We recently connected with Andres Luna and have shared our conversation below.
Andres, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I would say that I found my purpose by taking time to myself and really trying to figure out what it is that I would like to do with making media, and trying to come up with ways that I can try to turn my passion into my career. I then took a hiatus from things that had distracted me in order to gain a refreshed view on creating visual art and focusing on what I would like to create and how I want to go about it. Taking pictures and videos, drawing, teaching myself graphic design, and even becoming a mentee and learning the process in screen printing and making clothing. In doing all of this, I started to form an idea of how I want to present my work to an audience and gained motivation to constantly create not only for people to enjoy, but to feed my love of always creating art, no matter the medium.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a visual artist, in many mediums. I specialize in film, photography, graphic design, and I sometimes make clothing. While learning to expand my horizons when it comes to creating, I have been privileged to be a part of many opportunities that allow me to portray my art for people to enjoy. I love being able to create compelling imagery that is not only appealing to the eye, but is able to tell a story to it’s audience as well. I would definitely say I find it special when I see people’s reactions to what I make, and the anticipation of what they think of it. Now it may not always be a good reaction, but I have learned to take the good with the bad, and appreciating both equally, because it always leaves room for improvement, and satisfaction when the improvement comes
Now, as far as new things going on in my career, I have recently rebranded my instagram to fit a new aesthetic that I find enjoyment in creating my work through, so if you guys wanna check out my Instagram @gdlmedia then that would be great!
I also have been doing graphic design work for a clothing manufacturing studio that I am part of, called Colorblind Studio. So if you need any logos made and put on clothing of any kind, then follow @colorblindprostudio on Instagram as well!
I have recently designed a new collection for a Cleveland-based clothing brand as well that goes by NVUS, with whom I also hosted a pop-up shop with on September 2nd, where we displayed art and clothing! Go ahead and follow them on Instagram @nvusxstwr for some fire streetwear!
Last but certainly not least, I also do graphic design for Midwest Kids, a well-known brand throughout the Midwest that has recently had a collaboration with Hollister and just dropped some new pieces for their fall line, so go ahead and follow them on Instagram at @wemidwestkids and shop wemidwestkids.com!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I would say that three of the most important qualities when it comes to getting to where I am today are definitely staying humble, being a good person, and to just keep going. I find that staying humble shows me that the hard work and dedication leads to getting me closer to my dreams and I try to remind myself that I am privileged and fortunate enough to be in the position that I am, knowing how many hours of work it took to put into the craft I do. When it comes to being a good person, that should really speak for itself. Being a good person not only leaves a good impression of you no others, but shows the kind of person you are and the head you carry on your shoulders. Lastly, just keep going. When it gets tough on your journey to whatever you want to do, you just have to keep going and push through the hardships because it will one day all be worth it.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I would say that my friends and family are the ones who most have helped me overcome challenges when it comes to the journey I’ve taken so far in creating and being a creative. My family is truly my biggest support system and to see them show nothing but love for me and the brand I’ve created is honestly heartwarming, I definitely don’t know where I would be without them.
When it comes to developing the skills and knowledge I needed to get to where I am today, I definitely thank the people that helped put me into the world I’m in today and gain the skills to understand and be a part of the fashion world, further expanding the horizon in which I create my art.
I would like to thank my best friend Rob, founder of clothing brand NVUS, for helping open doors for me and introducing me to the fashion world and people I never thought I’d meet on this journey of being a creative.
I would like to thank our mentor Ben, founder of Midwest Kids and Colorblind Studio, for taking us under his wing and teaching us what it takes to make clothing with quality and determination, and for introducing me to the Midwest Kids team.
And I would also like to thank DB, founder of Midwest Kids and Darryl Brown, for trusting the vision and helping provide me with the opportunity to showcase my work on a wide scale.
Contact Info:
- Website: instagram.com/drelunaa
- Instagram: instagram.com/gdlmedia
Image Credits
All image credits go to Andres Luna and GDLmedia
