We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Allan Ginsburg a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Allan, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
This is a hard one for me and I can imagine for most artists since we have to be continuously vulnerable by putting our artwork and thus a piece of ourselves in front of all our viewers… I’ve found that the more I develop my skill set and feel more at ease with my own art, it is reflected on my confidence. I’ve also found that the vast majority of people (especially other artists), are very supportive of one another so getting that feedback helps a lot with self-esteem, so don’t be afraid to share your artwork. There’s always moments of self-doubt you just have to keep going and challenging yourself to overcome them.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a Mexican-American artist. I studied architecture in Mexico City where I had my own firm but moved to The Woodlands, TX. right before the pandemic started. Coming from a huge concrete jungle as is the Mexico City megalopolis, to a place where you feel surrounded by nature all the time was a big change in my environment and has deeply affected the way I see and feel life. This nature inspired me to start painting and has been a focal point in all my works.
I chose watercolors to express my art because of the incredible flow, textures and effects you can create; but also because I feel the water, an essential element in this medium, is the most relatable to nature so it is not only that nature is my main source of inspiration but also present in the very tools I use.
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?
-Observation: the ability to really look at something and reflect on it is, in my opinion, essential for any artist. You have to be able to observe at what surrounds you, light, shadows, colors, volumes, temperature, etc. in order to bring that to your work.
-Objectivity: Being able to look at your own art and tell with all honesty what you are doing right and what you’re doing wrong is the only way to improve.
-Comparing yourself to others: this can probably stir some people because I often see artists in social media recommending you do the exact opposite but the truth is that compering yourself to others will let you know where you are and where you want to go. Chances are you’re doing it anyway, consciously or unconsciously. When doing this be mindful of the circumstances of the artists you are compering to though, usually the people you look up to have been doing it for longer, have more experience and probably a different education regarding art, so stay Objective on this. Comparing doesn’t mean copying nor competing.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I’ve been fortunate enough to be surrounded by supportive people and for that I am truly grateful. My family has always been on board with whatever I’ve chosen to do throughout my life and they’ve always pushed me to follow my passions and my dreams. I’am self-taught so even though they haven’t directly helped me develop my skills, they have directly affected my mindset and that is the most valuable skill you can get.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.artbygins.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/artbygins
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/artbygins
