Interview
Joel Valdez
Joel is a rising star within the southwest art community. He describes himself as a fine artist using primarily oils as well as other mediums. After studying and teaching at the Animation Academy - located in Burbank, California, Joel worked professionally as a creative designer but soon realized his true passion was painting fine art. In 2019, Joel enrolled at the prestigious Florence Academy of Art of Italy and studied figure drawing and plein air. His works have been displayed in Tubac, Phoenix, and Casa Grande, AZ. Joel is the proud grandson to the late Mary Lee and Joel D Valdez, Tucson’s longest serving City Manager and Sr. Vice President of Business affairs at the University of Arizona.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My journey into the art world started in 2010, when I moved to Burbank California. I moved out there to attend "The Animation Academy" so I could learn under the master teacher Charles Zembillas. I quickly learned the fundamentals of drawing and breaking down objects into shapes, which was essential for animation. Charles taught me how to see and how translate that onto paper. I finished the program in 2 years. The third year (2013), I continued my learning with Charles and became an assisting instructor. I taught Character Design 2 and Visual development. I did this until 2015; teaching was another form of learning. Charles brilliantly constructed the program. With teaching, it always kept your creative drive going and ability to see what others were doing while correcting their work to make it stronger.
With that being said, when creating your own art work all those corrections on the students artwork that were pointed out, you as an artist always implicated those do's and don'ts in your artwork so it only made you a stronger artist. During this period, I was working at a clothing company "The Hundreds is Huge" located in Los Angeles. I was working on the creative side designing graphics for tee-shirts. This was a good learning experience, but it was short lived. I was there for about a year and eventually left to go work for an entertainment company.
I left the clothing industry for the entertainment company because it was geared more towards animation and what I went to school for, it was definitely more up my alley. When I started at the entertainment company "Twinstar Entertainment," I instantly jumped into a project and went right into designing characters and layouts for a project that needed to be pitched. That eventually led to an animated trailer for the project needing to be created. I led a small animation team out of Nepal and I became the creative director on the project. I did the look book, story boards, character designs you name it. It was a great time and great learning experience, but like with anything in the industry once a project is done it is done. The project eventually was put on hold and I was out of work. In 2015, I returned back to my home town in Tucson Arizona. This is when my real journey started. I realized that I wanted to create work that was mine and that I owned, something that held value and most important something that I loved to do. That is when I had this "ah ha" moment! I picked up a paint brush and it was as if everything I learned came full circle and felt as if this was what I was supposed to be doing. I knew it would be a long journey to where I could paint and make a living from it. But that journey never felt more wholesome and right as to what I should be doing. I have since never put a paint brush down. It has been an 8 year journey but I love the process because with every painting I do I learn something new and strive to make every new painting stronger and stronger. It’s been an amazing journey and I'm excited to see where this life long journey takes me.”
What inspires you?
“I get inspired from all sorts of angles. In Tucson, we have some of the best sunsets in the world. Every time I see an amazing sunset, I always tell myself "God really is the best artist.” So, I will stand there and just stare at the sunset and try to study to colors and vibrancy in the clouds. Seeing the light bounce off the desert vegetation and mountains always fires me up and inspires me. I also love to travel. I have traveled all over the world and without a doubt it always inspires me to create. I love to paint my travel destinations. It's a way that I can get a vision or a memory that I have in my head, onto a physical object (canvas, board) and it allows others to see what I saw. The only thing I wish I could do, is add the sounds and smells of that memory to the image created so the viewer could experience what I experienced, But that is impossible, so I do my best to recreate that specific time and memory. Seeing others create and studying other artists inspires me as well. In animation we had this saying "monkey see monkey do" in that aspect of "copying" you're not copying their work but breaking down what they created and how they created their piece, and with that process you learn quite a bit. So, studying and watching other successful painters is one of the greatest gifts because it is education continued just by observing. That always inspires me. Last, but not least, watching other artists succeed inspires me. I love seeing a fellow artist get those big wins because they deserve it. So, I know if I continue grinding away and following suit one day I will be in their shoes and that gives me motivation.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I love to do landscapes and portraits. If I can create a landscape and make the viewer feel like they are there, walk in it, or feel a certain way when they view the piece, I feel it is a successful painting. With portraits, I try to capture the person as best as I can. Unfortunately, a lot of the portraits I have done so far have been people that have passed, so I never have had the pleasure to meet them. So, I try to capture them as best to my abilities. When a client receives the painting and if they cry or get choked up and just stare at it with a smile I know I captured their relative the way they remember them and that is what I strive for. I really don't have an underlying message in my work. I just love showing people the world that I see and the beauty that God has instilled all around us. There is no better feeling than seeing reactions wether it be negative or positive it still makes people feel connected to it and with every piece I put a part of myself in it, and I give it my all. The end result is the chase I strive for.”
“I just love showing people the world that I see and the beauty that God has instilled all around us.”
How would you describe your work?
“I would describe my work as southwest oriented; being that I am from Arizona. I have inspiration all around me from the moment I step outside my front door. Even though, to some the desert can be brown, hot, dangerous with all the thorns, venomous reptiles and the ruggedness of it. I try to portray it in a way that shows the colors that I see and the beauty that I see. Anyone can paint a sunset, anyone can paint a desert but I try to show it in a different way and how I see it.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I am influenced by my teachers, Philip J. Felix and Charles Zembillas. They instilled in me constructions and fundamentals first and foremost. I am also influenced by the great Paul Felix, one of the best animation visual development artists. His ability to create a world that you can hear and smell the environment is something that I strive for. I am inspired by the greats Rembrandt, Leonardo Da Vinci, Alphonse Mucha, Vermeer, Monet, Norman Rockwell, J.C. Leyednecker, Van Gough, and last but not least John Signer Sargent.”
What is your creative process like?
“I like to go out whether it’s here in and around my hometown, Tucson Arizona, or on my travels, and I take my own photos. I'm a strong believer in having your own reference. While taking photos, I will take a sketch book to sketch and capture the moment. Once I have some solid reference, I will do a digital mock up to save some time before going directly to the canvas. I take the mock up I like best and then I prep my canvas or board that I am working on. Then, I get to work. I don't use the reference 100 percent, but I use it as a blueprint to stick to portray what I wan to convey. I do this as well with portraits. I will do a digital mock up and then pick and chose what I would like to use from that reference.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“As an artist, I see us being liberators and thought provoking powers in society. Artists make the world go round. Everything created and made needs an artist at some point. Wether it be from picking the colors for a company or designing a product needs an artist. A logo? An artist will need to design one. A company or city that wants to bring people to the area for attraction or business, a muralist will bring beauty to a once bland boring wall draw people to the area. Artists bring people and community together, they allow for cities to thrive and flourish. Artists bring joy into someones home or backyards with murals on their walls making their backyards an art piece in itself. I see art evolving in this time and era being a new renaissance for creatives. It's never been a better time to be an artist. With the evolution of the internet, creatives are able to have their own store and connect directly with the client. An artist is able to have their own online gallery cutting out the old way of where the only way to show your work was you had to be in a gallery. The tools that are out there today provided for artist are limitless. I love this evolution and I love the direction that it has been and is going for artists.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I had my first solo show at Artist and Makers Studio in Oro Valley, Arizona. It was a great experience and great learning experience. Some other exhibitions include the Tubac Arts Association Members Show and the RAW Phoenix exhibition. I’ve displayed in Casa Grande City Hall. And I was the 2nd place winner of the Casa Grande 2021 Plein Air event. ”
Website: www.joel2valdez.com
Instagram: @joel2valdez
