Today we’d like to introduce you to Fabian Alejandro Diaz.
Hi Fabian Alejandro, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hello. My name is Fabian Alejandro Diaz. Originally from Andrews Tx (west tx) but have lived in San Antonio since 2008. I had moved to San Antonio wanting to do something with my art, I’m a mixed media artist, I draw, I paint, work with textiles and create random costumes and accessories, and headpieces as well. Tried different jobs up until i decided to go to school for cosmetology. I received my license in 2010. I feel like i had always been interested in doing hair, always changing my look and very into the whole fashion/editorial side of things. From the beginning of my career i knew i wanted to do more than just work in a salon. I wanted to be more artistic and creative with my work. Probably worked in random salons a good 4-5 years, trying to find my path and hone my skills, before i started doing production work (film/tv). One of my first things stepping into that world was the 48hr film project. A competition where you have 2 days to write, direct, film, and edit a short using different themes that were picked. I began networking and meeting new people through those projects. I then randomly got involved in the fashion scene, this was maybe 2012-2013? Started helping with runway shows, doing hair and makeup. Through the nightlife scene i met an art collective called ESSENTIALS, now based out of austin. That began my most creative work. I was working with them, doing hair and makeup for random photo shoots. We were doing stuff for random designers, lookbook/editorial type stuff, but also trying to do our own types of shoots. That is when i began creating random accessories, headpieces, and masks to use in our photo shoots. And it just continued from there. While working in random salons, around the same time, i met Zachry Smith. At that time he had done random wardrobe projects, but was transitioning into doing SFX makeup for commercial and film projects. We also started doing our own photo shoots. Which brings us to now, 13-14 years later. We continue to work together and our work has evolved through the years. He has always been business oriented and the main one that brings me on random film and commercial projects. But I have now branched out and do projects on my own. I continue meeting people and creatives working on all these jobs. My schedule can be crazy at times, but i love doing the work i do.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I feel like everything has pros and cons. While figuring out things, you have ups and downs. But being passionate and working through things, it gets easier. I think the struggle for me as an artist, would be that the fun creative projects don’t always pay the most. Having big ideas without a big budget. But i also think that it has made me resourceful and somewhat more creative, basically trying to make something out of nothing.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I think i have a certain style and aesthetic, a mix of masculine and feminine, meets tribal with an edge. And i love playing with textures. With all the fashion work and photo shoots that i do, in 2016 i was nominated for the San Antonio Fashion Awards, as Fashion Artist of the year. I won. Through that organization i was nominated 4 more times.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
As i mentioned, ESSENTIALS ( Fabian Villa and Steven Cassanova)
And Zachry Smith.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fridasson44
