Meet Steven Fenczik | Artist and Animator

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

Hi Steven, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Art and creativity exist at the core of the human experience. It is fundamental and incredibly rewarding. Art is difficult and filled with emotional ups and downs, but in the words of Teddy Roosevelt, “Nothing in the world is worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty.” I grew up in a household that encouraged the arts and I was able to begin from an early age. My curiosity eventually turned into passion and I have never looked back. The path of the artist is one of self-development and self-discovery and I feel grateful everyday to have the opportunity to walk it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Being an artist or creative is one of the most difficult things in the world, but that is exactly why it is also one of the greatest. My artistic career began with a focus in painting and drawing but over the years has grown to include animation as well. I see animation as the culmination of many art forms, a “gesamtkunstwerk” (german for “a total work of art”). It employs every skill I have learned to this point and constantly requires me to learn more. The more I learn, the more I enjoy learning, and the better my art becomes.

One of the main aspects of my work that sets me apart is my insatiable love for life and learning. I believe that passion and personality shine through my art. I truly believe that art is magic and a great work of art, especially animation, has an immense power to capture one’s imagination and evoke emotion. As long as I am an artist, I will never stop growing and I will always use my art and experience to help others.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I was born and raised in Colorado and I love it here. Anyone that comes to Colorado must visit the mountains first and foremost. There are many beautiful mountains in Colorado but Pikes Peak, The Garden of the Gods, and the Manitou area are my favorite because of the awesome scenery and fascinating history. If you are hanging out with me, expect to do some hiking. I also almost always have a guitar on me, so wherever we go and whatever we do, there will be music involved. My favorite foods are BBQ and Indian food so that will certainly be on the list. Shoutout to Sherpa Garden! A trip to boulder would also be on the itinerary. Boulder has some awesome bike trails, hiking, food, and bars.

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?
I have had many amazing teachers and read many amazing books while developing as an artist. First, I must give a few honorable mentions to books that have been instrumental in my thinking. The hero with a thousand faces by Joseph Campbell, The art Spirit by Robert Henri, and Figure drawing: For All its Worth by Andrew Loomis are all incredible books that I highly recommend to any aspiring artist.

However, for my official shoutout, I have to give it to my dad. My dad is a painter and musician. Without his early mentorship I would be a completely different person. People underestimate the power and necessity of a hero figure in their life and my dad was that hero for me. Art is magic, and my father was the magician. Not only did my dad teach me the fundamentals of visual art and music, he also taught me the prerequisite skills of devotion, determination, and self-motivation that continue to pay dividends to this day. Without my dad I would not be the artist I am today, and I can’t thank him enough.

Website: fenczikstudios.com

Instagram: @fenczikstudios

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/steven-fenczik

Image Credits
Steven Fenczik