Abel Garcia: Painting Life’s Canvas with Purpose

In this episode of Spotlight on Good People, meet Abel Garcia – an unstoppable force of creativity and passion. From his roots in Las Cruces to making waves in Dallas and now Naples, Abel’s journey as a muralist, fashion designer, and artist is a testament to resilience, boldness, and heart. With clients like the Dallas Cowboys, Air Jordan, and Jack Daniels, Emmitt Smith Abel doesn’t just color outside the lines—he reinvents the entire canvas.

Join us as Abel shares his powerful story of finding healing and unity through art, his love for community, and his journey from graffiti-inspired beginnings to fine art exhibitions. Plus, discover the mantra that fuels his boundless energy: “Why sleep when you can paint?”

🎁 BONUS: Watch to the end for a special giveaway—because kindness looks better with great hair.

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#SpotlightOnGoodPeople #PodcastClips #InspiringStories #CreativeJourney #AbelGarciaArt #MuralsAndMore #NaplesFL #ArtForHealing #DoGoodFeelGood #KindnessLooksBetter #CommunityMatters #PositiveImpact @abelgarciadesigns #abelgarcia @ropsalons 
https://www.instagram.com/abelgarciadesigns

Transcript

Abel Garcia _ Spotlight on Good People Episode 10

[00:00:00] Hey everyone. Welcome back to the spotlight on good people, where we shine a light on the humans behind the hustle and heart and the goodness of our community. Uh, today's guest is someone who doesn't just color outside the lines. He repaints the whole damn canvas. I love that. Based in Naples, by way of Dallas and Las Cruces.

Abel Garcia is an artist, muralist, fashion designer and full-time force of creative energy with clients like the Dallas Cowboys. I won't hold that against you. I'm an S fan, air Jordan Zone. Justin Taylor, Jack Daniels, and more Abel's work pops up everywhere from luxury high-rises to community murals. To life painting performances.

His motto, why sleep when you can paint? And after talking with him, you'll believe it. Abel, welcome. Thanks. Thank you so much for having me. Yeah, what a blessing to be. No, it's a, it's an honor for, for us to have you. I know. I'm just giddy. I'm seeing all your set up. It's just really professional. Very humble.[00:01:00] 

I love all the cups too. So cool. Yeah, this was, these, these espresso cups were a gift from Zach. Thank you, Zach. My espresso. Those are great. This is my, and this is my pre-workout here. Yep. No, I, I get those for pick me up too. So I live on that. Yeah. And this has a specific intention. It's not because I'm timing you, but I'll tell you about that later.

That's really cool. So, um, it represents, uh,

life in a way. Like we live, like we, um, we live. If, if this was a representation of life, we live like this is our future. Mm-hmm. That's the time we have left. This is our past, which has already happened. It's behind us, it's done. And this is, this is, right now, this is our present. That's really all we have.

But we live, I saw this recently. We live, like, we know what's in this top half when in reality we, we have no idea what's up there. Yeah. We don't know. All we have is that little middle section there and then a memory of the past. So, so we don't [00:02:00] really know, like I live, and I have to remind myself that I don't know that I have that, I don't know, based on my age that I have all that, I have no clue.

That's giving me goosebumps. I live like that. Yeah. Yeah. That's profound. How did you, how did you, I saw a guy on TikTok who's talking about it from many years ago. Wow. He was, he was probably back in the day of, uh, like Carnegie, uh, and, and Napoleon Hill and, and all those old time motivational type, uh, speakers.

Okay. And he was, uh, from that era, and he was just, just pulled out this as a representation. It just, it hit me in a way, like I. Because usually what'll happen is if I have somebody significant in my life who passes mm-hmm. It's a real wake up call for me. It's like, wow. Absolutely. How fin, how finite life is and how quick and short and brief and how every moment really matters.

Yeah. And that's a wake up. But then gradually over time, I go back to, you know, just, well, life. I got plenty of time. I get I I'll tell them I love them the next time I see them I'll uh, [00:03:00] be in the moment next time. But now I have so much going on. I got so much I gotta get done. I, I, I'm really not here. I'm over there.

I'm, I'm thinking about the next 10 things that I gotta do after this. So I'm never really in that moment. 'cause I'm always so scattered. Not, not always, but often I, I am, I find myself and I catch myself. So, so this just. Kinda centers me, like I go, okay, you know what, that's all I got right there. I don't know.

That's great. I cool about any of that. So yeah, that's here, this together and that's what we got. So I go all over the place like that too. That's actually really, really cool. What, what I've understood, I think a little bit of a superpower of like being an artist is like the ability to deconstruct and reconstruct things.

So then you start applying that to your life. Mm. So like if you're a little too busy, it's like, why is that? Am I cultivating that or am I creating that reality for myself? Mm. So you get the ability to kind of step back. It's like, oh, okay, cool. Like what am I, what I am cultivating [00:04:00] as a career or like what's important?

Is it becoming a prison? Is it becoming pleasure or is it too much pain? Like, what am I doing? So I always like have that I'm in the point of my life where like I take a step back for that. Um, but it's naps has allowed me to do that because I was. What you were just describing was me in Dallas. Mm.

Because there was so much, I was like overstimulated. I was working with the Mavs and the Cowboys and Mark Cuban and the Hunt family who owns, uh, the Kansas City Chiefs and FC Dallas. We're just doing all of this crazy stuff. Mm. And it's like, oh, okay, cool. Like I'm living this art life. But then of course, like family passes away and, you know, or the wife needs attention and you're like, oh, I need to take a step back.

Mm. So, so I get it. I understand. I, I like what you said, 'cause it kind of, it sounds to me like you looking at life as a canvas, as a blank canvas. Mm-hmm. And you get to create it the way that you want it. When you step back and you look, look, am I [00:05:00] in a prison? Have I, have I boxed myself in? But, or is the canvas wide open?

Mm-hmm. And looking at it like that. Yeah. That's how I interpret that from what you said. I think that's pretty cool. Yeah. 'cause 'cause I think, uh, well. Questions that I'll have for you about the blank canvas in the process. So the moment you walked in, you, you came in with a certain vibe and a certain energy, and then you brought your artwork with you and it just lit up the whole place.

I watched shy, quiet people on our team light up by looking at it. It just, just changed the expression on their face and changed their day by just seeing what you, what you represent. And that wasn't only the art, but it was who you are behind it too. Just so, just a little bit of time without many words.

You've created an impact here, so it's an honor. We're glad to have you. Yeah, man. Cool. And your hair looks awesome too. Oh, I know. Your, your stylists are phenomenal. My goodness. I was gonna put it back up in a bun. I was like, nah, let me, you gotta let 'em let, I gotta let 'em say, Hey, if you got it, show it, man.

