Meet Edgar

Today we’d like to introduce you to Edgar.

Edgar, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m 68 years old and I’m starting out with that fact because it sets the stage of where I’m coming from. I should also mention that I was born here in Denver but was raised in N.Y. city during an exciting time of the 60’s. Greenwich Village was the epicenter of the counter culture scene and NY was the cultural hot spot for the arts whether it be theater, music or the visual arts. I was exposed to the visual arts at that time in all the museums and galleries there and that’s where and when I decided that the visual arts were for me. But, I attended a rock concert called Woodstock and it was downhill from there. In 1969 right after Woodstock, when I was 18 years old, my father decided to move the family back to Colorado. I attended University of Colorado in Boulder studying Environmental Design which is what they called the architectural department then and Art. But, again I decided that San Francisco’s Haight and Ashbury happening neighborhood was urgently beckoning me to be part of before it was to late. The reason I mentioned before that if was downhill is because I took the phrase ” turn on, tune in and drop out ” literally’; particularly the turn on part. My life became a drug-fueled slow developing human crash scene. All my aspirations in life went by the waist side. From there on I traveled around the country trying to find my salvation. As for my art aspirations, I did manage to attend the University of New York at Buffalo art department for a couple of semesters but that was it. I won’t expound in this short profile any more than to say that for the rest of my life, I was distracted by this destructive lifestyle and going. nowhere fast.. It got really bad resulting institutions and much personal pain. Finally in 2007, at the age of 55, I found the salvation I was looking. for in a twelve-step program and I was able to turn my life around. With this newfound freedom, I was able to pursue visual arts and painting in particular. I meet a women in the rooms and because of her encouragement, I got a studio and having been painting and working ever since. I call my Studio ” The Humble Monkey’s Studio ” because I worked on a cartoon for the before mentioned 12 step programs newsletter and I called it the “:Humble Monkeys Productions” which I found appropriate and the name I’ve kept ever since..I take the experiences I had and try to represent and express the pain and the redemption that I felt in my art.

Has it been a smooth road?
Other than the ones I’ve already alluded to, the biggest obstacle has been understanding my creative process. I started my serious journey with visual arts late in life at the age of 60 which has it’s own creative challenges. I have to wonder if my best creative energy has past. I also feel that I’m not as in touch with what is happening in the younger creative world as I would have been but, I also have a lot of experiences to bring to bear in my art and what I want to say. So for me, it’s taken some adjustment which I’ve struggled with but it hasn’t stopped me. It’s just part of the creative process even though it looks different for other artist, this is just mine and I’m grateful for it.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Edgar Dumas The Humble Monkeys Studio story. Tell us more about the business.
I paint large colorful canvases that are appropriate for big open spaces like hotels lobbies or home that can fit large pieces in them. What makes my work recognizable form other artist is I believe the loose and freestyle I incorporate; “a fine mess”, if you will. Two events that I’m proud to have been part of is showing my painting at the Republic Plaza here in Denver.It was a large show in a great lobby where I was able to be part of this show my paintings with many of my contemporaries. I also took part in a TedX event here at the Denver Pavilions. I provided an interactive art experience in their lobby. The event drew 5 thousand people and hundreds of them participated by painting on my 30ft by 8 ft mural titled the “The Peoples Mural”.

Pricing:

• See me about purchasing my work at “The Humble Monkeys Studio.com or “eldumas.com

Contact Info:

• Address: Edgar Dumas The Humble Monkeys Studio GRACe Studiois 888 Est 50th Ave. Globeville, CO. 80216
• Website: thehumblemonkeysstudio.com
• Phone: 720-227-1459
• Email: edgarldumas@gmail.com
• Instagram: @thehumblemonkeysstudio
• Facebook: @thehumblemonkeysstudio

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