Meet Kimberly Nick Gutierrez

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kimberly Nick Gutierrez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kimberly Nick, what are you inspired by?
I’m inspired by just about everything. No matter where I go, I find that I make mental notes about things I find interesting and can use in my artwork later. My traditional art is primarily inspired by my heritage and life experiences. I’ve been exploring these themes quite a bit in my recent works which have focused on what it was like growing up in the borderland, being Mexican-American, and working through traumatic experiences. I also find inspiration in exploring subjects such as astronomy, philosophy, existentialism, and literature. But I also like to make art that is a little less serious such as sketches and digital illustrations. These tend to be inspired by sights I see in my daily life, popular culture, music, film, and conversations I have with my friends. I like making work that shows off my interests and background because it helps start conversations and allows me to share things I like with other people. Of course, I’m also inspired by my fellow creatives. I love seeing their work and growth because it motivates me to polish my skills, learn new ones, and keep creating even when I feel stuck in a rut.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My creative endeavors are split between my goal of being a graphic designer and a visual artist. I’ve been pursuing graphic design professionally for about four years now; having worked for a non-profit museum, as an instructor, and more recently as a designer and marketer for a coffee roastery. I am currently in the market for a new position, which has been challenging to find. I try not to let that difficulty discourage me and instead motivate me to continue expanding my skills, creating new work, and continue trying to find my place as a designer. As a visual artist, I try to create work that expresses myself and shares my interests and experiences with the world. I work with ink, pencil, and gouache paints. I also occasionally dabble in printmaking when I have access to materials and presses. Concerning what sets me apart as a creative, I try to be myself, which has also been an important lesson. I try to create work that I feel best represents me and that expresses myself, rather than what others tell me they want to see. I would rather create work that will eventually reach the right people instead of conforming to trends that don’t accurately reflect me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is tough…there are so many places I would love to visit with friends. I love thrift shopping and supporting local businesses, so I would probably take them to places like the Archive, Twist and Shout, Mutiny Info Cafe, Wax Trax, Strawberry Mountain, and ReCreative. I love being outdoors despite not being very athletic, so hiking would be on the schedule. I enjoy the trails out by Garden of the Gods, Rocky Mountain National Park, or Estes Park and would love to plan a day trip to explore those areas. Bishop’s Castle is a wonderful place to visit if you’re up for a drive to Rye, it’s also close to Walsenburg which is a cute place to walk around and explore. I’m a big fan of museums and interactive galleries so of course I would recommend Meow Wolf, the Museum of Modern Art, the Kirkland Museum, and the Santa Fe Arts District. There are also fun pop-ups at GLOB featuring Fatal Wave Cinema that are a blast to attend if you’re in the RiNo Arts District. Concerning food, I would also recommend local places such as Black Sky Brewery or TRVE Brewery (I’m a big metal fan!), Biker Jim’s, Jerusalem, Tacos de Mexico, and El Noa Noa are also wonderful. I love coffee so I have to include coffee shops like Convivio Cafe, Pablo’s, Dandy Lion, Bardo’s, Corvus, or Middlestate Coffee.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a shout-out to my parents, Susana and Leonardo Gutierrez, for their neverending support and for always being the first to ask about purchasing my art so they can show it off. I would like to thank my older brothers, Israel and Joshua Gutierrez, for their support and advice, and for tolerating my general nonsense. (Josh also runs @metalnerdmedia and is one of my many sources of inspiration!) Other shout-outs go to my fellow creatives in CHANT Cooperative, who provide so many opportunities for sharing my art with the city of Denver, Colorado. I am forever grateful to those who I have seen as mentors and who have helped me grow as an artist, including Ken Phillips, Tony Ortega, Silvia Montero, Robin Hextrum, and so many more. Finally, I would like to thank my creative friends who constantly support my endeavors and share opportunities with me, I love and appreciate every one of you.

Website: https://bloodgulchblue.wixsite.com/midnightscreeningart

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnightscreeningart/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-gutierrez-76396a98/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/midnightscreeningart/ 

Image Credits
Kimberly Nick Gutierrez