We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maricarmen Ramirez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maricarmen below.
Maricarmen, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Music is the lifeblood of my creativity, a constant pulse that shapes my art. I move through genres like a traveler exploring different landscapes—each song, each lyric, a doorway to a new world. My mood dictates the soundtrack, and in turn, the music becomes a mirror, reflecting my emotions onto the canvas. I dive deep into lyrics, dissecting them, pulling out hidden meanings, and transforming them into visual stories.
Pop culture is my muse, its influence woven into my work like threads of a larger tapestry. Films fuel my imagination—especially the Golden Era of Mexican cinema, with its dramatic lighting and timeless elegance, and the raw, unfiltered narratives of late-80s and early-90s Chicano films. These stories of struggle, resilience, and identity shape the way I see the world and the way I create.
Then there’s the music—gothic undertones whispering through my art, mingling with the rebellious spirit of rap and the raw energy of Rock Mexicano. Darkness and light, nostalgia and modernity, tradition and rebellion—I blend them all, letting them clash and harmonize in a way that feels true to me.
Every beat, every scene, every word—it all feeds my creativity, keeping it alive and ever-evolving.
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?
I am a dreamer, shaped by two worlds—one of magic and one of struggle. I was born in Puebla, Mexico, a place where history breathes through its streets and where my love for art first took root. From a young age, I was haunted by vivid dreams of the magic that lived in my hometown, dreams that whispered to me that art was my calling.
But life had other plans. My family moved to Compton, a little city in LA with a magic of its own. It was different from Puebla, yet just as alive, pulsing with energy, culture, and resilience. My reality shifted—I learned what it meant to work hard, selling tamales in December, corn and raspados in the summer, and candy at school just to make ends meet. Struggle became a companion, but so did determination.
After high school, my options were limited. Without papers, I could only take the jobs available to immigrants like me. I worked at a liquor store, a place where I grew up alongside my community—people shaped by gangs, violence, and survival, but also by stories, dreams, and raw humanity. Everyone who walked through those doors carried something with them, and I listened, observed, and learned. One day, Curtis Young, Dr. Dre’s son, walked in filming a documentary. Moments like that reminded me that I wasn’t just existing—I was collecting pieces of inspiration, filling the canvas of my mind.
My journey took an unexpected turn when my Korean boss at the liquor store encouraged me to chase another artistic path. I enrolled in culinary school, balancing my classes with long shifts behind the counter. When the Obama administration granted me a work permit, I finally had a chance to pursue something bigger. I became a baker and cake decorator, transforming sugar and flour into edible masterpieces. For the past 13 years, that has been my craft—when I’m not painting, I’m sculpting buttercream and fondant, still telling stories, still creating.
My art is a fusion of everything that shaped me—Puebla’s magic, Compton’s reality, the films and music that raised me. The Golden Era of Mexican cinema, Chicano films of the late 80s and early 90s, and the dark allure of goth music mixed with the energy of rap and Rock Mexicano. I paint what I see, what I feel, and what I dream.
I don’t know if the American Dream is real, but I do know this—I’ll keep chasing it, keep creating, and keep proving that struggle is just another shade on my palette.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My journey has been shaped by three qualities that have carried me through every challenge, every moment of doubt, and every dream I’ve chased.
The first is not being afraid of hard work. From the moment I stepped into this country, I understood that nothing would be handed to me. I learned this early—selling tamales with my parents, pushing a cart of raspados under the summer sun, cleaning houses, and hustling candy at school. Later, working at the liquor store, I saw firsthand how struggle wasn’t just mine; it belonged to an entire community fighting for something bigger. Hard work became my foundation, not just in survival but in my art. It taught me discipline, patience, and the value of every brushstroke, every detail in my cakes, every late night spent creating.
The second is staying consistent and setting goals—big and small. Dreams don’t just happen; they are built, step by step, layer by layer. Whether it was making my way through culinary school, perfecting my cake designs, or pushing myself as a painter, consistency was the key. I set goals—some that felt impossible, some that were as simple as improving one technique at a time. And through every setback, I kept going. Success isn’t just talent; it’s the ability to keep moving, even when the path isn’t clear.
The third is knowing when to take breaks. I used to believe that stopping meant falling behind. But I’ve learned that creativity isn’t an endless well—it needs rest, inspiration, and moments to breathe. Some of my best ideas have come when I’ve stepped away, let my mind wander, and allowed myself to experience life outside of my work. Breaks aren’t failure; they’re fuel. They remind me why I create in the first place.
For those just starting their own journey, my advice is simple: never give up, never stop evolving, and never be afraid to rest when you need to. Keep creating, even when it feels like no one is watching. Your art, your passion, and your dreams deserve the effort. And when the path gets tough, just remember—hard work, consistency, and balance will carry you through.
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?
If there’s one person who has always believed in me, even when I doubted myself, it’s my dad. He’s been my biggest cheerleader, the one who never questioned my crazy ideas but instead fueled them with his unwavering support.
When I was grinding through long workdays, coming home exhausted but determined to practice baking, he was there. He didn’t just watch—he helped. Whether it was cleaning up the mess I made in the kitchen or simply being the first to try whatever I created, he made sure I knew my efforts mattered.
My passion for art wasn’t any different. When I couldn’t afford proper supplies, he found a way. He’d collect scraps of wood, bringing them home like treasures, knowing that even the roughest piece could be transformed into something beautiful with the right vision. He never let me feel limited by what I didn’t have—he only reminded me of what I could create with what I did.
Because of him, I never lost my spark. His belief in me kept me going, through every challenge, every doubt, every moment I felt like giving up. To this day, every cake I decorate, every painting I complete, carries a piece of his support. Without him, I wouldn’t be the artist—or the dreamer—I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.Etsy.com/shop/ArtedeMaripistolera
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/ArtedeMaripistolera
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
Images by yours truly.
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