I was like, we'll shine. We'll shine. I was like, they worked wonders here. So, yeah. Looking good. Thanks. Thank [00:06:00] you. Um, what, what was the moment when you knew you were an artist? I. That was probably at six years old. Six years old. I was creative. I was not like everyone else. I was always doodling. Um, you know, yeah.

Even, even when we started going to school and all of that, like I would get in trouble 'cause there was doodles all over my homework, my backpack, my books that I had to turn back in. Um, I was just starting to express myself. So, and was there, uh, some recognition of that, or it just was something you just couldn't stop doing?

Did somebody at one point say, wow, you know, was it mom or somebody in the family who just, not really, it was kind of the opposite, would get like, in trouble for, for doing all of that. Um, and then I remember my grandfather told me the coolest thing in the world. I was about nine years old and I told him I was gonna be a famous artist and instead of saying like, I believe in [00:07:00] you son or anything like that, he just looked at me very stoic and he said, don't tell me, show me.

Hmm. And it never, never left me. And I was like, okay, yeah, that's pretty cool. 'cause it wasn't like, don't do that at all. It was just Okay, show me. Yeah. Yeah. Versus, versus, no, you'll never be, don't do that. Do something. You can make more money. Do it. Yeah. Yeah. That's cool. That's awesome. And you, uh, you did.

Yeah, sure did. Sure did. So what was it? So, so take me through the process of, of, of becoming an artist that can do it for, as a career, you just have to be okay with a lot of rejection. And it's not a bad thing. It's almost like the art world that's like the, the. The toll that you have to pay it across the, the river to the other side.

Mm. You know, um, people are not gonna think your work's relevant until [00:08:00] you hammer your craft. You, you know, you keep going regardless of what people's opinions are. And then on the other side of that, they're like, okay, maybe there is something here. You know? So you just really, really have to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is what you want to do.

Hmm. A real conviction to it. A real commitment to it. All the way, like all the way in. I know that, you know, in growing up in a business that is about art here. The hair industry is, is, is a form of artistry. And the artists that we have in the business, so many of them have, uh, been dissuaded or have been asked and begged and pleaded with, don't do that.

You gotta do something that's more, you know, stable. Something that's gonna give you a 401k, something that's gonna give you health insurance. You gotta do it another way. 'cause that's not, there's no stability in that. But it really takes a level of, um, fortitude to push, like you said, to push through that all the no.

Mm-hmm. [00:09:00] Because there's a lot of No, and you hear a lot of no, don't do that. There's, there's that, there's no, there's no set way. You, you can't, um, uh, just apply somewhere and it's gonna happen. You've gotta, like you said, deal with a lot of, and, and probably even more so because you're in a field that, um, is, is a blank canvas.

There is no roadmap for it. There's no roadmap whatsoever. How did you, in terms of your style, um. Were you, were you formally taught? Was it always just this, something inside you? Well, it was, it was something inside me, but I was introduced to kind of like a raw element of it. I'm obviously a eighties baby, right.

And grew up in the nineties, so I was introduced to old school graffiti, break dancing, the, you know, I always say true hip hop. Yeah. Yeah. Were you a break in wizard? Yes. Yeah. So I joined a crew in Las Cruces. So we weren't getting recognition, we were actually breaking the law. [00:10:00] So, so I come from all of that culture.

Um, and then I merged into college, you know, because in high school I was getting in trouble. We were playing sports and doing everything that me and my friends would do. But then we started getting in trouble with the law, um, because we didn't know that we couldn't write our names on, on businesses and stuff like that.

So I was telling people I was famous or I was an artist before I was like recognized. I was like, okay, cool. Like, I'm gonna put my signature here. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Or do all this. So, um, you know, uh, I had to go in front of a judge and, um, my lawyer got a great, a great, great, um, portfolio for me. And there was a lot of, uh, relevance there.

So my options were I either get in trouble or I go to college. Wait, wait, wait, wait. So so your defense was bring in your artwork Yeah. And let the judge see what you could [00:11:00] do. Mm-hmm. No way. Yeah. That's awesome. So, so I remember like yesterday, so Judge Miller Byrne, uh, she said, Mr. Garcia, I do not understand what I.

What this is, but it's relevant. Like you're showing depth, you're showing perspective, you're showing creativity. Your options either go straight and narrow and go to college and better yourself, or here's your other options. And my other options weren't very nice. So, so I was like, college it is. That's so cool.

I love that. I love that. That was the, the, the defense was what you're good at. It was great. Yeah. That's awesome. Oh, what a great, uh, legal defense, what legal team you had. Yeah, that's, that's great. So, uh, so from there, um, from there I started learning about the masters. So it reaffirmed kind of like my fire about art.

I started learning about Picasso da Vinci. Uh, once I started learning about Andy Warhol [00:12:00] and Jean-Michel Basquiat, I was like, I'm like them. I am like them. And it, that's when I realized their path was just this radical path, but it's doable, you know? So all, all of the language was there. It really, really was.

And I was like, oh, okay. So it is doable. There's proof that you can have humble beginnings, or you can start with this dream or this vision, and you can, you can cultivate it and you can make it work for you, however that looks. Mm-hmm. Once, once I figured out that blueprint, that really inspired me and I was like, I'm not gonna stop.

Like, I really do not care if I sleep on a couch and eat spaghetti oils for the rest of my life as long as I can create. Yeah. That level of passion, that would of love for it. Yeah. It was, that was, that was it. There was no other, I didn't want to do anything else. I didn't wanna, you know, and I, I would try odd in on jobs.

I was like a personal trainer. I was a bartender, I was a waiter. I even unloaded shipping containers at like [00:13:00] four in the morning just to buy. To apply art supplies. Mm-hmm. You know, and I would go paint there in Deep Allen, Texas, you know, um, put my hat on the, on the street and just like, paint for tips, you know?

Oh yeah. Take this for 20 bucks, take this for a hundred bucks. Like, you know, do all of this stuff. Um, just to create, just to kind of live in that creative world. Hmm. Wow. I admire that passion. I admire that, that dedication to it, to do just whatever it took. Yeah. With such humility. Yeah. Just there was no, no ego.

There's never, still any ego right now. Like, I will work with anyone. I will have a conversation with anyone. Like if we can get some art in your hands, like, it, it really, that's really all that matters. So I know you also do, you do live work. Mm-hmm. So you actually, uh, go to an event Yep. And you create a piece at the event in front of people while people are looking at you and watching you.

Mm-hmm. Um, no. Fear concern? No, [00:14:00] I mean, what goes on in your mind when you got people looking at you with the pressure to do something and I wanna like it, I had a, I had a lot of training, uh, believe it or not, I was extremely insecure about focusing on my art for a long time. And that was more like an internal struggle of like, always thinking you're not good enough.

Um, thankfully, um, I used to paint for free for about like seven years, um, in Plano, Texas at River of Glory for the worship team. Um, they would let me just paint and perform and kind of paint prophetically in front of, you know, in front of all the, all the people at church. And you only had a lot, uh, allotment of time.

