Aurelio L. Estrella's Questionnaire

I live in Austin, Texas, the city of culture and change in a state in most southern part of the united states. There are so so many places to see and so much culture to take in that I can't help but be drawn by it's allure, plus the Mexican food is truly to die for in my humble opinion. Additionally, while it is still expensive for the area, there is some decently priced living spaces in the near downtown area, such as my studio apartment. Speaking of my apartment... I am glad I don't gain joy from inviting people over because I can never put my work away, my paintings, and my space almost constantly smells of the stuff. I separate my bed with a decent curtain that with the power of a fan it can keep out all smells and it also help keep me smelling fresh (or like whatever smell I put in the fans scent basin!)

So it is still expensive to live where I do and many people don't want to pay easy money so I was luckily able to embrace my biggest passion of them all, painting! I have plenty of clients, some that I'd consider to be regulars even, who buy my art and hang it up on their walls to look at and enjoy. Knowing that is one of the greatest pleasures life can give me. And just as I get the money I can't help but buy new paints and oils to try them out or just reup on my dwindling supply. Since I don't really like going to large social gatherings with a bunch of strangers I tend to just visit my local friends and play darts, bowling, or whatever the local joint has to offer.

With each painting that my clients commission from me I get a little introspection into the life and desire of them, what shapes and designs call to them and any preferences in theme. I have done everything from abstract to realism and even cartoon so I have seen plenty. I just wish that what I draw could be more tangible and physically shape and mold the world just as much as it does emotionally, and even to that end I wish I could better read it. I don't know if I would kill, per say, to achieve the ability to bring my paintings to life but if the means to achieve my goal was right in front of me and a nasty adversary was blocking my path, well... I might just cross that line and hope I am still myself afterwards.

When I was younger, my family took a trip across Europe and we got to see the history and culture of many of the nations we passed through and one day in particular struck a cord with me. Outside a the Louve in Paris I saw a man painting the world that he saw in front of him, people blurred across the canvas with the stillness of the local buildings shown strikingly against them. When I asked the man about it all he could tell me was this

"I paint the people as a blur because that is all we remember them as. I paint the buildings clear as day because once we die and move on, what we create will remain. How long it lasts is up to how well we care for it. The people will die, the buildings may crumble, but the culture, the culture will carry on for ages. The people are blurred, the buildings are clear, and this painting I wish to last forever."

The man gave me the painting with a smile and while I never got to know his name I will always remember his words and his dreams of having his art, his passion more over, carry on. The next day I went to see the man and show him a painting that I had made but he was nowhere to be found. It was later discovered that he had died in a fatal car crash and nobody knew who he was, nobody cared to figure out who he was, it was just news that would soon be forgotten. I never forgot, I never will.

His passion for art stoked the flames that would become mine and I want to realize what he desired, I want to realize it for myself and bring my art to such a high level that people will never forget it.

Justine Audrina - A kind and helpful woman who I would consider to be my best friend and confidant, specifically with my art related woes and celebrations. I've known her since I moved to Austin, she was singing in an auditorium that I went to to sketch in because it was rare that anyone went there. When she found out that I was passionate about art and pretty good at it she was was all into my art book and I couldn't help but talk to her to explain myself, but also a part of it was to hear her voice. We have been friends ever since, not just because of art but it was definitely the foundation of it.

Griffin Toth - Tall and limber are the two words I would describe my good buddy Griffin, he enjoys a good amount of choreography in both creating it and observing it. We met in a strange way to be honest, I was having a rough time exercising and he was in the area and he couldn't help but do what I was doing but in a way that I could see him and perform the exercise like him and it would actually feel better. Afterwards he came up to me and asked if we wanted to work out together, he was looking for a gym buddy and I needed someone to spot me so I couldn't help but say yes. Now he is part of my inner circle of friends and I can't imagine where I would be without him.

Louis Durand (Director Durand) - An art director at the University of Texas at Austin that has been a role model for me and also a fantastic teacher in both artistry and networking clients. Without Dr. Durand I would probably be struggling like too many artists and I would not at all be capable of having as comfortable of a living situation as I do (a studio apartment isn't great but it is something!). He is my go to for my art related problems that I need fixing as soon as possible.

For most of my early childhood it was a blur, it wasn’t until I was six or seven that I really started to remember things, at that point I had already started school. I had been into doodling during class and when I had time at home to myself, which was a little rare but I managed as best I could. My parents were both well accredited musicians who traveled a lot and would often bring me with them, I had many trips around the world. I saw most of Europe before I was sixteen and even had visited some areas in Africa, Asia, and even Oceania.

Leonard E. Estrella - My father and an amazing brass player, he was so into playing that he learned how to play just about every horn out there. He was kind hearted and devoted to his family and his music. He did his best to make sure that I got accommodations at school so I could travel with them. He was also a great teacher and wouldn’t miss an opportunity to teach me about the world as we traveled, always had some fact about the place we would be visiting.

Florence P. Estrella - My mother and the most wonderful orchestra director out there, just like my dad she learned how to play every horn but also almost every other instrument. She wrote many songs of her own that were so well that she would get commissions to do work for films and orchestral halls. She taught me to play the piano and when I was older and making art she even taught a couple tips and tricks on how to handle clientele.

Because of all the traveling I would frequently miss some days of school near and around the holidays as some trips ran longer or started earlier than expected. As such I was expected to study harder while we were traveling so I could keep in great standing with the school. I did as best I could and even passed above what the board of education asked of me to allow me to miss some days of school without repercussions.

when it comes to whether or not I fit in is a bit of a rough one because yes I did fit in but not well. I had friends who I would hang out with but I didn’t get much time to hang out with them outside of class if any at all. We had more of a friendly coworker dynamic going on that was more shallow than anything. On the flip side, since I was doing well in my classes and was given special treatment by the school the bullies at school didn’t really target me, very little payout for someone who could just leave easily.

I had many crushes in my life but very little sparks that set ablaze and became love. I traveled too much and had to focus on keeping well off for school all the way into my early teens that I didn’t have any relationships. When I was in my junior year of high school I did get asked out by this girl, Lucile Dove, in my art class who I did have a crush on at the time. We went out for a year and a half, went to prom and all that, but when I kept having to leave every other holiday if not every holiday she just couldn’t handle it. It was rough but we broke up, I did my best to not let it get to me but I did end up lashing out at my parents for all the trips they went on.

We put those arguments behind us but it was still a topic of contention between us.

Since then I dated a bit when I entered college but stopped after my first year. I can’t help but admit that I do have a little bit of a crush on Justine but I think I just am fine with where we are at now. Maybe one day I’ll ask her out but that day is not today.