Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Chihuan.
Hi Jamie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Longmont, Colorado to immigrant parents. My mother is from Mexico and my father is Peruvian. I grew up loving a wide variety of subjects including science and history. Towards the end of high school, I didn’t see myself doing those things as a career so I started focusing on drawing.
The previous year I failed my art class. It was the only class I have ever failed thought my entire school career. This pushed me to create art all the time even if someone didn’t like it. I started painting and daring heavily back in 2018 and have been doing it daily ever since. I currently am in school at the University of Colorado Boulder studying advertising.
I also love to do photography on the side and play a round of golf here and there.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being a self-taught artist with no connections has always put me at a disadvantage compared to an art school graduate. I have been rejected multiple times from galleries and I even lost my studio due to Covid last year. But none of that has stopped me. My keep going forward mentally is what has helped me overcome these roadblocks and I know there will be more along the way. I’m just glad I had the experience of dealing with the previous ones.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I like to call myself an artist because I love to work in a lot of mediums. I started off taking photos of my friends and this red cloak which led me into making my own videos/films. That lead me into creating animations on my computer.
The lack of drawing skills I had for animating pushed me to focus on drawing and that lead me to paint. Paintings and my drawings are the things I am most known for since I have been able to create a unique style. I believe my subject matter and style is what separates me from others. My art exists only in my head before it’s on paper or canvas. That’s what makes these pieces so unique and always have people asking questions, pondering their meaning.
The thing I’m most proud of is having my painting compass in the collection of the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Melbourne Australia.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I had two different phases that are split by the summer of 8th grade. Beforehand, I was the nerdy kid with glasses to who people would cheat off or just ask random questions. I was always interested in learning about anything Especially technology, watching early YouTube made me want to get a camera in the future.
In high school, I changed. I stopped wearing glasses and I totally changed my attitude. I went from the nerdy kid to the silent cool kid. This has stuck with me into my adult life but I still have the curiosity of a child.
Pricing:
- Prints are $15
Contact Info:
- Email: jamiechihuan@gmail.com
- Website: Jchihuan.myportfolio.com
- Instagram: Instgram.com/UTXY
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC43UMxCowRnkttBKzvpMDVw
- Other: Adealinhell.com
Image Credits:
All images art copyrights of Jamie Chihuan©