So that, that kind of like got the jitters out of me. Mm-hmm. And then, um, from there it was just like natural all the time. I would just paint for eight hours, nine hours, you know, in my studio. Like I would forget time. Existed, so, so now every experience, whether it's in front of a hundred thousand people, 30,000 [00:15:00] people, 40 people, 50 people, it just feels like I'm in my studio.

Wow. They're almost not even there. Do you, do you lose, do you just become part of the pro? So, so it's almost like the, the everything else disappears and you're just so present with the, with what you're creating. Is that the experience, what it's like for you? So just you Yeah. You kind of like zone you and the canvas.

Yeah. Yeah. You kind of just like zone in. Mm-hmm. So every, everything kind of dies out. You're not even aware that anyone's watching you. Mm-hmm. Because you do it so much, you're either sketching or painting or kind of freestyling yourself. So, yeah. So it's just like you're constantly doing that and it's re reaffirmation too, that you're doing what you're designed to do.

Yeah. I truly believe that I was born to create. Love that we, we've gotta collab, we gotta create some excitement around. That's where the magic happens. Yeah. And going into summer especially, it's a good time for the locals to agreed sort of get out and see something different. We can create that, uh, some fun events in our salons in the evenings and generate some [00:16:00] excitement and passion around fun.

Agreed. Cool. Um, how has your work evolved? 'cause as you look back on your career, how has it evolved and what do you see as different now than placement? Placement has a lot to do with your work. Like if you don't think it does, it really, really does. So. Coming from Las Cruces, New Mexico, you're inspired by the mountains.

Of course. I grew up in the sugar skull culture, like the Illa Los MUTOs. Like just being influenced by your, what is that? What is that? The Day of the Dead. So like, you know, the movie Disney Cocoa, right? It's, it's very relevant now. Okay. That like, I live that, that's okay. Before it was popular. Yeah. Like that's everyday occurrence.

Right. Okay. Um, native Americans, you know, they're very spiritual, you know? Um, so just being ERs in that you live that kind of life. I would equate it to someone almost who's like from Venice, [00:17:00] before Venice got popular, right? So like, if they're from Dogtown, they live a certain way, they're influenced and inspired by a certain way, almost the same way that you are here in Naples.

People in Naples do things a different way, especially if you're local. The locals value different things versus people who are transplants from Naples, right? Mm-hmm. So it's very, very interesting. Um, so going to the big city, I was exposed to a lot more and then I, I got to link up with my heroes, so I got to paint for Emmett Smith.

So that's one of my heroes there. Wow. He's a gator boy. Yeah. Yeah. So he is just such a class act. Oh, he is. Wow. And just like painting for your heroes and your work just evolves. You know, one of my buddies too, who's running Nike, he would always call, call me and just like speak words of affirmation into me.

He's like, Hey, I'm with all of these designers up here and your stuff's just as good as theirs. Like, I believe in you. And I was like, wow, that's all I needed to hear. And then on top of that, [00:18:00] he had a Nike paint suit made for me. So he is like, you should perform in this. And I was like, way cool. Absolutely.

100%. So just those experiences and being placed in different environments, it will change your art. Like something, something really happens. And then now. Now that I go to the beach every day, you know, I work out at three 30 in the morning. I get my workout done, you know, pray, then go and chill out there.

Wait, 3:30 AM Yeah. Daily. Yeah. So I was at the gym this morning. So you go to bed nonstop? Uh, sometimes I'll go to bed, like at one. Sometimes I'll go to bed at 12. Sometimes I'll just stay up all night. So it's just, you could do that. And it be, I just, I've been doing it forever. Like, I try to take care of myself the best that I can.

I mean, you look rested, you don't look like you got bags under your eyes or like, you need to go take a nap for a week. Yeah, I just take my career very seriously. I love what I do. When is your, uh, time of day where you're in the [00:19:00] zone? Is there a time of day, morning, evening, late night? What is there? It's usually early morning or super late at night going into the morning because the world stands still, you know, so like, like I can just feel it like within like my soul.

How the world's moving and you know, it's just hustle and bustle or like this, that, the other regular hours, but like, when it starts to get real still and nothing else is going on. Yeah. That's when I start to go to work. That's when I start to really, really plug in. Hmm. No distractions. The world is still, it's quiet.

Yeah, it's quiet. There's nothing else to worry about. It's just like, it's just me and the canvas. It's, it's really rad. Yeah. You go to the beach daily. Yeah. That's something that always, uh, bothers me that I live in this paradise and I just don't get there enough. You know? I just, and when I go, I'm like, why don't I come here more?

This is the most beautiful place in the world. Yeah. It's like it there more, it's so powerful and it's so [00:20:00] healing and it just, it reminds me of home too. Uh, Las Cruceta, New Mexico obviously doesn't have a beach, but, um, they have, uh, mountains that surround it and like. You always know when you're gonna get your soul full, when I see the mountains and stuff like that.

Mm-hmm. But for a long time I would, I would do the same thing. I really didn't take advantage of the mountains as much Yeah. Until I was taken away from 'em. Then I was like, oh, wow. Yeah. Like it's really a magical place to grow up. Yeah. And kind of be around visually visual overload for sure. Sure. Yeah. And that and nature nourishes your soul.

Yep. It gives you what you need to, it speaks to you in ways that, that humans can't. Yeah. Hugh, uh, shared with me, I don't even know if we were rolling at the time about, um, about the types of art or the other artists. Um, QQ, are we talking about cubes and Yes, we're talking about [00:21:00] cubism, analytical and synthetic cubism by Georges Brock and Pablo Picasso.

Yes. Which is. Uh, a, a form of art. What would you call it? Like, it is, it is a style. So it's a language. I think the most powerful thing that we have to like analyze is, um, they were growing up in the high Renaissance, right? So when, like you, it's, it's the same way in the art realm as it is, like in success in anything else.

Um, you see one artist who's very authentic and he does it phenomenal. And the best form of flattering is a bunch of artists try and either outdo him or they copy him or, or her. It's human nature. What blows my mind is when everyone's doing this, or almost like, okay, it needs to look like this. There's that one person who's like, Hey, let's create like this.

So they, they want to go a completely different [00:22:00] route. So like he can, he can paint Hyperrealistic, who's that? Picasso Pica. So he's trained, he's classically trained so he can make, he can make his art look a certain way. He can paint a portrait and look identical to that person. He's got that skill and he just went a completely different route.

And so he went against the grain, disrupted the whole and now world, that stuff's worth millions. Mm. Just out of like, okay, like everyone's cultivating this way, this is relevant. And he opened, he like almost kicked open the door for people to almost express themselves that maybe didn't wanna express themselves that way.

