Today we’d like to introduce you to Alfredo Ponce.
Hi Alfredo, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am an Artist. As a child, I dreamed of becoming an artist. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the talent. I, however, was fortunate to have the desire to tell stories with images. My dream was deferred for many reasons, but as the saying goes, I didn’t know it was a seed. Many decades later, I was writing my dissertation at USC; I needed an escape from reading and writing. I had also developed a fascination of technology. I taught myself a variety of aspects of the adobe products using the websites for dummies books. I quickly learned I could create images using the vector process. Once I discovered could do such, I realized I could fulfill my childhood dream of becoming an artist. I have not looked back.
Social media has been my platform to share the over 10,000 images I gave created and continue to create daily. It has allowed me to connect with a multitude of people from Hollywood to the mountains of Nepal.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The life of an artist is not an easy one. It is filled with obstacles. A saturated field, time commitment, finances, a lack of platform among many others. It does not have a traditional manual for success.
I shelved this dream for over 30 years of my life. To be an artist means so many things. I knew I wanted to tell stories with images yet for the majority of my life did not have the means to do it or the platforms to share my work. In actuality, I wanted to quit many times. As I shared my work on the social media platforms, I received quite of bit of interest. These accolades serve as a shot of motivation to carry on.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a visual artist, I am known for creating images which display Latino and minority groups in a positive light. My images are in bedded in “loteria” like cards mounted into an array of social media platforms. My pieces of work have been displayed throughout the country and abroad. Several of my art pieces have been acquired by the library of Congress. My work has been featured in the LA Times. I have met and designed images for several well-known actors/singers such as George Lopez and Chris Perez. My work has been reposted on social media by the likes of Salma Hayek, Eva Longoria, NFL, NBA, MLB Players, politicians, and many more.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I grew up my first part of my life in the mountains of Jalisco Mexico. We literally played with sticks and stones. During the rainy seasons, I, along with my brothers, created houses and statues with freshly made clay along the river banks. I recall wanting to be an artist like my older brother Jose. He was special. I recall creating some hideous pieces yet admiring my brother’s creativity. I wanted to be just like him. He got the talent. I got the desire. A desire that never quits.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Pholkgiant
- Facebook: Alfredo Ponce
- Twitter: Pholkg1ant
Image Credits
Library of Congress
LA Times Amplifier.org
