Meet Charlie Franco | Artist

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

Hi Charlie, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
It’s hard to know whether things are worth putting the effort in. Specially in times like these in which the economy is not really helping anybody but the rich. They always say ”oh you have to take risks and be willing to take some losses” but at the same time you have to question yourself if its worth the gamble.

With that in mind, it is really easy to give up. I’m an Artist and I’ve received so many rejection letters from exhibitions, galleries, job applications etc. but it is really important to develop thick skin and take these small losses and turn them into motivations and goals. There are so many opportunities in this country, something will come up! You just have to keep pushing, someone will notice your talent and your capabilities.

So if you ask me how to know whether to keep going or to give up? Well… you don’t. Its about perspective and reflecting on the small goals you have accomplished so far, and how much you can push yourself. I don’t believe you have to be better than anybody else, you have to be better than you ever thought you could be.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As mentioned before, Im an Artist. I generally do acrylic and oil paintings that reject the traditional standards of composition and design, and provokes a tense and playful display of the figure. I like to combine the virtues of Neo-Expressionism and Cubism with elements of Graphic Design to create paintings that often reflect an abstract representation of contemporary life, culture and entertainment. This style is something that I started to develop recently and it has been challenging because I am a perfectionist and Neo-Expressionism is the total opposite. It is definitely exciting and it allows me to step out of my comfort zone.

Professionally I had to improve my skillsets as an artist. Trying different mediums to find your thing is no easy task and there were a lot of challenges that required trial and error. But it all comes down to practice, consistency, and repetitive workflow.
When it comes to lessons, aside from the vague/cliche things everyone says. I learned to develop thick skin and to not be too attached to your craft; there are people that are going to hate what you do and you need to be willing to take it, process it and move on.

I just want to show everyone how I see the world through my art. I don’t expect my work to sell or be insanely succesful, All I ask is an opinion and constructive criticism.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If the weather is nice we would walk down The Beltline from Piedmont Park to Krog Street Market. There are a ton of great restaurants like Victory Sandwich Bar, Beetlecat, Freds Meat and Bread, New Realm Brewery, any stall at Krog Street Market, Nina and Rafi. There is also a lot of cool art, and beautiful views. I like to go under the Krog Street tunnel towards cabbage town to see some awesome graffiti and murals!!

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?
There are a couple of professors throughout the years that have helped me through my journey of being an Artist. I wont name any of them, but I do want to say that there is a handful of educators that truly care about their students and their success, they are willing to take the time and to listen to their ideas and concepts and help them develop them like they did with me. It helped me have a better understanding of culture, art, design, people, music etc.

Website: www.charliefrancoworks.com

Instagram: @charliefranco_art or https://www.instagram.com/charliefranco_art/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlos.a.franco.18/

Image Credits
Charlie Franco