Eleventh Commandment: Artist profile: Johnny Elizondo

We at Eleventh Commandment are pretty lucky to be surrounded by some ridiculously creative people. And while it's tempting to keep them all to ourselves, we thought it might be time to start sharing them with you by sitting them down and asking five simple questions.

For the first instalment we could think of no one better than an obscenely talented artist that we've been friends with since waaaaay back in the day - Johnny Elizondo.

EC: Explain a bit about what you do.

JE: Well it is a bit of a mixed bag really, ranging from pencil sketches, paint, photography and lately mixed media. Any medium that strikes me at that time. Due to travelling a lot for work, sketches are easier as I only need a pencil and some paper, but while I am home everything else comes into play.

EC: How did you get started with your art and what ideally would you like to achieve with it?

JE: It all started for me back home as I was growing up. I was pretty lucky, always being surrounded by artists in my family (my brother and sister). I think they're better than me!!! Hehehe (they are going to love that). From there I just kept on the creative process or tried to at least. It all pretty much blew out once I went to University to do a Bachelor of Visual Arts. My art is therapy for me, it grounds and relaxes me. I have always struggled with the commercial aspect of my art making, although of late I have had increasing interest in my art which has made me reassess my view on putting a dollar value to it. I’m learning, but it is definitely a humbling experience. Through my art all I ever wanted was to express who I am and how I see my world.

EC: Explain a little of your creative process.

JE: Creative process? Let’s see... I pretty much have an idea and sketch it out initially. Sometimes it remains a sketch, other times it manifests into different mediums. Some days the old camera gets whipped out for random images, primarily while I am away on the road for work. There are some amazing things to be seen while you are on the road.

EC: Do you have specific inspirations? i.e. literature, film, philosophy, dreams etc?

JE: Inspiration comes day to day in everything the world decides to throw at me, be it friends, family, complete strangers, rainy days, sunshine, my partner Michelle especially, day dreaming and any social encounter. I have so many ideas inspired by so many things that I still haven’t used for any artworks. Damn... there just aren’t enough hours in my day!!!

EC: What’s the best thing about being creative?

JE: Being creative to me is not restricted to the canvas, I try to approach each day ‘creatively’ to get the best experience I can and learn something about myself and all around me. To me this is so important and the most positive way in approaching life, you just do not know what or who is around the corner. So being creative I can also say is being flexible and adaptable to anything.