WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND IN ART AND WHEN DID YOU FIRST KNOW YOU WANTED TO PURSUE IT FULL-TIME?
I always knew I wanted to do art but didn’t know I could do it full-time. I took a few classes in college like drawing, painting, sculpture but all sculpture courses require you take a course in steel and that’s when I fell in love with art. I got into art through sculpture. With steel, I just love the sparks and the danger
WHAT DOES YOUR WORK AIM TO SAY?
It really depends on what I’m working on but I create all kind of pieces so it’s very spontaneous. [It incorporates a lot of] personal feelings and happy thoughts.
WHO WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCE?
Growing up, I was influenced by Dr. Seuss for my drawings and the The Beatles Yellow Submarine movie, which influenced a lot of my paintings. I also loved the Classic Betty Boop & Popeye cartoons. I was an imaginative kid growing up and I would often try and redraw dreams and tried to find more surreal things in real life. I always have to have music playing when I am working; it gets me in the creative flow. Especially 80s rock like Led Zeppelin, Leonard Skinner and Pink Floyd.
HOW HAVE YOU DEVELOPED YOUR CAREER?
Well, I’ve always had a side job either waitressing or working in events. In my free time, majority of the time I was painting because I couldn’t afford to weld. But then I travelled to Alaska one year for 2 months and met a local fabricator who he let me work in his studio and create sculptures [and that is where my career took a turn for the better]. I was working for an artist who was based out of Brooklyn who had a studio in Joshua Tree and after I moved there, I was connected through my current boss. I would say it’s honestly my dream job!
HOW DO YOU SEEK JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ART WORLD AND HOW DO YOU CULTIVATE A COLLECTOR BASE AND SHARE/SELL YOUR WORK?
Right now, it’s through the shop I work at but I also sell through Instagram, smaller galleries and of course, my website as well. Right now, I have reduced my prices quite a bit to create that collector base but eventually, I would love to have my work up in bigger galleries and also have a gallery of my own!
WHAT IS IT LIKE LIVING IN JOSHUA TREE?
Living in Venice was loud and, lots of people around and always traffic. I would often ride my bike, but here, it’s much more peaceful. There is definitely no L.A. smog and no traffic. In the summer however, Joshua Tree tends to get really hot but we have an inflatable pool, which is pretty nice to have. The altitude, however, I still have to get used to.
To learn more about Gubby Beck, head to gubbybeck.com or follow her on Instagram @gubbybeck.
