Meet Diego Barrientos

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Diego Barrientos. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Diego, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

I keep it alive by constantly trying to refill my well of experiences. My art is very autobiographical so eventually those stories and inspirations run out. The people I meet, the people I spend time with, the beautiful and horrific views I see, the art I consume, changing my surroundings for a bit like going to the mountains, and hardships I face all refill that well. So when I run out of ideas I go off and try to live. Within my means of course, I don’t have a lot. It’s not a break, it’s not procrastination, it’s part of my art practice. When I come back to my canvases or my word document I now have ideas and things I want to talk about.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Before embarking on my artistic journey I joined the US army when I was a teenager which was my chaotic coming-of-age story. When I first returned home I spent a few years playing drums for different bands, having the time of my life creating art and performing with my best friends. I soon began to take an interest in art history while in college and was immediately enthralled. This was right around the time my hands and arms began to cause problems and eventually led to me having to leave the band due to arm injuries from playing drums. This was perfect timing though because I was already neck deep into the art world. I began painting everyday and was accepted to CalArt’s MFA program. Since then I have exhibited all over the Los Angeles area, wrote and produced an album with fellow Calartians called Frankendee, and have now I’ve been working on a novel. This book, like my other work, is very autobiographical but it’s still fiction. It’s about trying to heal from PTSD with music while in a band in Bakersfield, Ca in the mid 2000’s. It will be out and available for purchase Halloween 2024.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

This is a good question. Apart form 1) the skills you need to create what’s in your mind that can only come from hours of practice, it is important to 2) surround yourself with people or a space where you are allowed to mess up and make mistakes. If you’re not making mistakes that means you are in your comfort zone and not learning anything. Mistakes means you’re trying something new. And 3) have empathy. It’s so important. Putting yourself in other’s shoes will make you more in tuned with what really needs to be said, as well as giving shout outs to other artists to boost their profile as well. We are not alone and shouldn’t be against each other. If your work is honest and true, then it will be unique. There’s no need for the feeling of people competing with you.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

This probably a basic answer since it’s such a popular book, but Just Kids by Patti Smith is the book that propelled me in this journey. The courage of her and her friends in this book is contagious. Going after dreams and doing whatever you have to do to achieve it. Patience is another nugget of wisdom. If your art is honest and true people will find it. Also the big thing for me was she didn’t try and label herself as a painter, or a writer. She exclaims artist from the rooftops. Which was important to me because I have guilt sometimes when I move from medium to medium. She became a poet and musician after exploring all the art forms. And she let it happen rather than fight it like how I was doing it. Overall this book would make anyone want to be an artist or completely run the other way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://diego-barrientos.format.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dee.barrientos
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dangerouspenguinproductions

Image Credits

Courtney Coles
Diego Barrientos