Today we’d like to introduce you to Miguel Josue Martinez.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I am born and raised in Houston, TX. I am the youngest son of an immigrant parent, mother(Rosa) from the country of Honduras and father(Miguel) from the country of El Salvador. I first got my interest in art when I was around six years when I was in New Jersey visiting my brother, and he showed me his sketchbook with all these drawings. I remember after seeing that I started to sketch and draw so I thank my brother for that.
Of course like most people I did have to deal with some hardship unfortunately first was the death of my mother when I was eight and well it really did affect me. I feel like this tragedy really shaped who I became. I love my mom, and she is one of my motivations that keeps me pushing. My dad even as a single parent raising two kids I feel did his best to provide, and I am so grateful to have him. No matter what I do he is always there to support and I could as for a better parent then there is my sister(Sarai) who also help raise me even though being a teen love her and all the support from her.
I originally wanted to be a graphic designer when I first got to high school but then my junior I took a photography class because I bought a camera the year before and just wanted to see what I could learn. I remember towards the end of my first semester year of junior year I took a portrait photograph of one of my friends. I named it “Cité Perdue” (Lost City) because I thought it would be cool if it was in French. Yeah from that photograph and also my photography teacher I started to just fall in love with taking photographs. It has been a few years now, and I’m still in love with photography! Photography has given me so much from people I have met to experiences I have been through I honestly could never see myself as anything else, and I would feel so lost without it.
Please tell us about your art.
I photograph for varying individuals, clients ranging from wedding photographs to live performances for different artist to anything in between. My own personal work mostly involves portraits, and street photography, which I feel I have created my own style. My style is very editorial with also mimicking that of what you would get from analog photography into my digital photographs, and I shoot the way I do because I love the look of film. My main cameras consist of my digital Nikon camera, my Polaroid Impulse, and my many film cameras. I shoot the way I do because I love the look of film.
My inspiration comes from many different artist and photographers, one being Annie Leibovitz whose work I really admire and hope to one day be in that caliber. Also, photographer, Bruce Gilden is another inspiration who stated “I’m photographing myself out there. Not myself physically, but mentally. It’s my take on the world.” I feel that I have done the same in my photographs.
I just want to motivate people to go out there and follow their hearts to put themselves out there because I know how scary it is in this day and age. The fear of not making it is scary, but I rather go in face first and fall on my ass then to never have gone in and regretted it.
What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
I think the conditions are a little shaky especially when you are freelance because work can just come and go. I feel my life as a photographer has been more like a roller coaster, but life is a roller coaster just got to keep pushing and working hard! I feel cities just encourage and support because artist have had a lot of influences not just for pop culture but society.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My website is currently down for some reconstruction, but Instagram is where most of my work tends to be. All my social medias are @pokismash, so that’s an easy way of finding and seeing my work. My email is pokismash@gmail.com which is the best way to contact me for bookings.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 8327194716
- Email: pokismash@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pokismash/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pokismash/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/pokismash
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pokismash/
Image Credit:
Personal Photograph: Raymond Mocho,
My Photographs: Gabriel Arturo Perez, Maddi Mays, Clay Melton, Briána Leigh
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
