Meet Abraham Gutierrez | Paintier and writer

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

Hi Abraham, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
was born in Van nuys California but I moved to Utah when I was ten. Although I’ve been here for a long time there’s some things I just can’t get used to like people staring at you and here people seem to not think it’s a problem. I have one other sister but it feels like I’ve always liked to keep to myself. Even now I live alone but I do admit sometimes even today solitude keeps tugging at my memory pulling forward people I miss. Contrary to how I felt years ago I’m actually quite thankful I was tucked away from friends and peers while given the space, time and energy it took to make my way towards art. I started painting because I didn’t really have friends. Sleep overs or hanging out wasn’t really in my realm of options in van nuys so I never really learned how to make friends but I am good at it now. There were homies I had in church but we all really just didn’t want to be there so we’d just mess around and have fun and till this day I’m pretty fond of so many of those; the first time I smoked weed was at a church camp out here in Utah.
To be honest I’ve only barely started to look back and think about what made me be the way I am but learning to keep to myself growing up in California really helped me stay that way even if I spent more time here.
I’m thankful for it too.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think that anyone who sets out to paint or write will have their own way of developing what they will end up calling their “style” or “voice”. Because of that, it will hopefully look different from the next person’s painting and sound different from another’s written work. It’s because I believe that we are all so different that if we truly submit to what the muse brings out of us our work will be completely our own.
I know it sounds kind of funny but there’s something very spiritual about creating for me. Anyone can create, to set yourself apart is to give in and let the piece flow out of you no matter how afraid to bring out you may be.
I have pride in myself and I have pride in my work because it takes so much to keep.

It honestly feels like I’m at square one. Which is actually a great thing because I had no idea what I was doing for the first couple years. I made the process harder than I had to be, I was so shy and so scared to ask questions that it kept me stagnant for mad long; even though I painted and wrote heavily throughout the years I never asked the questions I wanted to when it came to money, business, printing, or anything that had to do with computers or software. In other words I was leaving it all to chance and never asking for help. Obviously nothing evolved nothing grew or changed with dead house. I was stunted with insecurities and I just didn’t believe in myself the way I needed to.
And a huge problem was that I didn’t have a style either! I didn’t care what I looked like because I didn’t have confidence in my body. Throughout the course of the last three years I’ve slowly developed what I like and in turn igniting what I was to do with dead house in a whole different way. Some paintings can be great, but not everything looks good as is on a tee shirt.
I’ve had to grow up first and find who I am and who I’m not! I was f*cking up for so long I didn’t have the focus I needed or space in my head to really develop my art.
Never be afraid to ask. Most people like to help, let them! Believe in yourself and you’ll believe in everyone else.
My work is nothing but mistakes! I don’t make a piece by avoiding them; I work with what I did wrong and what I know well.

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 live for planing the best days, first we wake up early and head to the grocery store for some larabars and olipops. Ideally we workout together but they probably wouldn’t want to so we skip that. I would love to go to a pottery class or a movie. Maybe a comedy show (I’ve never been but want to) or an art show / event. We have to get wings. Extra wet extra crispy with a side of bacon, normally a hazy IPA but these days I have to just do water. Wings and water is insane but I’ve gotten used to it.
That would end around 6. After that we come back to my place and smoke asap. While the sun is setting around 8 we come out from the basement amidst weed smoke and music to walk around my neighborhood.
It’s called Provo and it’s a college town to BYU. It’s mostly religious people here but I don’t mind. I say that because the high walks around here feel oddly safe.
After we walk around and chill at the park we come back to my place and hangout will it’s time for the next day.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Definitely anyone who likes my art at all or has ever paid for anything I’ve made, I remember when I first bought a meal with money I made from my art & it was way crazy. The thought anyone would pay for my art wasn’t even in my head when I found my way towards it. My family who has supported me these last few years & my best friends.
My barber who reminded me that writing should be “easy” and to use my voice. He has a good taste in movies so I trust him. That piece of advice has done more for me than most pieces of advice.
Anyone who’s modeled with me or photographers that worked with me, their creative input has always lead me to a good place in the end.
I trust their creative decisions.
And all the cool people I see every day in my routine! From the front desk workers at the gym to the people I ride the bus with every morning, they keep my social life in check even if we don’t speak to one another.

Instagram: deadhouselive

Image Credits
The photo of me was taken by my dear and best friend, Sergio Caro.