Meet Nicholas Sanchez | Visual artist & Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicholas Sanchez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicholas, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
How to know whether to keep going or give up? Here’s something I have come to understand and truly appreciate within my 30yrs of living as an artist: if it is intrinsic to your being, if it is something you cannot live without, something which nourishes your very Soul, something that rips you out of the mundane and throws you headfirst into the extraordinary…then you cannot give up even if you tried. Giving up is not even an option or possibility within your reality, for even contemplating such a notion is to contemplate the eradication of one’s “raison d’être”, their very reason for being. But do not fret or find yourself in woe no matter how many times the idea of giving up crawls it’s way unto your skin, for it is in these moments that we are able to truly reflect on our achievements both physical and metaphysical which bloomed from our art, or whatever the dream for you may be that you are in constant fulfillment of. Those moments of self-reflection is where you begin to push yourself even more, so keep pushing yourself! You’ve already made it this far and oh what a beautiful bumpy ride it’s been, you’re doing great, so keep going!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Questions such as these are always the most difficult for an artist to answer, for you are asking us to paraphrase a constant experience of a tug of war between the fleeting and forever…and we as artists find ourselves in the middle. Ultimately, a big backbone of what I do and how I do it is simply my way of giving back to the World. It is my way of saying: “Thank you for this life, please allow me the privilege to show you how I am eternally grateful for this experience”. Not only a thank you to life on the abstract level but a thank you to the people, places and things which inhabit it as well; from the flora that adorns our day to day lives, to the fauna that keep us grounded and remind us of our connection to this miraculous Earth! And of course to the people we meet along the way, to them I say: you all matter, and if that ever becomes hard to see please take a moment to perceive through my lens how important you all are. It’s all chaos but chaos breeds life and life is beautiful. I believe there is a primordial urge, hidden among the deepest layers of who we are, to want to stay, to want to keep living and experience this very ethereal thing called life. Art will outlive us all, so I want to help people live forever so that living seems a little less scary.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love this question! Particularly for how relevant it is to living in Los Angeles. Anyone who has lived here long enough can really appreciate the charm of this city, the way all people from all walks of life come here to call this place their “home”, all whilst proudly representing their roots! When you come here, you really gotta try it all and find the things you resonate with most.
Can’t go wrong with any community driven event or a live band at one of our numerous and often times historic local venues, it’s a good time and you’re sure to meet some cool people.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Everyone and everything that I have come into contact with thus far and will continue to. It may be somewhat of a cliché answer, but sometimes the things that bear repeating often hold much weight to them. It all happens for a reason and any artist will agree that we are and will be forever shaped and propelled forward by the ever expanding poetry of life.

But for the sake of the question and ethos of SHOUTOUT LA: I can say with full conviction and first person I thought of is my Mom. That beautiful force of nature has never given up on me and has always supported me and my purpose in life, much of what I do is a dedication and testament to her love and tenacity. I love you Mom! Look! I am being interviewed for a local online publication!

Website: https://fullofsound.myportfolio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ephemeralforevers/

Other: https://finitebeauties.myportfolio.com/

Image Credits
All photos featured shot by Nicholas Sanchez – featured artist profile photo shot by Joseph A. Linares