David Estay
Estay (left, in front of painter’s easel) at a Blast N Scrap show at The Grange in July 2021.
Preface
Yet another month and yet another interview for Scrapped magazine. If you’ve visited this site frequently lately, you know the drill about my work with Scrapped. If you don’t, then let me break it down for you:
Scrapped is a local magazine based in Fort Collins with local non-profit, promoters, and community program Blast N Scrap. Scrapped highlights local music, art, photography, and more each month. I’m the head of the photo department over there, and it’s been an amazing journey watching this magazine steadily grow from a passion project, into a full fledged media outlet.
You can read the following interview in the June issue of Scrapped, and I highly encourage you to pick one up to learn about what’s happening in the local scene here! Thanks for taking the time to read this interview, I think you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.
-Max
Chilean immigrant, cancer survivor, OG punk-rocker and painter David Estay is commonly seen in the side corner of Blast N Scrap shows, live painting onto a canvas to the music being performed in front of him. Outside of live music, David paints industrial landscapes, scenes from punk shows, people, and himself. Each piece presents a part of him throughout his mediums.
I first met David at The Grange in July 2021, in awe of his live painting of the music being performed by the likes of Old Skin, Opposition Agent, and xDeadBeatx. It’s been a long while since then, and after a long hiatus on Instagram, I began to wonder where David had gone. Turns out, David is enduring on, and ready to make his return to live music painting.
I met with David on a Saturday afternoon at FeelLove Coffee in Downtown Loveland. Lincoln Avenue is bustling with people under the bright blue sky, and the floral scent of the coming summer is in the air. FeelLove’s Victorian ceiling spirals, marble tabletops, and warm lighting direct me to David sitting at a table. A newsboy cap, round-framed glasses, Pele shirt, and inviting smile greet me as we sit down and begin to talk.
Starting off, where were you born?
I was born in Chile, in South America, in 1970. My father was a mining engineer. So we basically grew up in a mining town.
What brought your family to the United States?
I came when I was nine. My dad was looking for work because of all of the political situations in Chile in the 70s. So he got a job outside the country. We got family here.
When you immigrated to the United States, did you start in New York?
No, actually, we moved to Golden, Colorado. I lived there for about four years. And then because of the whole economy thing because of Reagan, my dad got a job in New York with the United Nations. So while I lived in the suburbs, you always had access to the city. So with musical shows, The Bowery, CBGBs, out in Greenwich Village when it wasn't all gentrified.
Prior to us talking, I was told that you had a lot of sweet punk stories. So what’s your favorite punk story to tell?
My favorite one is a Bad Brains concert at CBGBs. At that time in the early 80s, that whole thing of Skinheads was going on. I was in a mosh pit, it got a little bit hairy. I got a little bit stabbed in the stomach, right? Nothing major, just a scratch, but it's one of the stories that you have to tell.
What sparked your interest in art?
It's basically my father. I mean, he was like an average artist, but more than anything, he exposed us to it, so basically appreciation.
So then, what sparked your interest in painting?
Painting was just in school, I was very, I'm still very introverted. Not very social. So it was a way to express myself. I've always been in the humanities. After graduating high school, I came over here to CSU and majored in English concentration and poetry. So I wanted to be more of a writer.
But I always had an interest in painting. I realized that more after school. More or less, I copied other art and then I tried to start selling, then did more industrial landscaping. I don't like gentrified style, little houses, people so I do a lot of things. Industrial building type of stuff.
And then when people have expressions, they’re not your sweet portraits. So when I got introduced to Blasti, he invited me to paint at the shows. I was kind of like, I've never done this. I'm not good at faces, people. So I said, “Okay, I'll try it.” And I found a niche. I kind of like doing things spontaneously.
“THE PIT” Oil on 12x16 canvas panel.
Who or what influences your work the most?
It started out with Edward Hopper. That's why if you look at my early stuff, that's more industrial buildings. A copy of a lot of his urban stuff can be seen. The brick buildings that attract me to Loveland, right? Or this area, it has that feel a lot like the 1930s. So he really inspires me.
With energy, I would say Banksy. Same thing with Jackson Pollock. I'm really inspired by a lot of Americana. People say DaVinci, Rembrandt, but I've always liked more urban folk styles of American art.
You can see some Edward Hopper in your work for sure.
People always quote, of course, Nighthawks. But I'm still impressed by his industrial, urban buildings. Is there anything else there? Or he always does paintings about loneliness. So it's like one person, one female. There's one in a theater, the usher. And it's just her. So I think a lot of an outsider kind of mentality.
How has the music scene and community in FoCo influenced your work?
It changed a lot because I do more portraits. And like I said, I used to paint at the shows more spontaneously. But sometimes I like more details. So what I'll do is take pictures of events, and then the stuff I like, or if a band member tells me can you do a painting for me, I'll do it in my studio.
