Sergio is an artist from Los Angeles, CA, born and raised. He was originally a graffiti artist, but a couple of years ago he began painting fine art. He is not a well known artist at all. He is simply an everyday man, just like you and I. The only difference is that he was given a gift: the ability to create art. He seems like a very chill, and humble man. Very funny, always cracking jokes. One thing I noticed is that he is always surrounded by people; he has many friends. Oh! And one interesting fact about him: He is a beer aficionado. He loves beer! His "Cabin" (aka home) has bottles of beer around it. Its pretty cool. He lives in a very small place, but it's just perfect for him and his work.
Here are some pictures of his place:
Now, for the best part: THE INTERVIEW!
Q: When did you start doing Graffiti?
Why?
A: began tagging in 1992. I was very a
very young man. The reason I started was because one of my older friends from
high school introduced me to it and I just thought it was cool. It became an
addiction and I’ve been sick ever since.
Q: Did graffiti teach you anything
about art? If so, what?
A: Graffiti became the art of
vandalism, from tags, throw ups, bombs to pieces. Its all vandalism and it’s
from the streets. I like to separate graffiti from fine art. I just prefer
keeping them on opposite sides of the coin. I still love and do graffiti the
old school way.
Q: Did you ever think that you would
end up painting?
A: No, I never thought I would get
into fine art. I always painted canvases with whatever material I could get my
hands on but it was all graffiti influenced.
Q: What made you want to start
painting?
A: I got commissioned to do some work
for a few music studios. I began to experiment with different materials and
really enjoyed it so I continued doing it. Years later, I came across a pack of
oil paints and tried to do a painting with it, but it fucking sucked. I just didn’t
know how to use the material so I told myself, "This seems like a
great challenge for me". I decide that I was going to take a class and
learn how to use them. I been working with oils ever since.
Q: How did you feel when you first
began to paint?
A: Graffiti and fine art are both
liberating, one gives me the adrenaline rush I need and the other brings peace
to my soul. At the end of the day, I need both. They’re both rebellious in
their one way and I love it.
Q: What are your most influential
artist and why?
A: So
many....Uhm Rembrandt, Lucian Freud, Emil Nolde, Van Gogh, Gustav Klimt,Oskar
Kokoshcka just to name a few also musician Erik Satie,Chopin, and Miles Davis.
Q: What do you think about your own
art?
A: I am my biggest critic. I don’t
love my work but I don’t totally hate it either. There’s failure and gain in
everything that I do. Often, I will let failure get to me but I try to
focus more on what I learned from each piece. That helps me continue and move
onto the next one.
Q: What inspires you to paint?
A: My goal is not to paint something
identical. If I wanted that I would take a picture instead and blow it up. What
inspires me is my fascination with capturing things that are not visible. Things
like essence or emotions and being able to capture it by doing something very
simple. Its probably impossible and I might be setting myself up but at least I
know it will keep me busy for years to come.
Q: How do you think your own lifestyle
influences your art?
A: I grew up very quick. I knew too
much for a young kid. I’ve seen, felt and lived a lot. Many of those feelings
or memories I bottled up. I have many stories to tell and feelings to express,
but I’m not very open or super talkative so I’d rather let my artwork tell the
story, it’s much easier for me.
Q: Based on your experience, what do
you think the future of graffiti looks like?
A: I don’t really care where it’s
going, where ever it goes is fine with me. Some need to destroy shit and some
need to get paid. I’m going to keep doing it the way I grew up doing it.
Illegal street graffiti will never end while museums will continue to accept
it.
Q: Is there any ideas, beliefs, or
feelings you would like to share about art with the readers
A: Get paid
if you can, but don’t do it for the money. Almost anyone can paint but not
anyone can be an artist. I don’t care if I leave earth with a million dollars
in my bank account or a million dollars in debt, As long as I leave my mark in
the world of art. I’m no longer chasing a dream, I’m living it. It’s all hard
work and believing from now on. My intuition is my pilot…blessings!
He also left us with this:
"Truth is: I died hundreds of years ago,
today I’m just the echo of my soul following behind"- Sergio, Ceraggio De
Sainto
I will later have a post with more of his current art, but for now these are some pics of a few of his pieces and of him.
I hope you enjoyed this interview and I hope to continue post some more.
Hope you all have a wonderful day!
-Denise
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