So I really, really, really respect that and I really enjoy learning things like that. So what is it that has a artwork live on for centuries? Like it just, uh. [00:23:00] And become so timeless. I truly believe it's the lifestyle. I truly believe the, the person, the core of a person, uh, they have, they have a little bit of everything, right?

They have, they're, they're a little kooky. They're a little bit different. They have a wonderful heart, and they're just really submersed in their work. It, it doesn't matter what's going on around the world. Like they process information differently and, and they understand the scenario of the world, right?

They understand they still need to pay bills. There's heartbreak. They understand maybe even sacrificing not having kids for their art. You know, there's just all these scenarios that they understand, but somehow they still create, they still cultivate, they still gave the world the best of what they wanted to produce.

And I just really, that blows my mind. And I get really obsessive. Awesome. I gotta go back to Emmett for a minute because, because [00:24:00] yeah, of course. How'd that happen? So, I mean, placement and like I said, li lifestyle aspect is very interesting. Um, I was bartending at the time at Raw Sushi, so I was still cultivating my language.

I was living in a 800 square foot apartment in North Dallas, and uh, it was kind of like a bet. I had some mega real estate clients who were like Booz Hound. So I was serving their drink and hey, they said, you're an artist. Like, are you a good artist? You know, like that conversation. So it's so funny. I was like, yeah, I am.

Okay, well do you want to paint for the Cowboys? And I was like, yeah, can you do this? Of course. So, um, they asked me to paint a portrait of him, so I ended up painting three. I. We were raising money for his nonprofit. Uh, he let me keep, uh, one of 'em, and then we sold the other two for 30 grand a pop. Um, so there's one in my brother's insurance office there in Allen, Texas, or [00:25:00] Lucas, Texas.

Uh, but he was just such a class act. And from there the door got kicked open that more cowboys started asking for me. And then I kind, after a while, I kind of didn't have to be in the service industry anymore and started really like Dallas, really started responding a lot to my art. And it was just almost like a perfect storm, but like, I had to be in the mix.

You know, I was in the bar scene, I was with the people who had money to Yeah, yeah. To drink and stuff like that. Yeah. And so it was really, really interesting. But from there, it just, you know, it was the snowball effect. You know, Jay Nova, check. Um, painted for him and his nonprofit, Kenny Gantt, Michael Irvin.

It was just, just all these really cool people. What's it like working with a celebrity or an athlete like that? At first I was always, well, I'm always gonna get giddy, so if I, if I love your work or like, I love what you do, or like, I grew up, [00:26:00] I'm gonna let you know, I'm not gonna be too cool for school.

Like, I'm gonna be like, oh my God, can you take a pic selfie with me, sign my hat, dude. Like, here, take my Jordan. Can you sign my Jordan? Like, I was like, yeah, that's like, so I'm, I'm just like that. So I give people their flowers regardless of like, dude, like I sure you hear this all the time. Um, you can't hold it in.

You just, you love em. You're like the shit, man. Yeah. Like, I, I just really am, um, I think I get like, even crazier when I meet, um, artists that I really, really like. Like if you do your research on a artist named Stash. He's done multiple shoes with Nike. Awesome, awesome. Graffiti artist, old school artist from the eighties.

He's best friends with Cause just, he is just like, he's like a piece of Americana history. Right. Um, I get obsessed with him. Um, Matt Ste out and And you've met him before? Yes. Yeah. Yes, multiple times. Oh, cool. I have [00:27:00] books, I have shoes, I have signatures All Matt Steves, um, he painted Chris Brown's house and he is a wonderful, wonderful graffiti artist.

I'm just obsessed with him. He's actually partially colorblind too. Um, I met him at a complex con and he was painting the 18, the the gah 1800 booth. And I was just like, yeah. Yeah. So I get, I get super obsessed with people who just execute at that level and because I understand what they're doing. Would your work be called graffiti art?

Uh. Not necessarily, uh, what, what is graffiti could tell me the differences. Yeah. Graffiti are, um, they are, graffiti artists are very trained, so they do stay in their lane. I, I would say my arts are graffiti inspired. Okay. Um, but traditional graffiti artists, they stick to the elements of graffiti. So they stick to wild style bombing graphene.[00:28:00] 

You know, they, they take pride in their discipline of, of executing spray crayons a certain way for the aesthetic to look a certain way. Okay. So it's not necessarily graffiti art. Okay. Um, I would say it's fine art with a graffiti flare. Okay. What, how do you choose colors? How do you, what, what's your color world come from?

The more color, the better. Um, I love pops of color. I love the juxtaposition of certain things. Um, so we can dissect the, the painting a little bit. These are things that I've been writing and doodling in the background for a while. Of course, your bubble letters, um, million dollar vandal, you know, it's just a juxtapose, right?

How can you be a vandal, a millionaire vandal, right? Um, of course, like heavy branding, the Fendi branding logo. Um, if you see the lady in this graphic style, it's like a homage to Roy Lichtenstein, right? So he's the, a godfather of [00:29:00] pop art, love, love, love that aspect. And then, you know, trial and error too.

My, my signature's hidden in the back. So you'll see CIA like Abel Garcia, you know, and then of course we're, we're dabbling with a little bit of the iridescent, uh, paint, so you're gonna see a shim to it. So just influence from different, different like disciplines. You know, I found iridescent paint, uh, with, with Nike shoes.

They use them a lot, but also car paint too, so. Um, I just kind of sample from every world that inspires me. Hmm. There's so much more to that than I, I realized when you, when you went over that with me, I thought, wow, have I, I, and I see it a whole new way now that you just kind of gave me what's there. And I always, I always dabble in a concept too, like, have you ever been to New York?

Mm-hmm. Okay. So like for me, going to New York, it almost seems like a movie set, but like, they live in real life, right? You can [00:30:00] turn any corner and it's like a brick wall and you see staircases, and of course you see graffiti. So I was like, I was asking myself like, what if you could just take a piece of the wall and frame it?

Like, what if you could physically take it and frame it? And that's kind of like what I came up with in this concept. It was like, this would look like it would be on a brick wall. Mm-hmm. Right? So I just, I was like, those things are so, so interesting to me. They're super, super interesting. So does the vibe of a city or a town influence your work?

Yes, yes. I'm very like sensitive to to, to energy in a sense. So New York's gonna have a different flare than Turkey. You know, I've been in Istanbul and it's completely different. Mm. Um, so it just really depends. Miami's completely different. Yeah. You know, if you go to Austin night and day from San Antonio, Texas.

Is it? Yeah. It's super rad though. It's super, [00:31:00] super cool. Yeah. So, yeah. What is Naples? Naples, I'm still figuring out what's really cool, like we talked about earlier. Is locals value things different than people who have like placed here? Like have been placed here? Yeah. Um, so I know Naples has an identity, um, but I think it needs to be cultivated a little bit more.

