Today we’d like to introduce you to Xavier Alvarado.
Hi Xavier, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I once had a history project on a Spanish conquistador by the name of Hernán Cortés, he was a great traveler and war general who took over the Aztec empire in 1521. I’ve been to many places myself, and as I traveled, I felt like a Great Conquistador a conqueror of such. In order to conquer something you have to pay attention it. I’d study each new environment I was placed in, focusing on the details, which has trained my eyes to be attentive, to listen and assume I know nothing. I believe you have to be a great student to be an artist. This was how I survived as child and how I’ve been surviving today.
I remember my earliest thoughts escaping into art, it was magic to me. I could take whatever I saw, whatever I had in my mind and physically transfer it to paper. Whether that be with paint, pencil or whatever else I could find. I would also watch many movies & immediately after I would throw on blanket (cape) and fly like Batman. This was pretty much all of my childhood. Of course I grew to play sports throughout middle school and High school which gave me a competitive edge, but art has always been my first love.
It always calls me back home, through every phase in my life, Art has been my moral compass. How I’ve been able to navigate life and communicate to the world my thoughts. I’ve lived in many places but as of now Austin is home and I find myself continuing to use Art to navigate me.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The obstacles in my life have always presented themselves in the same ways. They’ve called me to reinvent myself or change the direction of whatever I’m putting my energy towards. In High school at my physical peak in sports I broke my leg. Which changed the whole trajectory of not only that year but my life, being out of commission physically made me think back on my creative efforts. I had realized Sports wasn’t the ticket to my dreams, art was.
That’s when I started getting into plays and movies more, I had time to watch them at school and at home. Then again in college, I dropped out early, I wasn’t engaged into the basics of school. So I recalled the stories and movies I would play out in my head as a child & focused on Writing shorts (5-10 min movies), changing the direction of my energy.
When I was doing something I didn’t absolutely love I paid for it, feeling empty. But once I re-evaluated what I was doing I started to feel alive, and the rewards financially and physically started to show. It was a mental note to pay attention to the patterns in my life. To know when certain chapters are closed and when it’s time to start new ones.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work consist of many forms of art. I’d like to say that my style is chaotic but with a sense of elegance. That style is consistent throughout everything I pursue from the characters I portray in film to my paintings create.
I’ve been featured in Big Medium East Austin studio tour in 2019 and 2020, also in Big Mediums studio tour magazine (pg. 234). As well as ‘East the inspirational side of Austin’ (pg. 37). Also the University Star newspaper – Brotherhood and ‘Hierarchy’: Alumni triad (pg. 5). to produce a feature film named ‘ Hierarchy ‘ set to debut in 2022. I’ve also been in association with Vilite films, Sabi productions, and Small Town Heroes.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
The credit goes to God first and to all the silent victories, to the hours I spend painting, to the journey which I have love & hate. To the many mentors I’ve had thus far and to the creatives I’ve been running with just the same. I still have more to conquer and I’m still learning in every chapter in life.
Contact Info:
- Email: Xavieralvarad0_mac@yahoo.com
- Website: Artbyalvarado.com
- Instagram: Xavieralvarad0
Image Credits
First 3 photos taken by Jackie lee Young Painting by Xavier Alvarado Blue long sleeve shirt and grey pants photo taken by Ruben Caballero Last photo also by Jackie lee young painting by Xavier Alvarado & shoes by ‘ Somebody’
