Coffeenauts - Daniel Griego

From the beginning, I wanted Odd Box to reflect and support the people of New Mexico. To that end I’ve reached out to several local artists for contributions to the Odd Box cause. I’ve also asked them a few questions with the hope of sharing their unique (nay, invariably odd) perspective on art, coffee and New Mexico.

When did you start considering yourself an artist / Was there a moment that it became more than a hobby? I’ve been doodling and drawing since I was very young, back in grade school, though I didn’t realize it was part of being an “artist.” I would doodle while listening to teachers, moving my pen on paper almost instinctively, without much thought. It wasn’t until I got older, when others started noticing and acknowledging my drawings, that I began to recognize it as something unique. I didn’t fully think of myself as an artist until high school, when I met other artists and began to be recognized as one myself. Now, I do see myself as an artist. I love the entire process of creating something visual and feel a strong need to sketch. If I’m not creating—even if it’s just in my sketchbook—I really feel the absence.

Art is still a hobby for me. I never quite knew how it might help put food on the table, but software development came into my life in a serendipitous way and fulfilled that role. Art, meanwhile, has remained a way for me to express myself without overthinking—an intuitive practice that lets me play and create with space.

What are your goals as an artist / What do you hope people take away from your work? As of now, my goal is to make a living as an artist. I’d like to focus on drawing and painting, sharing my work with others and continuing to grow professionally. It’s a journey I’m actively working on—it may feel slow, but it’s gaining momentum.

I don’t necessarily aim for people to take away anything specific from my work. There may be some overall concepts that could be understood, which I’d need to explain, but ultimately, I recognize I have little control over how people connect with my art. I primarily work in abstract forms and enjoy the openness it brings. Since I was young, people would often ask, “What is it?” when I showed my work. I’ve come to embrace that question as something we both answer, even if we’re both aware of the concepts or inspirations behind a piece.

Is there something that inspires your art? I'm often inspired by existential and philosophical thoughts and concepts. One example that comes to mind is from when I was very young. I used to take apart radios and other electronics out of curiosity, wanting to see what was inside and understand what made them work. I’d open them up to find a maze of components and wires running in all directions. I had no idea what any of it was, but that feeling of discovery captivated me—the sensation of stepping into an unknown world and trying to make sense of all the moving parts. For me, it was an experience of movement, rhythm, and intricate detail.

I try to translate those feelings and thoughts into different compositions, mostly through experimentation. It’s an intuitive exercise where I uncover patterns and arrangements that make sense to me in the moment.

In a more tangible sense, sci-fi and technology have always inspired me, but I’m equally drawn to the idea of inventing something new, even if it’s rooted in biology.

I also draw inspiration from artists like Dr. Seuss, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Wassily Kandinsky, and Gino Severini to name a few.

Tell me about your time in Santa Fe and/or NM / is there something about SF & NM that remains notably special to you? The way it smells when it rains, the green chile, first jobs, first career, family, friends, biking through empty streets in the middle of the night, building forts as a kid, and finding completely remote spots nearby—Santa Fe will always be special to me because it’s where I was born and where I began my journey into the world. I can’t tell my life story without including green chile as an important detail.

Do you like coffee? Any favorite beverages, origins, styles? And/or do you have a coffee story (how you came to be introduced to coffee)? I love coffee! I maybe don’t always treat it right when making it at home, but when I go to a coffee shop my two favorites are a breve latte and a dirty chai latte. I do love the variety of specialty drinks coffee shops come up with so I never hesitate to give those a try.

I don’t have many early memories of when I first tried coffee. I think my first introduction to coffee I loved is when I worked downtown and would walk to Cafe Espiritu. The best dirty chai I’ve had to this day and the espresso was delicious (which I think was an italian brand).

Can you share a story about the piece you contributed for Odd Box? A challenge in creating it, a meaningful part, your favorite element? When I first started envisioning Odd Box with coffee beans as the central element of the design, I began to personify the bean. I imagined coffee bean cities and wondered what it might be like to live as a coffee bean. This sparked themes of “growth” and “exploration,” which tie into the Odd Box story. I soon started thinking about space, which naturally led to the concept of a coffee bean spaceship with little "coffeenauts" at its helm.

The main challenge was ensuring the design looked like a spaceship while still being recognizable as a coffee bean. I also tend to add intricate details to my work, but I had to simplify this time since the image would be printed fairly small. Ultimately, I wanted to embrace the quirky elements of Odd Box and convey a sense of exploration and invention. The details within the piece reflect the care and craftsmanship involved in creating high-quality coffee beans—it’s a technical process that can be an art form in itself. These concepts guided me throughout the design process.

Anywhere specific you want us to send people to? I’m working on a website and a social media plan, but for now you can follow me on my instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danieljgriego