Meet Teodoro Juan Butler | Multi-Media Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Teodoro Juan Butler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Teodoro Juan, how do you think about risk?
Living with fear stops us from risk taking but in life you often have to go out on a limb as this is where opportunity lies. Looking back on my life I’ve taken many tangible and consequence filled risks: Adventuring to the summits of snowcapped mountains, rock climbing immense treacherous cliffs, kayaking through crashing ocean waves, living in the wild for half a year, and as of recent putting my art out to the world. It’s ironic to me that it wasn’t adventure which felt the most risky but rather the fear of failing as an artist. I neglected my creative abilities and pursuits for years because I felt I couldn’t “make it” and rarely did I share my art with anyone. Getting through this required me to reflect on my past and assess what I was truly afraid of. Simply put, I was afraid failing if I attempted to make art my career. The beauty here however is that being a “failed artist” is only true if I didn’t create anything, so I began creating…a lot, and to this day I’m still creating and progressing despite any fear of risk associated with the art industry or being a professional artist. I am an artist so I must create and I risk failure only if I don’t.
Taking calculated risks doesn’t mean there won’t be failures but not taking any risks to pursue your passion gets you nothing. So you must accept potential failure and harness fear in order to gain anything at all. These days I share my work and process with the public and branded my art as “Creative Impact Arts” on social media. Through this new business journey I aim to visually and emotionally impact new viewers and followers like a true risk-filled adventure should.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is ecclectic. I like using different mediums, though I really live for charcoal and pencil works because of the technicality behind light and dark constrast. As far as style it’s hard to say as I have many styles but the style of any work for me is usually guided by intuition & feeling. What sets me apart from others is that there’s only one of me and I’m unique. I create with life experience as inspiration and don’t just want to draw pretty pictures. I’ve been told my art is beautiful and happy but on the flip side sad and dark. That’s how life is! It’s beautifully ugly as well as beautiful! The state of the world and humanity has always been in constant flux between positive and negative. We know this, and so my art brings acceptance to the fact. I want to show you the beauty for its own sake as well as the ugly amongst it. In that sense my work is a living dichotomy. You can’t have the good without the bad and vice versa. My goal with my art is to evoke emotions within its viewers so that they “feel”. Pain, fear, sorrow, guilt…joy, elation, surprise; Emotions, are paramount. I relate to all these emotions and I’m sure others do too. To date I’m most proud at my commissions progress currently and getting my art out to the public. In January of 2021 I began a business account called “Creative Impact Arts” on instagram not only to market and sell my art, but also to be able to make art my primary career path, a launchpad to being a professional artist so to speak. It’s brought me some worldwide exposure as well as local and national comissions. I aim to expand into the art scene and to streamline the business model through collaboration with other artists whose pursuits match mine, to create impactful art. Its been challenging because I began this process in the midst of taking care of my emotional and mental well being. Having neglected my overall well being over several years has taught me to seek balance, do what I love, and love who I am. To prioritize my life goals and speak my truth through my art. I want the world to know I aim to make an emotional impact with what I create because I’ve lived the sort of life that speaks to it.

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?
Considering Colorado is riddled with beautiful and awe inspiring places I’ll try my best to narrow down to my area as I absolutely love to roadtrip every chance I get through my state. My region is Colorado Springs and surrounding areas. My week with my friend would be as follows: Day 1: Hang out locally, breakfast at Mountain Shadows Restaurant and coffee from Solar Roast. Explore the downtown strips of Old Colorado City, Manitou Springs, and Colorado Springs, all in close proximity to each other. Check out Art & local culture. Also visit the beautiful architecture at the Old North End. Finish this day hanging out at Memorial Park watching the snow geese. Top off the evening with some curry from Sherpa Garden.
Day 2: Awaken early, drive up the magnificent Pikes Peak Drive to the Summit, explore and take in the elevation, it’s breathtaking. Come back down slowly and go to Garden of the Gods for round 1 of rock climbing. Finish the climbing day up at Cheyenne Canyon and have a relaxing end day hike at Seven Falls. That evening cruise up Cheyenne mountain to watch the sun set atop some cliffs. End the night packing for tomorrow.
Day 3: Awaken even earlier, say 5am? Jeep packed with camping and adventuring essentials. Drive to Rampart Range Road and into the backcountry for some solitude, setup camp and then roll to Eleven Mile Canyon for a relaxing morning by the river then climb some more! Head back to Rampart to kayak in the forest amongst the trees. Invite the evening chillin by the fire talking of old adventures and experiences in life.
Day 4: Really hit the dirt roads, go venture deep into the Pike & San Isabel National Forest, see and hike through the Collegiate Peaks and end up at Great Sand Dunes National Park, snowboard down the sand and settle into some night climbing at Penitente Canyon in the San Luis Valley. Camp it out and look for UFO’s amongst the stars.
Day 5: Considering heading back though difficult and make a final stop at Shelf Road for beautiful high desert scenery and more rock crushing. Finally top off the week of fun by seeking out some old abandoned ghost towns along the way and hopefully see some ghosts. Drive back into my hometown after a complete circle around the mountains, canyons,and forests with a very dirty vehicle and a trip that packed a punch. One for the books.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Through it all my family has been my rock and have supported me throughout my life in several aspects. Steadfast, they are convinced of my purpose behind my pursuit of Art. They relieve the pressure I put on myself to “succeed” and remind me to breathe and have self compassion. My friends have been an immense encouraging and motivating force. They’ve always encouraged me to not only climb actual mountains but the figurative mountain of life. I trust them with my life, and that’s a lot to say so I draw funny pictures for them per their request.
Like most artists I’m the worst critic of my own work. My subjective black and white nature seeks objectivity through the perceptive lens of my partner. Her solid constructive critiques and advice re-inforce my descision making when methodical and aesthetic questions arise in my art. She’s a stoic philosopher and reminds me that I’m my own student in life and to always keep learning.
Finally the support I get on social media from my followers cannot be overstated. Never did I think strangers from across the world would be rooting me on to create and pursue my goals but here we are in the midst of it all. I’m beyond thankful for all the support provided to me.

Instagram: @creativeimpactarts

Facebook: Teodoro Juan Butler

Youtube: Creative Impact Arts

Image Credits
I have personally taken and own all photos and images provided.