Meet Raul Rodea | Visual Artist

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

Hi Raul, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
A conventional advice that I disagree with would be that artists shouldn’t care about the money, they should only care about their art because it’s truly their passion.

Truth be told, money is a tool which allows artists to continue practicing their craft. It also allows them to pay their bills, pay expenses, save up, invest in theirselves, etc. I believe the majority of artists are considered “starving artists” because either they’re not being supported/represented enough or they don’t believe in their worth. It’s great to have passion but it’s also just as important to be able to generate an income as an artist.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
One of the lessons I have learned along the way has been that it’s crucial to learn marketing/business as an artist. It may not be fun but it’s as important as creating. This will help level-up your communication skills and lead to close sales more successfully.

For instance, a mechanic may know how to fix a car but he may not necessarily know how to sell a car at a dealership. This same principle applies to artists.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I were to take my best friend around Chicago, I would take them to Navy Pier. There are many food spots and activities to do. A fun thing to do would be to ride on the Seadog Boat which cruises around Lake Michigan at a fast pace. You get to feel the adrenaline and water splashing while watching the Chicago skyline and sunset.

You can never go wrong with that!

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 shoutout all of the supporters that have purchased/commissioned my work and those who have engaged with my content via social media. It’s a long list of names but I appreciate you all!

Instagram: www.instagram.com/raulrodeaart_

Facebook: Raul Rodea

Other: Email: info@fundthemental.com

Image Credits
• James D. Buzzard (action shot photos) • Vizo Artz (talking to people at art booth)