Meet Raul Rodea | Artist & Freelancer

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

Hi Raul, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I think about risk as a masculine trait. Throughout history, men would risk their life’s whether it was to provide food, security, freedom, etc. Lots of innovative inventions were created out of necessity which partly required taking risk. Taking risks has been a huge part of my life/career. Generally, I’m always curious about the what ifs. I like to try/execute things without knowing the outcome because I rather find out for myself rather than wonder “what if I would’ve done that”. I’ve had both failures and success as a result of risk taking but most importantly they have been a learning experience in order to keep going/improving.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What I’m mostly proud of has been the milestone that I’ve reached as an artist. I remember asking myself back in high school during my graduation (2013) “now what?”. I had a limiting belief that I wouldn’t have any exposure/opportunities beyond high school. However, I was wrong. I started meeting other local artists which then introduced me to opportunities/events. I began to participate in local opportunities/events which allowed me to create new works and meet new people. Over the years, I’ve been able to participate in the art scene within my community which in return has given me exposure and new opportunities. There’s been challenges along the way but the key has been to remain consistent and committed. I’ve learned that discipline is far more practical than having inspiration. I would like the world to know that “my art reflects like a river, all things flow together in a stream of colors and narratives”.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take my best friend to Chicago, which is an hour away from my hometown. We would go to a concert at The House of Blues, enjoy the views/ambience at Cerise Rooftop, take a boat cruise along the Chicago River Walk and check out the Art Institute of Chicago. I think one of the most exciting things to check out would be the Art Institute of Chicago because you get to see historic and contemporary art. In particular, Ancient Greek sculptures are one of my favorites things to see.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shout out my sister Jasmin and my best friend Betito. They’ve both been very supportive since the start of my career. I couldn’t have done many things without their support. I’m very grateful!

Instagram: www.instagram.com/fundthemental__

Linkedin: Raul Rodea

Facebook: Raul Rodea

Image Credits
Jalen “2Tall” Woodson (first and fourth photo) James Buzzard (third photo) Steve Rodriguez (personal photo)