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

Hi Ed, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I pursued an artistic and creative career because it’s not just a choice for me; it’s a calling that’s been ingrained in my soul since I was a child. Growing up in a broken home and being on my own from an early age it taught me the value of self-expression and resilience. I learned that creativity isn’t just a luxury; it can be a lifeline, a way to make sense of the world, and a means to overcome adversity.

Through art, I discovered the magic of imagination and the beauty of transforming ideas into reality. The creative process, whether in drawing, painting, writing, or any other artistic medium, has a unique ability to bring forth new worlds, spark conversations, and provoke thought. It’s a career field in which I can leave a lasting impact on others, sharing my experiences and perspectives. I know I’m not going to be here for a long time, but if I can be here for an impactful time, well then that’s more than I could’ve ever dreamed for!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Honestly, it’s gotta be my personality and genuine passion that sets me apart from others. I feel like I have the freedom to break the boundaries of convention, challenge the status quo, and try to make a difference. I try to be my contemporaries biggest supporters, cuz if I can inspire people to dream bigger, and to find their own unique ways of self-expression, well hell that’s how real is made!

I got to where I am today thru having a lot of resolve, kindness to myself and the shitty cards life dealt me, and so much therapy LOL but honestly after working my way thru undergrad, the longest 7 years I’ll never get back, I packed up my truck, sold most of my belongings and drove cross country, from Chicago to LA, for an internship at an animation studio for a show I was a huge fan of, that after I moved the studio ended up ghosting me on the opportunity and my start in animation was prolonged. My first 3 years living in LA I spent ever waking moment trying to get better at my craft. This was the first time in my life where I saw what it took to be a working professional in my field and I knew I personally wasn’t there, and that I needed to do everything within my power to get my skills on an industry level. After numerous classes, workshops, and just so much drawing with purpose, I finally felt ready to break into the industry! Unfortunately for me, the universe had other plans and it took until 2 years later in 2020 after the pandemic hit, that I was able to break into the animation industry and get my foot in the door!

Since then it’s been a very bumpy ride, with how tumultuous the entertainment industry has been the past year or so, finding gainful long term employment has been an absolute struggle. The lessons I’ve learned along the way is that during these hard times there are communities to be found. And I truly believe one of the silver linings to the terrible job market is that it’s given people more time to connect with others and not feel so alone in an otherwise lonely landscapes. So I always encourage people to reach out, support and just talk to their contemporaries when they’re feeling lost, because odds are there a probably a lot more people than you realize who might be going thru similar circumstances.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve been a somewhat recent huge fan of sketching in cafés, so definitely would take them to Priscilla’s Gourmet Coffee Tea & Gifts in Burbank, as well as Romancing the Bean Café! To experience some of the local culture and cuisine as well as supporting local business, I would show them around Little Tokyo for an afternoon filled with great vibes and delicious food! Also you can’t visit LA without hitting up a beach or two, so we’d try to carve out time to visit Point Dume in Malibu, or to get some more touristy vibes, there’s always Santa Monica Pier, but that can get hella crowded quick!

Other than that for some evening vibes, Guildhall in Burbank is the best board game bar I’ve ever been, awesome selection of brews and games! In addition we’d find time to make it out to a MOTHERLAND Comedy show at Kusina Filipina in Eagle Rock, for delicious food and great laughs!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Honestly it’s gotta go to the found family I’ve been able to surround myself and find community and foster some truly special relationships with in and around the animation circles around LA. To name a few awesome people; Christian and Andrea, y’all are the best ride or dies a person could ask for! In addition I wanna shout out Sketch-Toonz LA and all the wonderfully talented people that work so hard to make one of the most inclusive artist communities ever!

Website: https://edgaskew.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/egaskew/

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.