We recently connected with Julian Rosas and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Julian, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?
As a visual artist and fabricator, I face creativity blocks frequently, however I usually try to work through it by switching between projects or by learning a new technique or tool. Educating myself and practicing new tools and art techniques such as laser cutters, watercolor painting, block printing, ceramics, drawing, etc., allows me to expand my knowledge and not put all my focus into a single project. However there are times when I may feel burnt out and it’s in those moments where I simply take a step back from creating and allow my mind to rest.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
As an artist I grew up in a creative environment with parents and other family members who were musicians and a grandmother who was a painter. I always had a pull to the visual arts but it wasn’t until high school when I officially made the decision to pursue the arts professionally. I attended Texas Tech University where I spent 4 years working on a degree in Studio Art and graduated in 2020 with a Bachelors In Fine Art. I moved back home and since that point I have been working on building my skills and connecting with the art community of Waco, TX. I own a small business called Shway Designs, which is how I sell my art and handmade products.
As an artist I draw most of my inspiration from community, fellowship and the relationship of one thing/person to another. An example of this is my ongoing development of a comic character I created named Cooper the Robot. Cooper was originally a character I created for some summer camp youth back in college, but now I have taken the character and have used his comedic personality to describe the relationship of technology on the world and even the world’s influence on technology. Cooper may be a robot but I applied the character with a childlike and almost human curiosity for different things he encounters in his day to day life, such as cooking, playing music, or even having a pet. I usually post the comic panels on my socials for followers to see.
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?
Some skills that I think have been most impactful to me have been my creativity, people skills, and work ethic. These are skills that are easy to develop. For creativity, you just have to be flexible and open to all possibilities and solutions. Think through the situation you’re in and weigh your options. People skills can be developed by being open to conversation, even if the conversation isn’t always about the business at hand or your work. Work ethic is developed by your determination to improve not only yourself as a person but also as a worker. Achieve the goals you set for yourself and set the bar higher.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents have done for me was supporting my decision to pursue a path in life as an artist. They support my business and my work with the arts every day and it drives me to do my best and continue pursuing my career as an artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shway-designs.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shwaydesigns14/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shwaydesigns
Image Credits
All images were taken by Julian Rosas and all graphics were created by Julian Rosas.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
