It's Gecko Season, and if you live in Gulfport — or if you've caught GeckoFest fever — you know what that means: It means from now until Labor Day, Gulfport goes a little gecko-crazy. It started as a one-day festival at the end of summer — GeckoFest and Mullet Mutiny— to draw in shoppers and help businesses. But then it was too big for one day, so next came GeckoBall, where the uber-laid-back Gulfportians show their Jekyll side (yes, you read that right) and get fancy with elaborate costumes and compete for top honors. Next, there was the GeckoCrawl, some sort of elaborate bars-and-card game that involves a passing knowledge of poker and the ability to consume mass quantities. Finally — at least for now — there's the Art Gecko Art Show. Art Gecko involves Gulfport artists making geckos and displaying them at local venues. Gecko supporters (that's "locals and people who really love Gulfport" to you and I) bid on the geckos, and after Gecko Season ends (with GeckoFest, an all-day and most-of-the-night street party), they get to take their geckos to their new home (think of it as an "adopt a gecko" program). This year, we're asking each of the gecko artists (gartists? geckotists?) seven questions. This week, Ray Domingo (you may remember his work from the spectacular poster from ArtJones) shares his thoughts.

How did you start making art?I remember, in the second grade in Manila, thinking how much I appreciated a pencil so much more for drawing than for doing my arithmetic. That has never changed. I also remember how horrible my first paint by number piece (artistic encouragement from my father) turned out as a result of my inability to resist trying to blend my colors. My art must have improved fairly quickly because I remember getting commissioned and paid for several portraits in the seventh or eighth grade.

Do you have a "day" job or can you support yourself on your art (and if so, how)?I had a good career as an illustrator and graphic designer, so yes I'm lucky to have been able to make a living and support self and family with my art. I now paint for my own pleasure.

Why do you live in Gulfport?My wife Linda and I decided to move to Gulfport from downtown St. Pete over a Lobster BLT lunch at O'Maddy's four years ago. I was looking for, and found, the perfect place for us to live, and to build a studio where I could paint and show my work. It was a great move.

Ray Domingo’s “A Reptile Dysfunction” Credit: Ray Domingo

How did you approach this piece of art?I put my illustrator hat on. This piece is reminiscent of some of my work in the '70s and '80s, fun but not too cartoony. I now have a series of maybe five or so ideas for follow-up. We'll see.

What's your favorite piece of art that you've ever made, and why?My favorite has always been the next one. I tend to over-critique my completed pieces.I feel like I learn something from each one that I paint.

How could the Gulfport art community best grow?Designate more areas as "Mixed Use Limited," to make more locations available to artists who might want to purchase a place in Gulfport to live and work.

Just for fun: You are mayor of Gulfport for a day. What three things do you do?I don't want to be mayor, too limiting. I want to be King. IT'S GOOD TO BE THE KING. I would declare every Friday as First Friday and every Saturday as Third Saturday.I would get the Rolling Stones to back me and we would do a four-hour gig at Neptune's. I would command Peter Hargitai to ghost- write a book of poetry for me to publish as the author. Then I would declare myself Gulfport's next Poet Laurate. With accomplishments such as these, I surely one day will hear the people of Gulfport cry out, "Our King is as talented as Mayor Sam!"

This article appears in Jun 28 – Jul 5, 2018.