Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea “Andi” Gabaldón.
Hi, Andrea “Andi,” can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. I can recall back to my elementary school days. My 6th-grade art teacher Mrs. Roberts picked two students in my art class to have their work displayed in a local art gallery. The class was involved in a critique, and I felt so special and validated when my art was chosen. I’ve always loved drawing and creating. I really enjoyed the one subject in grade school because it came more naturally to me and was open to expression. As an adult, I would create art as gifts or as a way to express my feelings when words weren’t enough. My artwork was a way for me to understand myself better. I was feeling very stuck in my 9-5 job. I was grateful to have a career within the field I studied, but it was not fulfilling the drive I have to be creative. My closest friend often invited me to local artist talks, gallery showings, and events with other local artists. It was there that I realized I am happiest around other creatives and wished I could be a part of this community. I took a printmaking course in my undergraduate years, so I had some basic knowledge of printmaking. I knew I wanted to create art but needed the means to produce my work on a larger scale. I was referred to Central Print through another artist and decided to give them a call to learn more. That was in December of 2022, and I am beyond happy with my decision to contact them. Central Print is a non-profit arts organization that aims to promote the art of letterpress printmaking by providing workshops, classes, and programs focusing on design and production using historic printing equipment. Central Print Director Marie Oberkirsch genuinely cares about the artists that enter the studio regardless of their level of expertise. She is always willing to share her knowledge of various techniques to keep printmaking and artistry alive. Central Print offers very reasonably priced open studios, which is helpful to artists like me who may need the means to purchase equipment and supplies but have the drive to create. It was like a dream that I could afford to work in an art studio and would have access to supplies to begin what is now LOCA Prints.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Although this is just the beginning, the journey to get where I am has been challenging for me, I work full-time and can only work on my artwork on weeknights or weekends. Even the simplest of prints can take hours in the studio. I draw, carve, and print all the work I sell myself. Some pieces also include type settings which I set and print manually. It takes a lot of time, but I enjoy doing it. The challenges are fun because it forces me to think outside the box to achieve my vision for a print or product. Since starting my journey selling my artwork, finding the right audience for my pieces has been difficult. I am very proud of my Mexican heritage and like to incorporate it into my work as much as possible.
I am a first-generation American raised by Mexican immigrants (shout out to any Chihuahuenses reading this!), and I have overcome many obstacles to make it where I am today. The story of a child raised by immigrants is beautiful and challenging. We are raised at a young age to be advocates for our families and translators to support our families. Often, it isn’t easy to put ourselves and our happiness before that of our family members. I am grateful to have a family that understands that creating art is my true passion and respects my current journey. They were so supportive that they drove from Kansas City to St. Louis for my first pop-up market event! Once I started creating artwork more frequently, I felt a sense of joy for life that I hadn’t felt since I was in that art class in 6th grade, excited to tell my family that my artwork would be on display. That is now a feeling that I hope never to lose.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a printmaker, although I dabble in multiple mediums. I draw and carve my designs from linoleum blocks and hand print them. With the help of Central Print Director Marie Oberkirsch, I have also started to screen print—which is how I created the tote bags I sell. I am most proud of the drive I have to learn and create. I often have an image in my head of an end product, and if I don’t know how to make it happen, I research, pick the brains of other professionals, or simply through trial and error, I figure out how to make my vision a reality. I think what sets me apart from others is my perspective. As a nonbinary Latinx artist living in St. Louis, I rarely see my culture represented/celebrated outside of Cherokee street or Cinco de Mayo. I want to show our St. Louis community that we are here and more than a street; we are more than one day out of the year and are certainly more than labor workers. I hope to inspire future Latinx artists to create artwork authentic to themselves and to enjoy the process along the way.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.
I started selling my artwork in January of 2023, but if I could give any advice, it would be that it is never too late to start working toward your passion. We’ve heard it a million times, but it’s so true. You will get so much more out of life if you are doing something you give a shit about. I couldn’t tell you how many hours after a long day at 9-5 I would put in to make prints for pop-ups. If anything, the time in the print shop often flew by because I was doing something that made me happy. When you do something you love, energy and commitment come naturally. So go out there and put yourself first, LOCA!
Pricing:
- My prints range from $5-30.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loca_prints/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/locaprints