Like, you probably should see heavy branding of Naples and Naples slogans on t-shirts and fishing shirts and stuff like that. Like really cool. Um, there should be really cool concepts where someone should develop like a manatee purse that's high end and half of the proceed proceeds should go back to the manatee, um, you know, to raise money.

So like little concepts like that. I don't understand why people are not doing that. Yeah, yeah. So tho those are things where sometimes the identity needs to be cultivated a little bit more, or it needs to be, um, [00:32:00] I guess talked about more. Yeah, because it definitely, it definitely has a vibe here. Naples is definitely a vibe.

Yeah. And it's really, really cool. Yeah. It, yeah. Yeah. We, it's a special place. It is. It's super special. Unique and special. Yeah. Well, how'd you get? I. From where you were to here, how'd you end up in Naples? My, my wife was the, the one of the top wedding planners in Dallas and event planners. So, um, she kind of introduced me to, you know, showmanship performance, um, high execution business, um, catering to clients, all of that.

She sold her business and, um, they, they reached out to her. Also, Seafair yachts at the time reached out for her, and the, the headquarters is here, so we, that's what she wanted to do. So we moved out here. We Wow. Uprooted our life in Dallas, 15 years there. And yeah, we came down here and that's a big deal.

That's a big move. Yeah, it was, it was [00:33:00] wild at first. It was wild. 'cause we really don't know anybody. It is just me and her out here, so, yeah. But I like, I like those odds. She's all I need. So yeah. That's cool. That's cool. And I love her very much and I'm so proud of her and just always wanna support her.

And now she's linked up with the Marissa's, uh, on Third Street. Of course. Of course she is. So she's an institution here. Yeah. That's awesome. So she is just loving what she does. She's in luxury sales and luxury design, and she's just happy as a clam doing that. Awesome. And she's always just been phenomenal at what she does.

So, so your family is where, uh, some of my family is in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The majority of 'em are there. And then her family, my in-laws are all in like Plano, Texas. Okay. But what's pretty cool is originally, uh, her dad's side is from Florida. Oh, really? Yeah. It went that way. Yeah. Okay. So I, so I, so we do have family in Tampa, so we're not like.

Super, super alone if, you know, we'll go link up with our family in [00:34:00] Tampa, but, but it's almost like Florida wanted her back in a sense. Yeah. Yeah. So it's kind of cool. So it's kind of full, full circle. What do you miss the most of home? Mm. I miss my brother, like my brother's in, in, uh, Allen, Texas. So he's my best friend.

Um, he is like a mentor to me and a hero to me, you know? So it's just, um, having access to him and having access to my people too. I miss my in-laws and I miss, you know, I'm, I am a family oriented person, but I also know that my destiny requires me to do certain things in order for me to flourish and stuff.

So like, that's kind of like the double-edged sword. You can't kind of have both. Um, so those aspects, like, I, I miss that aspect a lot. You have a good relationship with your in-laws. Yes. Yes. I love them. They're very supportive. Yeah. Um, they're a tight unit. Um, they love each other. And I was just supportive of everyone too.

Like, I think what was really radical is, um, every Christmas or [00:35:00] birthday, they would just get me a bunch of, um, art supplies. So canvases, they would just reinvest in my business and stuff. And I was like, that is so helpful. Like, so they just support all of their, their sons and daughters, their cousins, their siblings, their son-in-laws, and daughter-in-laws by marriage.

They just support whatever they're passionate about. So it was very interesting. I'm very humble and thankful for them. How would your, what's your wife's name? Rachel. How would Rachel describe you? Uh, that I'm the, the, the hottest dude on the planet. She better, or at least in my head, I think, uh, I, I don't, that's a great question.

Um, I, I don't know. I, I don't think I've ever asked her. Like, I always like to. To, to give her the business and stuff like that. But she would just, I would imagine she would say that I, I'm the love of her life and she's the love of her life. So, yeah. Your mom is in Las Cruces? Yes. Yes. What's her name? Becky.

[00:36:00] Becky or Blanco? Yeah. Becky Ordonez Blanco. Yeah. And, uh, how would she describe you? Uh, she, she would just say Abel is Abel. That's my, that's my son. Two. Two siblings or, or one sibling? Just you and your brother? Yeah. Yes. And he's older? Yeah. Okay. So you're the baby of the family? Yeah, I'm the baby. And Abel is Abel what you'd say?

Yeah, that's, I've always been different, so she's like, oh, yeah. Is there a food that you miss from back home? Uh, yes. If you go to Las Cruces, New Mexico, and if you disagree with me, like, I guess we're fighting, but I am convinced that that new Mexican food is. It's better than original Mexican food because of the way it's prepared.

Every family knows how to make it. And there's specific red and green chili there that the Native Americans have cultivated there that is hotter than original Mexican [00:37:00] food. So it's prepared completely different. So the ideal dish is a green enchilada. They're, they're all flat beans and rice with an egg on top.

Phenomenal. And what, what is that called in Spanish? It's just enchiladas. Enchilada. Yeah. Vos. Yeah. Okay. So the, so the green, uh, sauce. Mm-hmm. Is that hot? It is hot. Hot, hot. Yes. It's gonna turn you red. Yeah, it's gonna, okay. Okay. And, and they always say in New Mexico it's Christmas year round. So, uh, they're known for enchiladas doing red and green chili, so they're smothered like red and green like Christmas.

So, okay. Yeah. So you can get that, that style. I didn't realize it was a regional difference in, in big time. Really big time. Big time. So like in deep Mexico, depending on where you're placed at, right. They don't serve tacos with, um, uh, cilantro and savoia, like onions and cilantro. Like that's a deep Mexico thing that, that's not served there in New Mexico.

No, it's not. [00:38:00] Okay. Yeah. And a, a higher heat. More heat over there. Yeah. Is there anywhere here that you found that's close? Yes. There's a, a taco spot on Bayshore, um, off of Bayshore and Airport. Oh man, I forgot what it was called, but it is, it is pretty good. There's, they have three different types and they only serve, um, Casillas and uh, and tacos and they are phenomenal.

The shrimp and then the B steak is phenomenal. Uh, good stuff. Very good. Very good. So, yeah. Have you been to Im Makaley? Yes, I have. Um, have you been to Candela? It used to be Los Santa. That place is pretty good too. Yeah, they have a habanero salsa there. Watch out, man. That one's pretty good. I'm gonna have to put these on my list.

Yeah. Good. Yeah. And they have like a little robot that brings you your ticket and stuff that, yeah. That's pretty rad.

Does your wife cook? Uh, yeah, she cooks a lot of pasta, a lot of like, [00:39:00] uh, and she's vegetarian too, so she's a hippie. She's more of a hippie than I am, so. Okay. But you eat meat Of course. Carnivore. Of course. I to, I couldn't give it up either. I have to get the protein out, man. And, uh, so you get your workout done first thing in the morning.

