Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabe Drueke.
Hi Gabe, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It all started with a massive box of broken crayons, scrap paper taped to the kitchen counter, and a desperate ploy by my mother to keep me and my two brothers out of her hair while she made dinner. Competition ensued for who could draw the best Garfield or other character before it was time to eat. Being the youngest, I had to elevate my game to keep up. By the time I started school, my artistic skills were ahead of the curve, gaining much attention from my classmates and teachers. Long story short, being artistic has always made me stand out and feel special. Maybe even chosen? The accolades are addictive and have always pushed me to work at a progressively higher level.
In 1999, I graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Graphic Design. 3 months into my career, I walked away from office life, never to return. (I may have run.) The corporate design work I was tasked with was too disposable for my taste. I wanted to leave something behind that was more concrete.
After a few years working for a landscaping company, I started my stone carving business. I had picked up carving and casting while at the U of I and continued pursuing the work as a hobby. My oldest brother, Steve, quit his job to take over the administrative and sales end of the company, and together, we created hand-carved stonework for residential and commercial construction projects. Looking back, we were very green in regards to running a business. However, just getting a foot in the door is often times, the most important thing. This is where the Graphic Design degree paid off. We looked professional!
Two years in, Steve and I stood before St. Louis Cardinals ownership, presenting our ideas for adding some eye candy to the New Busch Stadium. 2006, when the new venue opened, it was adorned with 120 (+) cast stone and limestone decorative plaques that we created. It felt like we had made it! The universe had other plans, however. In 2008, the economy tanked. My work and our business were no longer relevant. Fortunately, I wasn’t afraid of hard work and was good with tools. I soon found myself working in a labor-intensive industrial environment where I spent the next 8 years working as a plumber, pipefitter and welder. Financially, it was good for my family and me but mentally and physically, it was debilitating. Literally.
In 2017, while recovering from back surgery from a work injury, I decided not to return to this career. I have been back in the art world as a freelance artist for 6 years, and I do not intend to leave. I no longer offer stone carving or casting due to the physicality of the process and the limitations of my body, but luckily for me, art is still art despite the medium.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. Making a living as an artist isn’t for the faint of heart. Crippling self-doubt is a big hurdle that plagues many artists, and I am no exception. What keeps me hanging on is knowing that the work I create now will be here long after I’m gone. Not many careers allow for that kind of legacy. To me, art is a sacred calling, and I don’t want to waste my gifts doing anything else.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Over the past few years, my mainstays have been old-school sign painter projects like vehicle and window lettering, illustrations, and murals. Most recently, I’ve taken an unexpected leap into painting abstract canvases, and my whole world is coming into focus. This past January, totally on a whim, I entered one of my pieces in a juried exhibition at the St. Louis Artists’ Guild. My painting, Ignite, took home second place in my first-ever juried show! I knew the work was good, but I was in uncharted waters and didn’t know what to expect. The affirmation has been fuel to the fire. My work has been accepted into 9 shows this year, and the positive response has been overwhelming. I have shown regionally as well as in Chicago and Watkinsville, Georgia. I am very fortunate to have been picked up this summer by Curate by Nehring Design in Webster Groves, where I have a some of my work for sale. This is only the beginning. Every step I’ve made along the way has prepared me for what is taking place now. The quality of my work is hitting the mark on so many levels; I feel it’s just a matter of time before it leaves the launchpad. Buckle up!
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Networking is huge if you want to make it in any business. Your character is your best calling card. I tell my daughters all the time you can get a lot further in life with a handshake, a smile, and a good attitude than you can with any amount of education or experience. I’m living proof. Be someone others want to work with, and doors will open for you.
Pricing:
- Original paintings and prints available
- Accepting commission work
- Contact for pricing
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gabedrueke.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabedrueke/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Drookart
Image Credits
RichDesigns Photo + Film