So I charge more, but I like it better because it shows more details and more expression. It really captures the person. So before my paintings were more objects, objective buildings, then painting people really captures emotions in situations of energy.
Documenting the people.
I did see some of your pictures and the funny thing is your pictures are like my drawings of mosh pits. It's very much your photography.
You know, I like the black and white. I like it when you see the movement.
Absolutely. It's just a rough, frozen motion.
Exactly. And it's just expression. The movement itself kind of tells you what's going on.
As a whole, how do you view the Fort Collins community? Whether that be through non-profits, the scene, or all of the above?
I mean, it's a vibrant community. I think before a lot of it was focused on university students. I think over the years, Fort Collins, or this area, is becoming its own identity. Basically, not just people coming here for the outdoors, but I think it's more community, music, not as related to university.
I think I'm really excited about hardcore music. I never knew there was so much talent here. Like I said, I've lived in New York, I’ve been to Denver. A lot of it. It starts out with its own sound and everybody kind of copies.
But you can see Fort Collins with its own identity. Especially at Blast N Scrap shows, because these are actual garage bands, right? People that are just, at least for now, playing for the love of it. Some of them do not have a lot of experience of talent, but they're trying to find their own sound.
The bands feed off each other, and later on in shows, you see some members playing with others, which is so great. To me, it reminds me of the early years of CBGBs, where there were these guys that could only play three notes, like The Ramones. They were learning while playing, right? So they didn't care that they sucked in the beginning, they just wanted to play.
I saw you had a cancerous kidney removed on Instagram, how has life been post-operation?
Good. The last two years have been medically, something’s gone wrong. Initially, I got my heart’s aortic valve removed through open heart surgery. Then I had subdural hematoma brain surgery, about three months after that. Then I ended up getting epilepsy or seizures.
I got cancer about six months ago, and they removed one of my kidneys. Two weeks ago, I went to the hospital again and had surgery for kidney stones on my other kidney and while they were doing the operation, I got a urinary infection. They infected my blood so the last two weeks, I've been on antibiotic IVs.
Then two days ago, my doctor said I got chronic kidney disease level three so it's just one thing after another. I'm staying positive, but I mean, shit happens. When I do have days off, I'm trying to concentrate on the art. I haven’t done a lot. I enjoyed doing the shows with Blasti, then the pandemic happened, no shows.
Then after that I kept my health issues. So I couldn't really do the shows. I have been meaning to go back and start painting. The thing with the painting, it's so weird, I feel like I'm part of the music scene in Fort Collins. So I paint - I found my niche.
What’s your ultimate goal through painting?
It's my outlet. So begin selling more and basically doing better. I would love to do it, not just for Blasti or Blast N Scrap, but finding other venues where they would let me paint. I would definitely love to do it in Washington's or the Aggie Theatre, I just need to talk to people. I know there's a lot of band members that play there. And they might know some management. So I think if I start being more active, I would love to paint more venues.
“BROKEN HEART” self-portrait.
What pieces of advice do you have for other artists that want to get into art or music?
Not to get too much into Nike, but just do it. I mean, it doesn't matter if people tell you that you're not talented, because you always get that. Some people think you're good, or they go: “My two year olds can do that.”
But my advice is to follow your voice. Do it just because you want to, not to gain something. If something comes out of it, exposure or whatever, great! You don't even need school. You just do it. And slowly, you'll get better.
Just like everyone else has been saying here.
I mean, it's kind of like my favorites, The Ramones. They had no talent, and they just did it because they wanted to. CBGBs gave them a venue when nobody else would. I think that's what Blasti is doing with Blast N Scrap in Fort Collins. So I'm really grateful for the exposure he has given not just to bands, but artists, writers, photographers.
Lastly, what do you have to say to people reading or getting into your work?
I mean, I just like feedback. So even if I don't get exposure at shows, I just like seeing people's expressions, negative or positive. I kind of like the setup. I'm very introverted, so this is a way for me to do it, but it's my way of exposing myself to people. So just go to my Instagram, that's my big thing. I got my art there. So if I can get a comment, or even if you see me at shows. Even if you don't buy anything, just stop by and we can talk. That's all I got.
We wrap up our conversation there, as he reaches down to a black backpack next to him. He pulls out a couple of pieces to show me, all from Blast N Scrap shows. He smiles and is excited to talk about them with me, as I snap some pictures of them.
We shake hands one last time, and part ways, as I walk along the streets of Loveland back to my car. Looking at the architecture in a new light — wondering how Edward Hopper would’ve painted these buildings.
Thank you to David for meeting me on such short notice and for being a laid-back human being. You can find David’s work on Instagram on @estay.david_artist, and at Blast N Scrap shows again very soon
