Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabi Vega.
Gabi, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I am a Color Pencil Portrait artist / Animator who is blind in my left eye and battles with Lupus, which is an autoimmune illness. I’ve always been drawing as my sister would have me color so id stop following her around when I was little and unbeknownst to her, it’d soon become a passion of mine. When I was younger I would sit in front of the TV and draw the cartoons as they animated across the screen, my love for both traditional drawing and animation blossomed from there.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
In school, I was told I couldn’t do portraits because with being blind in one eye, I do not have depth perception, I can’t see form, for me everything is flat. So how could I do something, I couldn’t see? Well I took it as a challenge and really studied lighting and shading so while I may not be able to see the form, I can bring in depth with that knowledge. I create to help deal with my battle with Lupus and to take my mind from the pain it may cause. I want to show people who may be suffering from something whether physical, mental, emotional, etc. that you can do it and let no one tell you otherwise.
What do you know now that you wished you had learned earlier?
There is no right way to create, and you don’t need to have it all figured it out at any certain age. Let life inspire you and let your passion fuel you. I thought I needed to have a degree in Fine Art to be considered an artist but I listened to my heart and knew drawing/portraits would always be here for me. Animation was calling me so I transferred schools where I received a Bachelors in Media Arts and Animation and I always drew on the side. I love being able to do computer animation as well as pick up a pencil and draw. Practice, dedication, and love are words I live by. Be true to yourself and love what you do <3
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I participate in a lot of shows here in San Diego, especially in Barrio Logan. Every second Saturday of the month is an art crawl in which there is usually a show at La Bodega in which I frequently participate in. My wife and I have a storefront Agev co on the corner of Logan Ave and Sampson where you can see me drawing in the window as well as see any new art I’m working on.
I love doing commissions, which is a way people can support. My mother passed away at a very young age for me and since then I’ve always tried to give people their flowers while they can see them and commissioned portraits are a good way for me to do that. Leaving a mark in someone’s life, helping to keep someone dear to them alive through a portrait, and/or paying homage to someone they see and love on daily bases whether it be a spouse, parent, child, loved one, etc. is what makes my soul smile.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2195 Logan Ave #1 San Diego, Ca 92113
- Website: gabivega.com
- Email: vega_gabi@yahoo.com
- Instagram: @ilovegaba
- Other: agevco.com
Image Credit:
Anah Turner-Vega
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