Joey Farias, SWAYE Artist and painter, created a piece called “Sunbathing” for the SWAYE July Issue. Matthew Chen (Founder, Editor-In-Chief) interviewed Joey to learn about his artistic process, inspirations, and goals.
Q. What kind of art do you do?
Joey: I mainly work with human figures, whether that be the face or the body because I’m really fascinated with people and communication.
Q. How and when did you become interested in it?
Joey: I’ve always been interested in art. Throughout my early school years, I always took my time on art projects. Even my parents and teachers noticed it. I got really serious about it in forth grade, and I started keeping sketchbooks and practicing.
“It really just progressed from there, and here I am today. “
Q. How do your family and friends play a part in you pursuing your art?
Joey: My family really influences my art culturally. Because I’m Mexican American, I like painting stuff that’s from my culture and heritage. It’s important to me, even if my art sometimes strays from it. Also, my friends bring new ideas into my life that inspires my art.
Q. Would you say your family is supportive of your art?
Joey: Yeah, I would say that. They really just want me to work hard if I’m going to pursue it in the future. As long as I can support myself, they’re fine with it.
Q. Why did you join SWAYE?
Joey: I heard about SWAYE from a friend, Samantha Williams (SWAYE Editor). She recommended it because she thought it would be a good way to gain exposure and grow my platform.
Q. What memorable responses have you had to your work?
Joey: There’s always the typical “Oh my gosh, you’re so talented,” but there will be times where someone wants to buy a piece. That’s always really special to me because someone wants my art, and they even want it in their home.
“I like selling my art, not because of the money, because I want others to have a piece of myself and my work.”
Q. What is your process like for creating an art piece?
Joey: First, I think about what I’m going to be painting and the message it can convey. The piece that is going to be released in this month’s issue took me all month to think about. Then, I think about how I can execute the piece. Sometimes I think about what I want to paint, and then what kind of message can be behind it.
“And other times, it just comes to me, and where ever that idea takes me, I just go with it.”
Q. Describe a real-life situation that inspired you?
Joey: Sometimes situations that happen to me, and I create personal pieces around it. And the culture around me also inspires me. There’s nothing really specific.
Q. Who or what are your greatest inspirations?
Joey: I’m inspired by the human form and facial/bodily figures. I don’t really have one source of my inspiration. It’s all just pulled from different sources.
Q. What about your culture do you find inspiring?
Joey: I’ve been learning more about my culture through the internet, it helps me know more about it as a whole. It’s more about what I saw throughout childhood. I used to go to Mexico as a child to visit my family. I would see all these bright colors for the holidays, and all kinds of things you couldn’t find in America.
“I was so inspired by all the Papel picado, clothing, and the buildings.”
Q. What is your ultimate goal as an artist?
“Creating something that people talk about and desire. I want to make something that I can live off of. “
Check out Joey’s project for this month: “My Pride and Joy” here!
Joey’s Social Media links: