We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Monica Cruz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Monica below.
Monica, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Imposter Syndrome is one of those things I feel like I’m never going to truly overcome but I have definitely learned how to work around and persist despite feeling like “I’m not good enough.” Comparing myself to others is a reflex my brain has developed on it’s own and I don’t even realize I’m partaking in it until I start tearing myself down as I’m admiring the work of other artists or as I’m critiquing my own work. I think what has helped me feel more confident in my abilities as an artist or creative is to periodically go back and reflect on my progress throughout the years. Being a good artist comes with practice and the progress might seem imperceptible until I look back at work from a couple years back and compare it to what I have done this year. Seeing the improvement side-by-side helps me see the progress I’ve made and gives me more confidence in my abilities as an artist. It serves as a reminder that “I AM good enough,” and it just takes time to see the change and growth. There is always going to be something I can be better at, but that doesn’t mean the work I’ve put in so far to improve myself hasn’t made me a better version of myself. Surrounding myself with people that believe in me and believe in my abilities has also helped me to start believing in myself. Sometimes all it takes is hearing constant affirmation from someone else.
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?
My name is Monica Cruz, or also known by my artist name “monkii.” I am a digital artist based in Miami, Florida. I’m currently trying to find my voice as an artist. I’ve been exploring many different styles through different media such as relief printmaking, traditional drawing, and digital design to develop my own style as an artist.
During my time in university, I took a couple semesters of printmaking and fell in love with the process of creating prints through carving and inking/pressing. I found that I really enjoyed relief printing out of all the styles we learned. As you can see in some of my digital work, I use that same technique of “carving out lights.” I really like the bold contrast of light vs dark that came from traditional relief printing and I try to apply it in some of my work. I definitely think that this technique is shaping my style as an artist.
I also take inspiration from animation films and anime as well as video games. I specially enjoy the animation and drawing style of Studio Ghibli and the style of Nintendo, specifically The Legend of Zelda franchise. You can also see the influence of these two present in my current work.
While I work on my career, I started an Etsy shop to sell my artwork through their website as stickers and prints. It has helped me have a better understanding of what I need to learn to be an independent artist and business owner. So many things I hadn’t taken into consideration when I first had the idea of owning my own business where I can sell my own artwork. Turns out if you want to make your own business, you also need to have knowledge on marketing and business operations! It has definitely been a fun journey and a reminder that I will never stop learning something new and improving my skills as a professional.
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 think time management is a very important skill to have. I’m sure for those that have experience in any job, whether retail or corporate, have heard from this from their leaders at least once, but it truly is. You don’t fully know how much time you have in a day, let alone a year, until you put it into perspective. I think it’s important to efficiently make use of your time to make the most out of your days. Even if it’s to take a day off! Knowing when to grind and when to relax can make a difference when it comes to improving yourself.
I also believe you have to have an open mind and be flexible. Sometimes we get carried away with what we have set for ourselves and can get disappointed when things aren’t going exactly the way we had planned. It’s good to have goals and it’s good to have a timeline, but sometimes the universe has different plans and we have to work around them to move forward. So don’t get discouraged when things go wrong, there’s always a way!
Always remember to have fun and enjoy the journey! Take pride in the work you put in and never stop learning and improving. Trust the process.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
I think it’s important to have hobbies to take your mind off of things when it gets rough. Whether that’s going out on walks, or visiting a new coffee shop. Finding joy in the little things can greatly boost your mood and outlook on life and can help you bounce back from stress. Sometimes those hobbies can also lead to inspiration and help you figure out how to move forward. I find what also helps me is to be vocal. Expressing it out loud or in a journal helps me better understand what I need to prioritize and what can be done at a later time. Having a clear view of what needs your focus the most instead of having a full plate can also help.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://monkiiart.etsy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__monkii
- Twitter: https://www.x.com/__monkii
