Lucas Aguirre - Interview

Lucas Aguirre has been apart of Codrv for over half a year and has always supported our cause very closely. Lucas is a multi-skilled artist handling all things from the Traditional to Digital Art spectrums. We caught up with Lucas to put him in the spotlight and give him an exclusive interview.

Richard Box:

Welcome Lucas, can you just give us a run down of how you see yourself as and what you're all about?

Lucas Aguirre:

Hi Richard, thanks. Well, I'm Lucas Aguirre, born in Argentina, the southern most country of South America. I'm a guy that needs to create things constantly, and I'm trying to do it as best as I can.

Richard Box:

Where has your professional life taken you in this past year?

Lucas Aguirre:

Wow this year is a crazy one. Last year I confirmed that the only thing I feel is worth doing is painting and drawing my personal stuff, although I don't know where the ideas come from. I realised that I wanted to stop almost all commercial work im doing (comics, illustrations) and focus on my own stuff, but its a hard one because I need the money to live. It's the typical situation, really.
This year I won some major local art contest, so with that money I was able to live out of my parent´s house with my girl. This year is has seen an explosion of art fairs here, so I'm selling my stuff in different kinds of printed media.
I'm trying to work doing mostly my personal stuff. Although, right now I'm accepting huge loads of commercial work, but with the intention of doing less and less, until I end up relying more on my personal work. Time will tell how it works out.

Richard Box:

Speaking on selling your art, have you had much success online?

Lucas Aguirre:

I only started selling online with Thumbtack Press, and surprised me that I actually sell prints! Yeah! Nothing to live off for now, but a nice thing. When I get a studio up and running, I will focus on selling more on the web.

Richard Box:

You mentioned earlier that you won a local art contest, what is the name of the contest and what painting awarded you victory?

Lucas Aguirre:

It was the Stimulus Award for young artists. I won it with "bichocote", a comic that I had done years ago for a local funzine that never got published, so I decided to repaint it for the contest. I participated in the contest two years ago and won second place. That time first place won $5000 and second place won nothing. It was a real 'ggggrrrrrraaaaaa' moment. So this year, i was on a mission to get that money. It was a matter of principal, you know?
I entered with a comic because of the nature of the contest. There was also a painting category, but the judges liked the abstract-conceptual gallery work, which isn't my style.

Richard Box:

Is there any other contests you have entered or plan on entering in the future that you would like to tell us about?

Lucas Aguirre:

None at the moment, maybe next year. Though I do like contests, they put you under pressure to rise to a higher level, which is cool.

Richard Box:

Who is the artist you look up to most?

Lucas Aguirre:

The artist? I've never had an idol, I change my mood and needs so much to only have one, but I get a lot of inspiration from many. Let's say Dali and David Choe, respectively. Bisley, Jenny Saville, Schielle, Yusk, Tool and Apex Twin... I could continue all day.

Richard Box:

Do you feel these people influence your day to day work?

Lucas Aguirre:

Yes, from time to time. Some days or moments in a day I'm in a David Choe mood, a Dali mood, a Duran Duran mood. Sometimes I feel connected to them, thinking of their work, their lives and the way they see the world.

Richard Box:

If you could pick one thing to teach aspiring artists, what would it be?

Lucas Aguirre:

Joy/elevation in creation.

Richard Box:

Thanks very much for your time, Lucas, and I wish you luck in the future.

Lucas Aguirre:

Thank you, Richard.