Julius DC Bautista has been doodling as long as he can remember, and it always caught the eyes of his grade-school instructors. As a freshman at the University of Illinois at Chicago, a professor inspired him to select a major in fine arts.
Then when he returned from the military, Bautista finally paid attention to his creativity.
"My artistic process isn't very linear," he said. "I collect found images and I accrue a large number of sketches, and this part of the process is extremely impulsive. It isn't until I'm struck with an idea or a vision that I return to these collected images and sketches, which I then begin to search through for components that suit the idea in mind.
"I tend to create multiple variations of the same idea, so I can toy around with different color palettes or patterns. I don't complete the majority of my paintings. They end up sitting around for months before I either feel inspired to complete them, or paint over them altogether. In many ways, the process I've developed pushes me to fluctuate between impulsive, driven action, and careful, calculated methodology."
Bautista, 27, grew up in suburban Glendale Heights and has lived in Chicago for about six years, now calling Bucktown home. He is a self-employed visual artist who is openly gay ( and partnered ).
He took his first painting class as a college sophomore, and a few years later, Bautista rented out his first studio to paint on a regular basis. "I've grown rapidly in confidence as a painter in the past year, but I'm also always constantly feeling the pressure and need to improve," he said.
Bautista first started showing regularly about two years ago, often through group exhibitions at small galleries, cafes and pop-up spaces. "It was an exciting time, but it didn't feel entirely productive," he said. "I began limiting my exposure the following year, so I could focus on the development of my technique. I think the progress must be evident, because I am now slated for my first solo exhibitions, and the thought of it is as exciting as it is nerve-wrecking."
Bautista said his favorite piece is titled "Melondrama I: Militia Man." He said. "I had no idea it would turn out the way it did, but I believe I tapped into a lot of anxiety and excitement I had from back when I served in the military. I've studied this piece on numerous occasions since I created it [last] summer, and to this day, it continues to inspire the evolution of my style."
His most popular piece is titled "Escapist I," according to his website.
"My art is a reflection of my experiences with Borderline Personality Disorder," Bautista said. "Because of what I inject into the paintings, and how I do so, they're really [are] less portraits of actual people than they are amalgamated representations of remnants of ideas scattered throughout the web.
"[The artwork] reflects my inability to address politics or take a definitive stance on anything requiring calculated decision. They're far more speculative, referencing spirituality, philosophy, and psychology, because they're really more about the relationship of emotions than they are about context."
Bautista said he rarely is fully content with his art. "I almost always grow dissatisfied with my work, desiring to move on, but I also come back to my works with a sort of nostalgia," he said.
Bautista has upcoming solo shows in Edgewater and Wicker Park, along with monthly group shows at Bridgeport.
"Eventually, I'd like to aim for museum representation," Bautista said. "Showing internationally would be a dream come true, and being able to fund and finance a small team of interns and students would be rewarding as well. At the same time, I do question the plausibility of such a thing … Borderlines aren't particularly great with people, and we can barely handle working with ourselves. Sometimes, I'm more than content with the idea of a small but stable local presence, and I wouldn't be lying if I admitted to even relishing the idea of being a starving artist. But that is more an ironic fantasy than a practical career goal, so it probably doesn't count."