Meet Drew Graves: Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Drew Graves and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Drew, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
I like to find simplicity in complex ideas or objects. I’m inspired by nature. Plants, geology, and the cosmos.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Nothing comes easy in life. Sometimes it takes a while for you to discover what you are good at and for others to recognize your talents. I’ve always had a passion for being creative. In college I mostly studied business, but found myself more interested in doodling along the edges of my notes. If I knew what I know now, I would have just worked a part time job, suffered for a number of years, and locked myself in a room to draw. I’ve always been a little off. I feel like anyone that has something creative to express is kinda that way. The world is full of dullness. Suburbs, golf courses, the DMV… Anyone that can bring something different to the mundane and boring will become interesting to someone. Better yet, if you can get away from the drab and boring monotony of the work week and explore your mind in natural beauty it pales in comparison to anything art can create. I hope that my art can bring a little bit of happiness or spark some sort of interest to others. There’s real beauty out there, simple beauty, I hope you can find it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
To start off the week I would tell someone to check out the buffalo bayou and take it all the way to where it splits. You can see the waters merging and mixing. I feel like this is a good representation of the city. Different cultures, ethnicities, religions all mixing together into the muddy beautiful mess. Drink at Breweries: St. Arnold’s, 8th Wonder, or Buffalo Bayou. Dive bars: lola’s, Cecis pub, or grand prize. Eat at pizzaros. (Best pizza in town) Aladdins, Local Foods, or Urban Eats. Then go walk around the woods in memorial park, the trail side not the golf course side. Climb up a stairwell in a parking garage in downtown and stare at people walking around the streets. Then I would suggests going on a Thursday night clutch city cruiser bike ride. Usually around 10-20 mile ride around central Houston. This ride gives you an idea of how big the city is and again shows the mix of different cultures that live here. I would say spend the rest of the weekend riding bikes around downtown, going to the underground tunnels or checking out Sam Houston National Forest.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to thank my sister. She’s always encouraged me to try and achieve my dreams. I don’t think I would have started making art without her encouragement.

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