Andrew Calvillo of Los Angeles on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Andrew Calvillo shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Andrew, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Anytime I’m able to immerse myself in something creative and fun, I completely lose track of time. It becomes my form of meditation, personal therapy, and a way to center my soul. Working with my hands truly makes me happy—whether I’m creating something new and exciting or teaching what I’ve learned.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Andrew Calvillo, though most people know me online as CalvilloCreates. My artwork and products are available through CalvilloCreations.com. I’m an artist who works across multiple mediums, and creativity has been a core part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was drawn to all forms of art—acting, dancing, baking, and drawing.

In high school, I began taking baking and cake decorating seriously and eventually turned it into a professional career that has now spanned more than 18 years. During that time, I explored countless techniques and mediums while continuing to practice my drawing and painting skills.

I fell in love with the art of piping—especially the ability to create texture through intricate designs. When I finally discovered a medium that allowed my piped designs to dry solid and maintain their shape without getting damaged, everything clicked. I realized I could bring my piping techniques off the cake and onto canvas, creating textured paintings that merge both worlds I love.

Today, I’m focused on expanding my artistic collection. I recently launched my first adult coloring book, with more on the way, and I’m continuing to create new artwork, develop merchandise, and make videos that teach others what I’ve learned in the art and baking world. My goal is to inspire, share my skills, and create pieces that bring joy and creativity into people’s homes.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
For me, it’s actually the opposite—I always knew who I was. It was the world that kept trying to tell me who I wasn’t. Growing up, I was very aware of my interests, my likes, and my dislikes. I knew exactly what I was drawn to, and I knew what didn’t spark anything in me. But the people around me didn’t always understand that, and it was hard for them to grasp my passions.

I’m one of six kids, and one of four boys, and I was the only one who didn’t want to be involved in sports. Instead, I was fascinated by the arts and baking. I remember being mesmerized by a neighbor’s Easy-Bake Oven and spending hours flipping through my mom’s cookbooks and craft books, trying out projects that excited me so much more than anything else. But back then, it wasn’t easy to express that. It didn’t feel acceptable to say I didn’t care about the things my brothers loved.

It was definitely a struggle growing up. People complimented my work, but I had such a hard time letting it sink in because I constantly felt like I had something to prove. I knew who I was as an artist, but it didn’t feel safe to claim that word—artist—when it seemed like I didn’t fit the expectations around me. It wasn’t just my home environment, it was the era and the culture at the time.

It wasn’t until years later that I finally felt proud of my work again. That’s when I found the confidence to reclaim the titles that always belonged to me: artist, creator, cake artist. It took time, but I eventually got back to honoring the person I had always been. I just never gave up on the things that gave me peace and joy.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me that physical pain—no matter how intense—usually fades with time. What doesn’t fade on its own is the emotional trauma and mental stress. Those stay with you unless you truly face them, work through them, and give yourself space to heal. You can try to hide them behind your successes or distract yourself with work, but they eventually show up again until you’re ready to confront them.

I’ve experienced both physical and emotional suffering. I lived with a rare birth defect that wasn’t discovered until much later in life, which ultimately led to losing a kidney and dealing with years of complications and pain. But even all of that isn’t comparable to the weight of emotional suffering—and how it’s shaped by the environment you’re in while you’re going through it.

Success never taught me what suffering did: that true healing is internal, that emotional wounds matter just as much as physical ones, and that ignoring your pain only delays your growth. Suffering forced me to understand myself more deeply and taught me a level of strength and self-awareness that success alone could never give me.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe the titles and labels other people placed on me. I let their descriptions shape how I saw myself, even when something inside me knew it wasn’t true. I thought other people’s opinions defined who I was—but that belief was naive.

Now I understand that no one can tell you who you truly are. Only you know that. And more importantly, you’re allowed to hold more than one title. You’re allowed to evolve, expand, and be many things at once. Letting go of the labels others put on me helped me finally embrace the fullness of who I am.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I’ve failed many times in my career, but even through the failures, I’ve always given my best to everything I do. My art is a passion—it’s where I pour myself into something with love, intention, and joy. Creating is fun for me, it’s grounding, and it’s a form of meditation.

Any praise I receive is a bonus, but it’s never the goal. My goal is to enjoy the process, stay true to my craft, and give my best simply because it feels right. Which is why I sign “Made with love” on my art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.calvillocreations.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calvillocreates/?hl=en
• Twitter: https://www.tiktok.com/@calvillocreates