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

Hi GNAR, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting my own brand was inspired through skateboarding and street wear culture. Growing up, I was constantly watching skate videos and saw how pro skaters would branch off from skating to creating their own brands like Baker and Hookups. I wanted to pursue a similar route where I could create my own graphics and be able to throw them onto any type of products.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have always had an interest in art and have drawn since I was a kid. However, my passion for art had taken a backseat around late high school when I started working and fell into the 9-5 lifestyle for several years. It wasn’t until Covid when I was let go from my job where the passion for my art returned. I took on a tattoo apprenticeship and began teaching myself graphic design. During this time, I was engulfing myself in different art styles and different mediums that shaped both my career and art. Today, I am full time graphic designer working in street wear and running my own street wear brand while showcasing my canvases at various art galleries and events.

The road to being a full time artist and business owner came with many challenges and lessons along the way. A major challenge was getting consistent income while still pursuing my art. I had to pick up various side gigs such as Ubering and free lance graphic design work regardless of if that project fit my style or not. Lessons I learned during this time was always to take a deposit for any art related work and knowing that you will never please every person.

My art has always been a representation of me. It encompasses my interests, stages of my life, and the people and cultures in my environment. I have always done my art my own way, never being influenced by current trends or what others think. I am proud to have art and a brand that is authentic and speaks for itself.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would start off by making our way from the LA area to the IE. The trip would start off at the Santa Monica curbs, getting a quick skate sesh and getting musubis from Sunny Blue. We would make our way to Venice beach until we hit the Venice Beach graffiti walls to catch a paint sesh. Before we head out to the IE, we would check out the people, performers, and shops at the boardwalk. In the IE, we would go to the Pomona art walk to check out the various galleries, maybe catch a concert at the FOX or Glasshouse. Walk over to O’Donovans for them to grab a drink and watch some live music. We would grab food at either Imari’s for some fresh sashimi, tacos at Taqueria El Arbolito, or carne asada fries at Jaunita’s. We would grab a coffee at Mestiza Coffeehouse in Ontario and then head over to Claremont Skatepark. We would end the week at Joshua Tree National Park; camping, sitting around the bonfire, and doing art.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are several people I would love to shoutout that really helped me in my success and art journey. First and foremost, I would like to shoutout my wife. She has always believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. She has encouraged me and continues to push me to do art and pursue my passions. Next, I would also like to shoutout the Pomona art community; Diana at Pomona Chamber of Commerce, Gio at The Alley Gallery, Nate from Artist in the Alley, and Rick at O’Donovans. They have always showed a lot of support and have continuously showcased my art. Lastly, I would like to shout out all the graffiti homies out there in the streets, graffiti has been a big influence in my art.

Website: https://gnarmasterflex.store/password

Instagram: gnarmasterflex

Other: https://gnarmasterart.weebly.com/

Image Credits
credit for one picture (trash bin): global inheritance for TRASHed Art of Recycling for Coachella

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