Saratoga Springs based artist Frankie Flores began his career in fine art during the early 90s and has since been the recipient of over 40 professional awards for his graphic designs and illustrations.

Flores, who grew up in New Orleans, has been one of the city’s favorite artists during its Mardi Gras and Jazz Festivals since 1990—with sold-out editions of over 120,000 limited edition Mardi Gras and jazz posters in the city.

His artwork can be found in many public and private collections internationally including such famous collectors as Harry Connick Jr. and Bill Parcells, not to mention an array of former presidents and foreign dignitaries. He is also one of the featured artists at this year’s second annual SaratogaArtsFest.

Today, Flores operates his own gallery-studio in the Saratoga Springs arts district on Beekman Street including another gallery-studio on Broadway. I sat down with the gifted painter to discuss how he got into art, his work and the future of his career.

When did you realize that art was your calling in life?

Well, most kids want to be a dentist or a doctor—you know, something that can impress your parents. But around my junior year in high school I attended an art show with my art class and I go, this is it, this is all they can create, and of course the art teacher heard me and asked if I could do better and I told her I would give it a shot. So the next year, I came in and showed her my stuff and she goes ‘ok, you got it’ and that’s how it all got started.

Where do you draw the inspiration for your artwork from?

Currently my inspiration comes from my surroundings. Being that we live in an area with different seasons you know you’re going to have ups and downs including cabin fever. But for my Jazz work, a lot of it’s just shutting the door, putting on some classic blues or jazz and before I know it I’ve got 15 paintings under my belt. For my equine work it’s just transitional because the horses derive from my jazz work—bright, colorful and energetic. It’s not so much inspirational there; it’s more just a means of creating.

Which artist has had the greatest influence over your work?

A lot of the older masters like Rubin, Salvador Dali and Picasso have heavily influenced me as an artist. I really like the ones who challenged the time they lived in. For instance Salvador Dali gave viewers a chance to look at the impossible.

Do you have a favorite piece of artwork?

There are a few from a surreal period I went through, but I hold those pieces sacred. I usually only allow clients who are really interested in older works to look at them, but for the most part they’re not in the gallery, they are at home tucked away.

A lot of your work consists of jazz and equine paintings. Why have you chosen those objects as your main focus for your artwork?

I think I choose jazz because I grew up in New Orleans and it is really a part of the city’s identity. As an artist you could sort of play with that format and I had other friends that created jazz works, but we were all different. The equestrian pieces are really more of an evolution of the jazz work.

You recently showed your artwork at a Donald Trump racing event in Florida. How was that important to your career as an artist?

I think all major events have a turning point and you either use them to your benefit or you let them slide by. I believe any opportunity an artist gets to be in a big event or host something that is spectacular they should use that forum to propel their career forward.

Aside from painting are there any other types of art you enjoy creating?

Most people don’t know this, but I create a lot of works out of metal—it’s kind of a hidden secret. I plan on starting to work on my metal artwork again in about a year. I think you have to carefully evolve into any new idea. I mean anyone can pick up a torch and cut, but it’s really the creativity that you are trying to get across.

What’s in store for the future?

It will probably take me cross-country; although Saratoga Springs will remain home base, I currently have opportunities to open partnership galleries in other parts of the country…I wouldn’t mind three or four galleries across the country someday.

You can learn more about Frankie Flores by visiting: www.floresartnewyork.com