We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Carmel Mercado a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Carmel, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My parents had set the example for how to work hard and be disciplined when working towards a goal. We were immigrants to the United States and we started from nothing when we got here. I remember my parents worked around the clock to make a living. They sacrificed the comforts of their previous life, including status and a support system to start anew and make the most of it here. I learned from early on how to set a daily schedule and timeline for myself to complete tasks, which as a kid, was doing things like my homework. In moments when I don’t feel motivated to work on something that has to be done or if faced with a tough obstacle, I remind myself that previous generations in my family have had it tougher than me. I didn’t have to physically experience war. I didn’t have to make that decision to uproot my livelihood to immigrate. I am blessed with choice here and have the opportunity to make my life my own. When I am reminded of this, I feel gratitude for existing in this moment in history and truck along.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Carmel Mercado. I am an artist+illustrator and a doctor. I strive to bring a joy for life to my communities through my work. My time connecting with patients has deeply influenced my art style and my desire to inspire joy in others. My time as an artist reminds me of our shared humanity and helps me to be more compassionate towards those I meet. I exist at the intersection of health and art. You can now find my public art installations, murals, and art pieces around the Seattle area (including in Seattle Children’s Hospital), in Downtown Orlando (near the Greenery Creamery), and Japan (Sobana Museum in Yamanashi). I am always up for new projects so feel free to contact me if you are looking for an eye-popping fun mural or looking to collaborate on a project that involves medical education and illustration.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
First, develop a healthy relationship with fear. This goes along with being willing to take a certain amount of risk. It is natural to have some fear when doing something new, and fear exists to protect you. As long as you’re not about to embark on something that will physically harm you or others, fear, especially fear of failure, should not be the sole motivator for a decision. There is no growth without struggle. Yes, it can be scary to do something for the first time, but you won’t know whether you will fly or flop unless you try. And even if you do fail at something, take it as a learning moment and opportunity to grow.
Second, learn another language. I think think there is value in investing the time to learn another language. It has certainly opened my world to more possibility and has led me to a cosmopolitan career. Language study is not only useful in opening up opportunities to travel to a place that uses that language. Inherent in doing a deep dive into a language is learning about another culture. To get really good at a different language, you kind of have to get into the mind of a native speaker to understand why certain syntax and vocabulary words come into existence. This also means comparing ways of viewing the world through two different cultural lenses. Before I knew it, I felt like I was developing openness to different perspectives on how to live life through learning a different language well. This openness has been very helpful in communication, accepting new ideas, and thinking more creatively. If you are still in school, I implore you to take a language class and practice with native speakers. You’ll make interesting friends that way.
Last but not least, be kind. I know this sounds cliché, but life is already hard for most everyone. We don’t need to add to anyone’s hardship by being mean or rude. I try as humanly possibly to remember our shared humanity and be kind to others. A little patience and kindness goes a long way and I think through all the stages in my life, that’s how I was able to navigate difficult moments. You also never know how much a friendly word or smile in the workplace may help someone having a tough time feel seen.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Yes, I am open to interesting projects to collaborate on! As you know from my previous responses, I come from a medical background so I would be more than happy to work on projects that combine a need for this knowledge with art, illustrations, or graphic design. If you are in need of an artist who can make a challenging medical or science concept easier to understand or more lighthearted, I can help with that. I love challenging both sides of my brain to work. I have also been increasingly interested in storyboarding. Beyond illustration, I would be excited to collaborate on animation or film. Contact me: [email protected] .
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carmelartlab.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carmelartlab/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carmelartlab/
Image Credits
Shane Bang/ City of Tukwila Public Art Program
