Interview with a Dreamchaser

David Kammerzell is an artist who’s won the Merit Award at Denver’s Cherry Creek Arts Festival, as well as Best of Show and Best Painting at the 15th Annual Lone Tree Arts Center Art Expo.

In Greek, the word Nostalgia literally means "the pain from an old wound."

David's work has a bittersweet nostalgic feeling. "That sense of nostalgia comes from my love and admiration of bygone commercial art and illustrations from the early 1900's through the 1950's. In that world commercial artists worked inventively and tirelessly to get your attention. They enhanced, exaggerated, simplified and whatever else they could to produce a compelling, dramatic image. By taking a page from that playbook I work with historic, vintage photos of cowboys and cowgirls and then put them through the same process of the commercial artist to glorify and glamorize the images. I want to Hollywoodize American cowboys. It's not a literal representation of the West I seek but rather an idealized vision, a state of mind - a memory of a distant dream."

Website: https://www.davidkammerzell.com

Tell me about a time you had to start over, or a dream you accomplished.

In the early 1990’s I began a career as a video designer. First, I worked for CBS Channel 4 in Denver. I created news graphics for their 12+hours/day of news. Then in 1993 I began working for Starz/Encore, a premium cable channel. I loved my job there and exceeded my expectations and goals. After several promotions, awards, and much recognition I was promoted to the head of the entire design department. Then suddenly, with no real warning or reason, after nearly 20 years, I was laid off. Shocked and confused, I pressed the management team for some kind of explanation, but none ever came. The only bit of consolation I received was from the SVP of Human Resources who assured me that the move wasn’t because of performance. I debated my options for my next job, and I decided to switch gears and pursue painting full time. I wasn’t getting any younger and I wanted to see what kind of career I could create in art before I got too much older.

What big hurdle did you overcome to reach your goal?

As a wet behind the ears artist first starting out, there’s so much you don’t know about the business of art. There’s a lot of questions you must answer to build an audience and collectors – what to paint, how you paint, what to price it at, where to sell your art- yada yada yada. But the biggest thing for me is overcoming self-doubt. I think self-doubt is the main issue for every artist. You run into a lot of rejection early on and it’s hard not to personalize that rejection. Is my work good enough? Am I good enough?

What’s the main lesson you learned?

As much of a cliché as it may sound, you can’t give up. If something doesn’t work out you have to readjust your plans, try a new approach, or otherwise do something different. Then try again.

Do you have another goal or dream?

Yes! 1. To have my work included in a museum’s permanent collection. 2. Learn to play the piano.

What’s your advice for someone who’s starting over, or wants to achieve a dream?

Write down your goals in very specific detail and don’t forget to be grateful for your successes!