Meet Denisse Rocha

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

Denisse, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

I’ve learned through time and many different experiences that I need to be loud. Not just loud as in amplifying my voice, though still important, but by being loud in my work, my appearance, my personality, and overall how I carry myself. Growing up I would always keep to myself and stay in my own lane. Besides when it came to speaking to friends or teachers here and there. Though once I started college I began to come out of my shell and becoming much more comfortable with taking up space. I also know that people who look like me do not usually get the same representation or the same amount of space to speak their minds and truth. So we must do it ourselves even if that strategy is not favored in everyone’s minds.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am currently enrolled in the Savannah College of Art and Design as an illustration student. Though this is not my identity as a whole. I am a first generation Mexican-American citizen who has held the title proudly for as long as I’ve been able to comprehend the power of it, being the first in my maternal family to ever graduate from college, I hold my identity in such high regard that it bleeds into almost everything that I do. Including my work. I focus on character design for concept illustration but I have begun dipping my toes into fantasy work and plan to sneak or full on add my culture into my future pieces as well. For my character designs I have begun creating my own story that I plan to full write (and hopefully produce) into a graphic novel series. Which focuses on the life and hero’s journey of my main character Isa Ximena. The story focuses on Mexican culture, roots, and stories. This is a very exciting personal project that I plan to roll out very soon.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I believe that the three most important skills that I have learned/ improved on that have created a big impact on my journey would be communication, problem-solving, and story building. These things are super important qualities to have in both everyday life and especially as an illustrator.

The advice I would give to best improve on these skills would be to 1. talk to people. It doesn’t matter if it’s a fellow classmate, coworker, or even a random stranger at a concert. The more you talk the more comfortable you become and the more connections you’ll make.
2. Look into how you navigate everyday problems such as fixing how your morning coffee tastes and analyze your thinking skills when it comes to solving problems such as that. Then take that analyzation and apply it to everything else or a specific problem that you are running into to tackle it head-first.
3. We create stories in our minds everyday, by daydreaming, telling a fictional story to a child or a friend, or to just make your life a bit more interesting. Use that skill and make your stories (if you write any) stronger.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

I would say the most impactful things my parents have done for me is simply supporting me in everything that I do. Especially my mom. ever since I was a kid I knew I wanted to make art for the rest of my life, and my parents saw my love and dedication to my craft and never stopped in believing in what I do or can do. My mom in particular has always had my back in what I’m pursuing and has always moved mountains for me to get and reach for many different opportunities.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @sieeba_
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisse-rocha-a07335294

Image Credits

Denisse Rocha