Meet Chris Frausto

We recently connected with Chris Frausto and have shared our conversation below.

Chris , looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

My Mother never sat still. Despite raising 5 children and maintaining at 70+ year old home and garden she still found time to volunteer, be creative, and earn her Juris Doctor degree. She always encouraged me to do for others (she never charged for her services, and practiced law primarily with underserved women and children.)
I have always felt that if I am participating I should also contribute. From being a youth soccer coach to serving on numerous non- profit boards, to serving as a city commissioner, my time is always in check to be sure I am giving back to some degree.
Now as an artist, I share my time and skills with others. I teach free art classes to Scouts, retirement communities, school aged children and others.
Never one to sit still, giving back is my life force. I feel as though my purpose in life is to bring joy and service to others. I can thank my Mother for instilling in me the importance of giving back.

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

Despite a career in banking, I have always been an artist. As an avid reader and holder of two English Literature degrees and a Masters in American History, I have always been drawn to books. Facing the demise of actual books, I turned my artistic talents into giving books a second life.
I rescue old books and repurpose the covers into new handbound journals. Then I may reuse their pages in my assemblage or collage work. Everything I create has a text component to it. The best satisfaction is in seeing something that was in poor condition, possibly 100 years old, gaining a new life and possibly a new home. I participate in art shows and art sales in Southern California and Nevada. My “followers” love seeing what once was is now a usable journal, or sketchbook with a wonderful history behind it.
As a career, I now teach monthly at the historic Maloof Foundation in Rancho Cucamonga and occasionally in Palm Desert

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I have learned to go with what comes naturally to me. I tried commercial art, I am not a person that is precise in my work. I am more free floating in my creativity. I persevered through many courses before I acknowledged my true skill was elsewhere. Don’t try to fit your square block into a round hole. Identify what makes you happy, we all have a talent, find yours and go with it.
I try to surround myself with people that are accomplished in areas I strive for. I never stop pushing myself, I am always learning from others. There is always a new and fresh goal to be striving for.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

I would spend my last decade learning to say no to things that are not a part of my mission in life. I would keep my focus on my goals, which would be perfecting my art, sharing my knowledge with others and giving back even if it is in a simple “how are you doing today?” to a stranger.

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