Meet Godriguez

We were lucky to catch up with Godriguez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Godriguez, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
i have struggled with imposter syndrome throughout my artistic career and one of the ways i keep it at bay is to always be creating things that i love and staying true to myself and making the art i care about.

having the knowledge to defend my work–f necessary–to me is one of the biggest aspects of thwarting imposter syndrome and having the ability to answer any questions about my art is what keeps it at bay

having the confidence in knowing that what i am creating is genuine and thought out and that my choices are not by accident helps quiet the doubting voices that are the hallmark of imposter syndrome

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
i have always enjoyed doing art and creating things. back when i was in bands i was the one that always created the logos for the band as well as the flyers and any other promotional items. however i always said if i never made it as a rock star i would pursue my art seriously and i did just that

after my band days i attended the Art institute of Atlanta to get my Bachelor’s degree in Graphic design however in my senior year i took an animation class as an elective and ended up loving it so much that i created an animated character and based my entire senior project around it complete with a small movie, an action figure with packaging, interactive games, and more.

my first job out of college was that of an animator/interactive game designer and it is what i still do to this day for the non-profit Why-U, creating animations and doing character voices for animations that explain math. so that is why to this day i call myself an accidental animator as it was not what degree i earned in school yet it has become my career

aside from my day-to-day animation work i have many different creative endeavors and one that i am most well-known for is my self portraiture

self-portraiture gives me an outlet to be whatever comes to mind and allows me to tell stories visually which is something i love to do. my self portrait photographic art can be dark at times–but not too dark–and is what i like to call “approachable darkness” as i never do anything in my images purely for shock value and often draw the viewer into a scene that they might normally look away from. in my self portraiture i cover topics from depression, to pop culture, and all points in between

as an example one of my more controversial dark images is that of a clown that appears to be committing suicide. rather than giving the clown a real gun, he has a toy gun with a “BANG!” flag coming out of it and rather than blood, he has a blast of rainbow paint splattered on the wall next to him. i have had people that are terrified of clowns say they cannot look away from the piece as the message is so strong that they can look past what it is that terrifies them about it and take in the commentary on depression in the image.

over the past couple years i have expanded my creative reach to creating physical art and doing dark art markets as well as selling pieces on my website and etsy store. some of what i create is designed and modeled in the computer and either 3D printed, cut on my CNC, Laser cut, or even created by making molds and using traditional casting methods. i really enjoy having art that is tangible and you can hold in your hands and feel, it just makes all seem that much more real

with all of my different artistic genres they all fall under my unified brand of Godriguez and all of them have a common thread and feel that joins them seamlessly together

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?
i think one of the main qualities is that i am not afraid to try new things when it comes to my artistic endeavors. my mantra is that i want to learn as many ways possible to create before i die and am forever seeking new ways to expand what i already know.

traditional drawing, photography, animation, 3D modeling, mold making and casting, are just a few of the skills i have taught myself over the years and i still want to learn more

along with learning skills the thirst for knowledge in the art world is another thing i consistently strive to obtain. though i don’t follow trends in the art world with my art, i do try to keep myself abreast of new ways to create that come about and not allow myself to get stagnate or complacent with what i know

my daughters often ask me about how i am able to do some of the things i do with my art and i always respond “practice, practice, practice” as there is no better way to get good at something than putting the time in to develop a level of proficiency at doing it.

in many ways my work ethic is a large part of why i can create the art that i create as you have to be willing to dedicate those hours over and over again to get to a level that using a program, using paint brushes, molding clay, or whatever medium you are using to become second nature and allow you to just create

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
my parents shaped me to be the husband, father, and friend that i am today and in many ways is what i have become as an artist as well, especially in the world of self-portrait photography…let me explain

i often get asked about my “Devil” persona and why at times i dress like the devil in many of my self-portrait pieces and use it as my company logo…the answer might surprise you.

In October 2011, I found out just how cathartic self-portraiture could truly be. I was planning a self-portrait for a selfy group I was a member of, and it was to be a Halloween-ish themed shot. I was going to be a swanky devil with a martini glass and looking quite smug

Unfortunately, something tragic happened in my life the day before I was to do the shot. My mother passed away from complications from a stroke she had suffered earlier that same week.

Now, many people might shut down and withdraw from the world when something like this happens, but I threw myself into the shot I had planned but modified it into a fitting memorial to both my mother and father.

Instead of a happy devil, the devil in a state of remorse holding a portrait of my parents. Both of my parents were huge in my life, and they were the most loving people I have ever met, So in my mind the devil was depressed because these were two souls he would never have

To reinforce the symbolism of the shot I am wearing what was once my father’s red sport coat and tie, holding the portrait and frame my mother gave me when my father passed away and I am sitting in a chair that came from the house where I grew up.

I pulled from my parents the strength to make this shot as they always found a way to see a positive in every situation. They always supported my art and I felt by honoring them with a portrait that celebrated that spirit was the most fitting tribute I could ever create.

I look at this moment and see how it changed my life forever as it solidified myself as a self-portrait artist and I can say without doubt that it is the most important image I’ve ever created. What you are seeing is pure, unfiltered, emotion and a glimpse into my soul.

so you see, the logo of me dressed as the devil is a constant reminder of that life-changing moment and shows just how much my parents meant to me and how they shaped my life and my art forever

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