Yep. Um, and that's a part of your regimen for life. Yes. Yes. I think I'm just a fitness enthusiast for life. Um, I think taking care of yourself is, is something that's very high priority, you know, mentally, physically, and spiritually. I think it's super, super important because it cultivates the ve the best version of yourself.

Yeah. Couldn't agree more. Yeah. It's my drug. It's the one drug that I, I need. It's, yeah. Yeah. And society teaches against that. Yeah. Yeah. It really, really does. So, yeah. In every way. Yeah. Yeah. Like, society wants you comfortable, it wants you docile. Yeah. You know, you gotta be very, very much aware of, you know.

'cause you, you are almost like a, a say like, people are tuning forks. They're like [00:40:00] batteries. They're like magnets. You know? So like, you gotta charge yourself with what? Yeah. You know, you have a lot to offer the world, you know? Yeah. There's only one of you. Yeah. Yeah. That's all we have. You're, we get, you're one, you're one of one, one shot.

Right? You're one of one. So, yeah. What do you, you ever hit a wall or a place where you just, you're not inspired by you, you can't get going. And if you do, what do you do to get yourself outta that? I, I pray, you know, I pray and I just, I kind of get really steal, you know, I really good steal. So there's certain, there's certain things that, that life's gonna happen.

Um, so like last year, uh, buried my grandfather, um, my, my best friend brother got injured. Reduced to a wheelchair. My other best friend passed away and we just lost our dog, you know, so life's gonna happen regardless, you know? So it's [00:41:00] just, it's, it's really getting steel, um, almost kind of just taking a step back and then just realizing like where God has taken you, you know, and, and just being grateful in every, every scenario, like instead of experiencing loss.

And yes, you're gonna go through grief and all that, but like, be grateful that you had this person for this long, and you got to experience so many good times. The good times are always spread throughout your life, lifetime. The yucky stuff only happens for a little bit. So you really have to adjust the perspective.

You really, really do. And that's really allowed me to kind of break, break through that. And I allow, I allow all, all the emotions to be processed. I don't like reject 'em. I'm just like, okay. Like if I am feeling sad in Spanish, I just, yeah. Yeah. Get, sometimes I get [00:42:00] if I miss home or I miss my parents. Right.

Um, but you let it pass through you. You let it pass through you and you don't let it rule you. You know, you're human. You're designed to experience all of these emotions, not just joy and gratitude like you're designed to, how do you process grief? How do you process hurt? Like how do you process depression or melancholy?

You know what I mean? And just know that it's a season or a phase and it will pass. You do a lot of work with not for profits. Yes. A lot of community work. Um, yes. Yes. Why and why do you do that? Well, I mean, I've lived this radical art life and it, it's, I don't want anyone to ever think that, oh, I'm just this dynamic person who, like, I've done it all myself.

There is so many people who have invested in me, whether they're buying art pieces or they're speaking words of affirmation over me, or they're letting me stay on their couch, [00:43:00] or, you know, all the above. Um, that means the world to me. And the only way I know how to pay it forward is to help people that can't help themselves.

So if I can generate 30 grand for a family that's, um, suffering from cancer, that's the least I can do. You know, like if soldiers go to war and all that stuff, if we can cultivate 80 grand for them, like that's the. That's nothing. My brother served in the military. Is that right? Yeah. Like he was an army ranger.

Airborne. Yeah. He jumped into Afghanistan after nine 11. You know, God bless him. Like that's the, that's the only way I can say thank you to my brother. Yeah. Because like, I never understand and I probably don't wanna understand what he's experienced. 'cause like we don't even talk about it. You know? My What's your, what's your brother's name?

Robert Garcia. He's Robert. That's my good name. My, my, my grandfather served and he was in Germany and then my, my dad was in Vietnam, you [00:44:00] know, and like, they never talk about that stuff. And it is just like, I. Man, I wish you could talk about her. I wish you could go through healing, but, you know, so that's, that's kind of how I pay it forward.

Yeah. You know, so the Garcia family, thank you for your service. Really? No joke, Robert. Thank you. Wow. And you just, and you get to meet amazing people and like, their victory becomes your victory. And like their heartbreak kind of becomes their, your heartbreak. You know, like when you're around people who, they're still standing and they've lost their wife, or they've lost their daughter and they're still here existing and they're radiating joy and love, like, you're like, that does something to you.

I'm just painting art. Like, look at what they're walking through. You know what I mean? Mm-hmm. So it's just like, it's an honor to come alongside people like that and be like, Hey, I don't know you, but I see you and I'm trying to understand and let's, let's get this together. You know, let's do this together.

And that's, you know, that's at the core of me. Like, we're, we're [00:45:00] givers and we wanna. We definitely want to make this world better than, than we found it. Mm. Beautiful. Yeah. That's really cool. So me and my wife are, are big into that. Yeah. I, um, it, it seems to be a, a theme for you that you're, you're giving you, we talked about the, um, the Vegas trip, uh, going out to the Cosmopolitan and doing work for the, for the people out there.

Yeah. There's art out there and we usually do the one in Dallas too. The, the one in Dallas is huge as well. Um, it was at the Dallas Cowboy Practice, uh, facility. So like you have the big, you have Roger Gal there, you have Jay Glaser, you have, uh, the Dallas Cowboys coach. You have all the players there. You have Randy Couture, um, and then you have Medal, medal of Honor winners, like Purple Heart winners and stuff like that.

Wow. So it, so it's just all of this stuff and they're all there for the same reason. They're all there because like they understand. They want to help each other [00:46:00] and, um, they wanna collectively do it together. So it, it's just this magical experience and I, I feel very honored and blessed to kind of be this artist that I'm in position to do this.

And that supports the, uh, the, the former NFL players? Yes. Merging vets and players. So, um, they are, unfortunately, they are committing suicide, like at an accelerated rate because like there's, you know, once there's, there's no, um, programs to get them to get acclimated to society or be like, okay, you're, you're always a soldier, but you're not, you know, like you're, you're not in wartime anymore and you might have a chemical imbalance.

You might be alone or isolated. You might go through all of these things. So. They're, they're pushing to, to get more and more, you know, medicine, counseling, all the above because like these guys do experience some radical stuff. Hmm. And there was a show in, [00:47:00] uh, the Cosmopolitan in, in Vegas, or there was an event out there?

Yes, there was an event in Vegas. And then, um, I I, um, I have done the ones in Dallas too, because I was 15 years in Dallas. So like, there, so like what's beautiful about 'em too is like, there's different chapters opening up. So there's also one in Jacksonville. Oh, great. So hopefully, hopefully God will one in Naples wool we will open up.

Maybe we'll find out. Yeah. But Well, that'd be beautiful. That'd be awesome. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's really very great. I'll support that. Yeah, that'd be great. Any, any way we can help. Yeah. This is one I've been thinking about. Um, how do you see art as a tool for healing and unity? Wow, that is really cool.

