Meet Sebastian Lara: Creative Professional & Visual Artist

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

Hi Sebastian, what are you inspired by?
I draw a lot of my inspiration for my work from stories, music, and other content I like to consume. I have found that whether I am working on art pieces, designing a creative space, or an interactive activity, a lot of what people value are ideas and concepts that tie different themes together or that go deeper than just something that is interesting to look at. While craftsmanship and the production of high quality work is extremely important, the idea or story that is being told through a medium can provide a much richer experience. In regards to the actual inspiration, I think that the music I listen to during that portion of my life outside of the work, as well as when I am creating it, can greatly impact it. Being very involved and interested in live events such as festivals, concerts, or other immersive themed entertainment, allows me to draw from experiences that I find super impactful, and then I try to identify the value in why I felt the way I did when I interacted with those events and spaces. I also enjoy reading, movies, and television a lot. I tend to gravitate towards fiction and I like to annotate the content I consume by writing down significant concepts or quotes that I come across. Specifically, if I find something that made me feel a specific emotion, or that I felt was a really interesting way that a concept was conveyed, then I do my best to pinpoint why I felt that emotional reaction and how that idea can be modified, reapplied, and expanded upon.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Ever since I was a kid I have always excelled in and enjoyed creative endeavors. Growing up, my parents were very supportive of my artistic talents and I spent good portions of my childhood creating art, characters, stories, and other creative projects. Once I was in high school I got very involved in the art department and felt a lot of support from my art teacher, Natalie Hudson. In college, I completed a Visual Arts minor at the Lamar Dodd School of Art as well as a Music Business Certificate through the Terry College of Business. I feel that all of this is what has really helped me develop myself as a creative. While being an artist can be challenging at times, it is extremely rewarding. As my artistic career developed, I learned a lot about materials, concepts, planning, and considering alternate perspectives. I would say that the hardest and most important lessons involved planning, decision making, and conveying concepts. I would also say that one of the hardest parts about life is learning the correlation between decisions we take and the consequences of those actions. This applies to art as well. When working on a project it is important to plan and think about the details as much as the larger picture. Understanding how elements and layers will work together, as well as considering not only the visual aesthetic, but also clear concept communication is a definite challenge, but also one that makes the work much more rewarding once it has been done right. I would want people to know that I really enjoy working to help develop my own, as well as others’ creative goals. When I work with a client, I enjoy listening to what they have in mind, and then I try to create something that they really vibe with. I really like collaborating with others, and always ensure that if there is a portion of a project that I am assigned, I am going to do my best to make it as strong as possible.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Given that I am based outside of Atlanta and frequent Athens a good bit, I think there is a lot of cool stuff to check out! In regards to food, I think that Athens has some of the best food. You can’t go wrong with The World Famous, Cali-n-titos, or South Kitchen + Bar. In Atlanta, I am a fan of some of the urban food & drink spots in Ponce City Market. Whether it is Athens or Atlanta, I think that anyone visiting should frequent the local breweries such as Creature Comforts in Athens, or the Three Taverns Imaginarium in Atlanta. For local attractions and entertainment, I am a huge fan of live music and my favorite venue in Atlanta is The Tabernacle. In Athens, love seeing shows at the Georgia Theatre. I also like the parks/public amenities in Atlanta such as Piedmont Park and the beltline. Additionally, I enjoy art museums such as the High Museum of Art. Overall these cities in Georgia have a lot to offer, but so does the nature scenery around the state. I think spending time hiking or camping can be just as fun as a day in the city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The UGA Music Business Department & The Cambridge High School Art Department

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