Meet Andrea Pardo

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Andrea Pardo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Andrea, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

I think creativity works in cycles. There are times when you have numerous ideas and you can’t wait to put them on paper. And there are times (which is natural) when that inspiration might be a little stagnant.

When those moments come, I don’t force anything. I try to be present and ask myself why I feel that way; I also like to write it down in my journal. Even in therapy, my psychologist talks to me a lot about going through feelings and states and not avoiding them or distracting ourselves, because that way we can find answers, or learn to cope with those moments in a better way.

Exploring other media, people watching, visiting museums, going out with friends, and everyday activities like grocery shopping or driving often help me clear my mind and inspire me to create. Movies and music are something that really influence my work, and anything that connects me with my culture, like food, events, or art, can spark some creative moments in my life.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Since I was little, I always had this idea in my head that I wanted to build a life around creativity and artistic expression. After earning my bachelor’s degree in graphic design, I worked in fashion companies and at a science museum, where I gained valuable insights into illustration as a profession. From that moment on, I set out to learn as much as I could about illustration on my own and to make a living from it. I currently live in New York City, where I have had the opportunity to grow as a designer and illustrator in the five years since I emigrated from Colombia.

It feels very special and exciting to know that the Andrea who emigrated is now very different, thanks to believing in my dreams, and always keeping going, even when things got hard. Right now, I have worked with incredible brands and people, helping them express the true essence of their brands or books through illustration. I enjoy working on illustration projects within the lifestyle, food, and cultural industries, such as museums, beauty, and cultural events.

This year, I developed an incredible catalog of greeting cards called Pardo Paper, where color and softness invade each card. For me, there must be options in Spanish, because there are things that can only be expressed and touch the heart of others in our mother tongue. Right now, I’m selling my cards online on my website (http://www.pardopaper.com) and in retail stores in New York.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I have a lot of compassion for my own process. Although not everyone has the same level of support or financial resources to start a business or change careers, certain skills are indeed much more important than external help, so to speak.

Today, I can say that having a high level of tolerance for frustration is very important if you’re embarking on a new path. You’ll face many obstacles or parts of the process that you’ll have to solve on your own (or seek help to solve), and if you’re able to endure those moments of friction for a long time, and work through them little by little instead of giving up, that strengthens your mental muscle for the future.

Also, pushing through fear was something that deeply impacted my process, since there were moments when I doubted my decisions. But then I understood that I didn’t need to have everything figured out and perfect for it to work. And finally, grit, having that combination of passion and perseverance, especially in the long run, is fundamental.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

Last year, I read The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. I found it very valuable in my journey. One of the many nuggets of wisdom I got from it was that “failure is the information you need to get where you’re going.” That’s why I always think of my past decision and journey with compassion, because every “failure” is just learning, and it makes us wiser. The second most amazing concept of the book for me was about the idea that discipline and freedom seem like opposites. But in reality, they are partners. Discipline is not a lack of freedom; it is a harmonious relationship with time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.andrepardo.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrepardo__
• Other: https://pardopaper.com/