There's multiple aspects, right? Um, art communicates to the soul and the subconscious. So sometimes it talks without even talking. We can only communicate so much [00:48:00] through, through verbal action. So I think it's a very important, and it really depends on the agenda as well. Um, back in Dallas, I used to paint for a, an organization, it's called the Warren Center.

So they, they raise funds for autism, but also to like, um, learning deficiencies within children. What's really heartbreaking about it though, is, uh, they don't have a lot of funding through the government because it's such a small percentage of children and, um, it's in, in lower areas, lower income areas.

So, uh, the Warren Center was developed and it covers all of North Dallas and Midc Cities Dallas. And they provide free, free care for any children in counseling for the parents to let the parents understand that there's nothing really wrong with their child, that they just have a learning deficiency. So like the, the parents get acclimated, um, [00:49:00] to understanding their, their child a little bit more.

Um, because if they don't get that, how that usually breaks up the family, like studies and statist sta um, statistics have shown that, that they're affected by it. Like, that they think that like they did something wrong versus like educating themselves in that aspect. So I've been able to paint with these wonderful kids, you know, and they might have depth perception aspects where they no touching or anything like that.

So I've seen extreme breakthrough. When cultivating pieces with them and like them facing their fears and all of that. And of course the counselors are there helping them as well. So, yeah. So it's, it's pretty powerful. And like you see a lot of the parents crying or like, you know what I mean, because they've never seen their, their child experience something like that.

So it's extremely powerful. So art plays a very significant role in healing. Uh, it is therapeutic. And [00:50:00] even if you're not creative, I am convinced that everyone is creative and they just, whatever level you're at, you really just have to be graceful with yourself. But, um, it is very therapeutic to create, to color, to sing, to cultivate music, to sculpt, to dance, like it's a form of expression.

Mm. So I encourage everyone to try it. Yeah. Yeah. That's cool. I, I just taken that in to. I've always had that. I'm, I'm not an artist. The world's convinced you, you know what I mean? But innovation and creativity is, is is something that's very divine and it's in everybody. It is literally in everybody. What is your, uh, studio Like?

What, what's the, what's the music playing? What's the lighting like? What's it like in the world of the studio? I have really bright lighting so I can see everything. Um, but, um, it's pretty messy, man. Like, there's just stuff [00:51:00] everywhere. But I do know where everything's at and it's just, I would say it's like being on the inside of my brain.

So like all of the walls have like plastic and like loose canvas around it. So like when I have, I clean my brushes on the wall, you know, some people will buy my, you know, that loose, loose canvas and stuff like that. They don't want anything that's like, I. You know, like super, you know, iconic or anything like that.

They just want my back layers and stuff. And they just, they're like, oh, it looks beautiful. So I kind of just like vandalizing the all the walls and stuff like that. Um, and then I, of course I have my easels everywhere. Uh, the jams go all over the place, so I listen to, uh, you're gonna laugh. Um, so it probably will start with the Bee Gees, and then we'll go into George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic.

Oh, you got some taste brother. I like it. Oh, that's awesome. And then we'll like, we'll switch to like Elton John, [00:52:00] and then like, somehow Adele gets in there. Then some old school hip hop, like Biggie Smalls and Tupac will peek out there. Love it. And then like Garth Brooks will randomly play, and then a little bit of like mbia music from La Las Cruces.

Will Mbia Yeah. Will pop up and stuff like that. So we're literally all over the place, like, but. I, I think I have more of like an emotional connection to those songs. Yeah. That are, that memories are associated with. So like that's, so that kind of like, like brings me a lot of joy versus like, oh, I need to listen to a specific George Clinton, where's that come from?

You know? I know it's random. No, it's cool though. It's cool. You know, you still hear it. It's all over the place, you know, like I, you know, temper trap and then we'll temper trap. Yeah, of course. Dude. Oh, I love that. Cool Over man. Don't have many people who have brought them up. I love that group. I love that people, I started listening to people.

We all over the place. That's, it's kind of cool. Yeah. Just bite out. [00:53:00] Wow. I can only imagine. It'd be so cool to see your studio. You say it's like a, a visual of the inside of your brain. How cool that must be to see. Yeah. I'll send you pictures and all that. I would love that. That's really bad. Awesome. And then I have a studio in Dallas too.

So like when, when my clients fly me out there and when I go and show out there. Um, I just have stuff I create there. And then in Las Cruces too, I do a lot of like non-profit stuff in Las Cruces as well and just really want to like, give back to my community my, you know, where I'm from. So, so any, any time I have an opportunity to do that, like I squeeze in family time and create a bunch of fun stuff out there as well.

Speaking of your community and home and, and what brought you up in the world, what would you say to a young person in that community if, if they want it to be in the world of art? Yeah, I would just say believe in yourself more than anything else. And, um, [00:54:00] everyone started out as a beginner. Everyone starts out as a beginner.

No one's the best at anything from the start, worry, just worry about getting better, worry about, um, just hammering your, your crap. Like that's really all it is. It's just day in and day out, you know, where your attention flows, everything will go there, you know, so I always say, um, people ask me like, I wanna be, I wanna be an artist like you.

And I was like, okay, cool. Like, I was like, you gotta put on these Jordans. I was like, you gotta be okay with having paint all over you. Like, you know, you're not gonna really have a lot of nice stuff. It's gonna be covered in paint. So if you're okay with that, you know, when, when everyone else is socializing or working, you're, you're gonna drift off and go create, you know, when everyone's catching a game, you're painting.

When everyone's celebrating Easter, you're painting, you know, when everyone's asleep or relaxing your paintings. [00:55:00] Like that's, that's the life I live. Mm-hmm. If you could go back to your 10-year-old self, is there anything you would say to, to you? Um, yeah. I would just say be graceful with yourself. Be graceful with yourself.

You're learning. Cool. Yeah, I got some just for fun. Alright. Uh, your coffee order? Coffee order? Yeah. Uh, ooh. Um, uh, double cappuccino, double cap. Yeah. Okay. Uh, any books or podcasts that you love? I love the Joe Rogan experience. Mm-hmm. It's phenomenal. Yeah. Neville Godder is phenomenal as well too. Um, what's that one about?

Neville Godder is about, um, almost like energy and manifesting and kind of like understanding, you know, the ways of God. Um, so [00:56:00] that's phenomenal. I like, uh, et the hip hop preacher, he's phenomenal as well too. Um, anything And, and what is that? Is it, is it, is that musical or what? What's that? No, no. He's a podcaster.

So he, uh, Eric Thomas. So he, I think he won the crown of the number one. I. Motivational speaker. Um, and he's just started with such humble beginnings. He was, um, homeless for a while, and I don't think I told you about that, but like in Dallas, I used to live in my car before I started, you know, cultivating my career and stuff like that.

