Today we’d like to introduce you to ANFGRF of Loose Screws Studio.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Honestly, I still feel like I’m starting. I’m in the first year of my career as an artist. I have a lot to discover within my craft. I’ve been painting since 2016 and creating paper mache projects since 2018. However, starting in late 2021 is when I started to really think about how to build a long-term career as an artist and what kind of work that takes. I can say though, to start as an “artist,” you have to believe in what you’re doing. I got to where I am by having confidence. I’ve done art/performances before that others have not found amusing in the slightest, and those are the moments you rely on your own confidence. Or when you apply for a grant, residency, open call or anything like that and you don’t get it. You need conviction that despite everything, pursuing art as a career will work out.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it has not been a smooth road. It still isn’t! As an artist with no degree, I don’t get the resources that university students have. I don’t get studio spaces, materials, galleries, internships, referrals by professors, etc. All of the connections & resources I have built for myself have been from experience. Being an artist that wants to make large-scale art but not having large-scale artwork money has also been a challenge. My craft has evolved past this problem by using discarded/recycled material. Along with that, I’m learning how to seek funding for larger projects. Aside from the monetary obstacles, there are also challenges I face when I think about what type of impact I want to make as an artist. This is more of an internal struggle that challenges me to think about the type of art I’m creating. As an emerging artist, I think there’s still a slew of challenges coming my way. But I find that exciting!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a paper-mache sculptor, painter, and multi-disciplinary artist. I operate from my studio, Loose Screws. Loose Screws is sort of an umbrella for all the different projects that I work on. I am known for my papier mache masks of alebrijes, and colorful acrylic paintings. I have also been doing installation work since 2019. My paintings are influenced by my spirituality and Mexican heritage. I often describe my paintings as pictures of flowing energy. I invite my viewers to find connections through color & movement. Aside from Loose Screws Studio being my home base to create, I also intend my space to be shared by other artists in my community. I purposefully gather supplies with the idea to share them with any artist that may need them. I think parallel creating with other artists is necessary for inspiration & growth. More recently, I started doing workshops to exercise this idea. Creating art with community members in a workshop to promote more public art is a big goal of the studio. In addition to my main mediums, I also like to experiment & play with crocheting, sewing, collage making, and event planning. I think that sums it up!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://anfgrf.myportfolio.com/work
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loosescrewshtx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/houstonloose
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/loosescrewshtx
