Artist Spotlight: EduEly and the Season of Giving

 
With Thanksgiving around the corner, and the December holiday season following just after that, giving and gratitude are front of mind. It is the beginning of the festive season to spend with family and loved ones. What makes this time of year, and the holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa so special are people’s demonstrations of kindness, empathy, and reciprocation.

We were lucky enough to speak with the tremendous artist, EduEly, on something that he has been grateful for throughout his life: art. He found his love for art at a young age, “When I was about eight, I used to take a folder full of drawings to school and sell them to classmates. I even had a ‘price list’: sketches were cheaper, lineart cost a bit more, and the colored ones were premium”. As responsibilities grew, and studies and work required a more central focus, art began to take a backseat. But something seemingly small led to a momentous change.

When did you first realize you were interested in art? And interested in it more than a hobby?

“I studied Advertising, and during an internship I discovered the drawing tablet. At the time I was working as an Art Director, and that moment changed everything for me…I realized ‘artist’ was an actual job. Around 2011 I understood that I could actually make a living from this…From that moment, I did everything I could to turn art into my full-time career.” ‘Artist’ may not have been a job that schools or society pushed him towards, or even celebrated, but EduEly uncovered the path towards his dream career. He was able to find stability in it, and that led to a flourish of inspiration and development.

You have a lot of sarcasm, and dark humor in your designs, where does that come from originally?

“Honestly, it comes from life. I use humor and irony a lot to communicate (and maybe to hide a few demons too). I like when a design makes people feel something, not just when it looks pretty.” EduEly can find inspiration in something he watches, a meme, or out of thin air. Other artists provide creative sparks too.

The artist community is one EduEly has always been grateful for: to work as a professional artist, to collaborate with other talented artists, to get to spend his days creating. The appreciation and wonder he felt to be a part of it made him want to give back. “I was in a great place financially, doing what I love, building a team, and helping people around me, all thanks to art. When I first got my hands on a drawing tablet, it completely changed my life. So I thought, if that tool could open so many doors for me, maybe I could help others have that same opportunity.”

Where is Let’s Grow today?

“Today, Let’s Grow is officially a nonprofit organization. We’ve donated nearly 300 drawing tablets to [300] new artists…Our main goal is to show people that yes: it is possible to make a living with art.”

Other artists have gotten involved as well. “I reached out to some friends in the industry and started gathering partners. Some of them are also on Redbubble, like Studio Ilustrata, Tobe Fonseca, Vomaria, and Bruno Mota. In the first month, we donated 3 tablets, then 10, then 20, then 42, then 54… and the project just kept growing.”

If you want to get involved, donations are open to the public. They work as a sponsorship system: each tablet goes to an ambitious young artist, and sponsors can donate one, or more tablets. Let’s Grow is also open to the public for applications from young artists, “each edition, we open an application form where artists can share their stories. We read each and every one of them. Since our goal is to support emerging artists with potential, we don’t use technical evaluation criteria. We consider life context, needs, and motivation. We know how much a good tool can transform someone’s creative path. Our mission is to give, so we can grow together.”

What are the next steps for Let’s Grow?

“Now that the nonprofit is officially registered, we’re planning to raise funds to offer courses and workshops in low-income communities across Brazil. We want to keep donating equipment while also helping to train new artists. We’re currently launching a special Christmas edition…And even though we don’t have the final number yet, the goal is to help even more artists by the end of this year.”

If you’re feeling grateful for the role art plays in your life, and have the means, perhaps a great gift this holiday season could be helping a hopeful, young artist. To learn more about Let’s Grow, check out their Instagram @projeto.letsgrow