Mm-hmm. Um, so, you know, my spirit bears witness with what he's done and he's got himself, his doctorates, you know, and now he's, you know, like his mentors are like Les Brown. Yeah. Um, and then he, he mentored Inky Johnson too. And Inky Johnson's um, story is pretty powerful as well. Um, so I I just, to a lot of people who, who come from [00:57:00] like unreasonable circumstances and they're in a completely different like place in their life and it's just, to me, it's just so beautiful and it's so powerful and.

Again, like I told you earlier, like, it's just doable. You see these people doing it, and I'm like, okay, cool. Like, it's doable. Like we're all humans and we're all capable of doing that. Mm mm I gotta check those out. Yeah. Always. Like, I'll send you those links. They're good. That'd be great. They're good stuff.

Yeah. If you weren't an artist, what do you think you'd be doing today? That is a great question. I would either be really obsessed in the martial arts or I would want to get into acting. Acting. Why? I don't know, man. Like, um, I just think like the way that they can activate the emotion in a certain way. Mm.

Like, I think, I [00:58:00] think I really understand those, those depths. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. A little bit. So with, with training and stuff like that. Mm-hmm. And plus I look like a character. Right. So true. Yeah. Yeah. I'd be a good like, background dude who gets like killed in season two or something like that. No, not, not the main, not the main lead bro.

Just like, yeah. Then they bring you back in flashbacks for you. Yeah. 'cause I always tell my, I always tell my wife, like, I always tell her all the time, like, I don't know if you've, you guys have watched like Goodfellows and The Sopranos. I'm like, of course. Yeah. Look at Greatest all these guys. I was like, these guys are in Hollywood and they.

Like, no disrespect, but they kind of look like gremlins, you know? Like they're not there. Some characters on there. Exactly. They're not attractive people, you know? But like, I was like, dude, they're working, they're doing it, man. I was like, they're so unique looking. And I'm like, wow. I was like, yeah, I kind of look like a character.

So, yeah. Yeah. You can still that bill be a shoe in there. Uh, we start doing any sketches or any, any little, uh, [00:59:00] you know, um, episodes of something crazy. We gotta character. Just the role we fill you in. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Easy breezy. Yeah. I'll be in the background. It's just like, you want me gimme a mean look or something.

Yeah. It's like perfect. But yeah, that stay tuned. Yeah. That was always, that was always it, man. Like, outside of that, no. Or, or something. Like something in sculpt sculpture, you know, something creative man. Yeah. You know, I think also too, like probably building hot rods would be really cool too. Working on cars and stuff, like what's your favorite car?

Uh, the one my dad built. So he taught himself, we call him the Mexican Superman. Right. He taught, he built his own house. Mexican Superman, right? Yeah. He built his own house. He knows how to well, like, you know, it's like a man, man, right. He is hombre, right. Um, hombre. So he got this wild idea and he bought a 1929 Buick Marquee.

19 what? [01:00:00] 29? 29. So it kind of looks like a, like a coup, like a, like a ford coup. Um, he chopped, he learned how to weld, so he chopped, and it was a rust bucket. I think he took him like 12 years. He would just work, you know, for a while and then like leave it alone, stuff like that. But he taught himself how to paint the car.

He sanded everything down. He taught himself how to sew. He did the engineering for, you know, the chassis, all of it, the brake pads. All the above. He installed the electricity in it, he painted it canary yellow, uh, the clear coats glass. He put headers on it. It is just this, this work of art, you know? And it is just, and he did it just to do it with no intention to salad or whatever, just 'cause he figured it out.

Mm-hmm. So like, that's really, really inspiring to me. So I'm just like, dude, like that's from, from nothing to that is pretty radical. So, so tho [01:01:00] those things are really, really cool. Do you got picture that by any chance? Yeah, I will, I will send that. I'd love to drop it in here 'cause I'm trying to visualize, I have a video and you're gonna flip out and it's, it is, it's, it's like an American muscle kind of car.

Oh, cool. So, yeah. So the, the, actually, the. Richard Rawlings offered to buy it off of him in Dallas. Oh really? Yeah. That's really cool. He's not up for selling it that. Yeah. No, he doesn't sell. Alright. Does he drive it? Does he take it or anything? Yeah, every now and then. Every now and then, but now it's just collecting dust in his garage, but mm-hmm.

But it is, it is beautiful. It's pride and joy. Yeah. It's cool. Like, it's just like, man. Yeah, it was really, really cool. What's something most people don't know about you but should? Uh, wow. This one? Hmm, hmm. What's one thing people don't know about me That they should,[01:02:00] 

contrary to popular belief, I, I do like musicals, so you might not, so like, I like, I like Greece, I like American Idiot. I. I like cats. Um, I've yet to see Wicked or the Lion King, but like, I, so that's like a random fact, but yeah. Okay. Cool. Cool, cool. Do you have a hidden talent? Uh, other than art? Not really.

No. I don't think I do. I think, I think everyone knows that I paint pretty good. Yeah. Yeah. That's not hidden at all. Yeah, that's, that's fully expressed and I love it. Cool. Well, I have to say, um, you're definitely more than an artist. Thank you. No doubt. Uh, I think as you may have seen, you're like a movement.

There's, there's more than just, uh, your art. You paint joy into people's lives, you know, which I, I witnessed firsthand today, which was so cool to [01:03:00] see how it altered people's day when they, when they saw your work. You know, I, I watched it here, which was so cool. Thank you very much. You bring, uh, boldness to every wall in canvas, so thanks for showing us.

Uh, what happens when passion meets purpose. Super cool. You know, we're honored to have you here as a guest, but more than anything, I think Naples is blessed to have you. We got really lucky to have you in our community. We got somebody with such a great soul and such another great human that I get the honor and privilege of knowing and, and we're gonna collaborate together and do fun stuff together in the future.

Well, that means the world. Thank you so much for having me, and thank you so much for your kind words. I feel very blessed that that Naples found me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're lucky, man. Yeah. I'm thanks again, brother. Very, very thankful to be here. Certainly appreciate you that you rock. Well done. Thanks brother.

You too. Appreciate it. He's awesome. He's awesome. He's just like you said. Exactly. Okay, that's a wrap on today's episode of the spotlight on good [01:04:00] people. From the bottom of my heart, I wanna thank you for spending time with us, for being here, uh, whether you're at work, whether you're relaxing, whether you're driving, whether you're chasing toddlers around.

Really appreciate you taking the time to hang out with us. And because you did that, we like to do some surprise and delight. So we, I have a special prize for you. Uh, for the first 25 listeners who message with the word gratitude, you're gonna get a $100 gift card to the salon. That's a $100 gift card to Robert of Philadelphia.

For real first 25 people because kindness looks better with great hair. Wait, who wrote that? That's not funny. All right, thanks. Bye.