Today we’d like to introduce you to J. Arturo Laparra.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Ever since I was a kid, I remember loving to draw… typical artist story, I know. I was born and raised in the small city of Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. I’ll forever be proud to say that.
I moved to San Diego when I was about 12 years old, and completely became indulged in music, mainly punk, metal, hardcore, punk rock, etc. I’ve always connected with music deeper than with other humans, and it began to influence my work extensively!
Being surrounded by this music, I was highly exposed to people with tattoos; therefore I completely fell in love with traditional American, neotraditional, and traditional Japanese tattoo artwork.
I’m also a big fan of video games, and I love concept art with an emphasis on the character design process. As a result of surrounding myself by music, tattoo art, and video game art, along with other creative subcultures, my artwork started and continue influencing itself on its own path.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Professionally, I can only speak as a part-time artist. Personally, I can definitely speak for completely. The answer is still “no” on both accounts; it has most definitely not been a smooth road.
On the personal aspect, my “killer taste” and my ambitions are not on par, but I’m happy to say they’re getting closer with time! What I mean by this is that I have not even reached the surface of the level of quality of work that I would like to produce, but I understand that the only way to improve my work to a superior level is by doing a large volume of work. The obstacle with investing this time doing artwork is that it can be very difficult finding, or making time to do so.
A creative writer by the name of Ira Glass said it best: “…your taste is good enough that you can tell that what you’re making is kind of a disappointment to you”. I personally used to find the feeling of not being able to create superlative outstanding work, a very defeating feeling in my early years as an artist. This was a very difficult phase in my early years to overcome.
On the other hand, professionally, it has been challenging as well. Trying to balance a full-time job, college (before I finished school), and everything else that encompasses being an adult, then working on personal art projects, and on top of all that, trying to find time to work on commissions.
Most days I sleep 4-5 hours, leaving me braindead the next day trying to be both an adult, and a functioning creative freelance artist. Nevertheless, the sacrifice and price we pay as hard-working artists are undoubtedly forever worth the outcome!
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I am a freelance artist. I got my Associates Degree in Studio Arts from San Diego City College. I specialize and focus on fine art and design with an emphasis and focus on neotraditional and traditional Japanese tattoo art, with large influences from illustration, with hints of art nouveau, and Italian Renaissance art, and some character and environment design.
I believe that what makes my art different is that it’s so heavily influenced by music, I aim to be visually impacting by telling a story backed by the compelling force of music.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would have focused on studying, reading, and learning more about the styles and motifs behind everything I’m interested in using and influencing my work.
I would have used more of my free time drawing in high school so that I could have been at a much higher level entering college.
Pricing:
- $25.00 Fine Art Prints
Contact Info:
- Address: 2195 Logan Ave., Studio III, San Diego. CA, 92113
- Phone: 6198404461
- Email: j.arturoart@gmail.com
- Instagram: @churroface
- Facebook: facebook.com/j.arturoartanddesign/
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