Today we’d like to introduce you to Maik Jimenez.
Maik, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born (1980) and raised in Tijuana, lived a couple of years in Los Angeles, California. Ever since I was a little kid, I dreamed of other universes and weird characters that would live in them solving their differences together in peace.
At first, I developed my drawing skills because I wanted to be as good as my older cousin Walter, I was amazed at all the cool things he could draw. Later on, I experimented with graffiti art, I never really liked destroying other people’s property and getting in trouble. At the time (1998) there were few or no projects to legalize graffiti in Tijuana, that’s when I realized I needed to create in a legal and professional way. I started drawing from my imagination when I was about 20 years old (2000), I really disliked copying things and following rules just so people would approve of your art. I wanted to be free and let go of any preconception.
I studied visual arts at the Baja university (2005-2008), for economic reasons, I had to leave school. At first that kind of put me down, but then I realized that I could still make a career in art. I just had to work even harder at it. A year later, I participated in my first national art competition and ended up winning an honorable mention for a cutout one level piece I submitted. After that, I went on to participate in various other art competitions, fairs and festivals. But it wasn’t until I quit my day job as a government employee that’s when things started getting much more fun. In 2016 I was awarded first place for the best artist proposal at the Latin American art fair celebrated in San Diego, California.
Last year, I won first place in the drawing category for the state art competition in Baja California, which I had been selected to participate in two others. I currently work only in art-related projects, I teach private art classes and work on my own art projects, either to participate in art competitions or preparing art collective and solo art shows.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not at all.
Opportunities. My own indecisions. Few art schools.
Please tell us more about your art.
I specialize in constructing art pieces made out of drawings on paper. Mixing abstraction with figurative art. I create my own imaginary characters that live in their own universe.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My first mentor was my Cousin he was the first influence in art, he was a self-taught artist at the time and he gave me pointers on how to start a drawing, and use different kinds of media. Most of all, he was the first to push me in to practice my art skills and believed in my abilities.
Roberto Pacheco was an excellent drawing and painting teacher in the short time I studied graphic design, he always motivated us to improve our art skills and encouraged us to create our own universe.
Marina and Nono they were my art teachers in an art shop I took for a few years at the municipal Tijuana culture school, they introduced me to serious street artist and were always very supportive of all my crazy characters and most importantly they fed us pizza.
Luis Garzón, Roberto Rosique, Álvaro Blancarte, Hugo Lugo, Chávez Corrugedo, Manuel Ramirez, Jose Diaz, Heriberto Yepez and most of my art university teachers had a lot to do with convincing myself that I wanted art to be in my life all the time.
My parents, all my family and close friends who have always been there to cheer for me in the bad and good times.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.maikjimenez.com
- Phone: 6643163689
- Email: Maikjimenez@gmail.com
- Instagram: @abstractmike_
- Facebook: @abstractmike_
Image Credit:
Profile picture by Glorissa Rodriguez
Suggest a story: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
