I find that the aspect that once gave me anxiety is now what brings me a sense of freedom. Admittedly, faith that a higher power is guiding my process has been a fundamental shift in my clarity, my confidence, and my trust that what is meant for me shall come.

And it does.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I recently came across a short two hour course created by Steven Ridley, the piano player. It’s called Ignite Your Inner Artist or something like that. It’s only a 2.5 hour course but It spells out EXACTLY how to move from a 9-5 and build a career working as a creator. I cannot recommend it enough. I am already 9 years into my career as an artist and it still had some key points that have really shifted my perspective and allowed me to move through some of the internal blocks that have been keeping me from moving forward on the things I fear the most- money management and music.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.trew.love
• Instagram: @trew__love
• Facebook: facebook.com/trewlove777

Image Credits
New Faces LA