Meet Orá Cruz

We recently connected with Orá Cruz and have shared our conversation below.

Orá, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

I have always believed that if you put in the effort there will always be an outcome. That mindset has been the foundation of my confidence and self-esteem as an artist. From the beginning I never let fear or hesitation stop me from creating, whether it was painting a canvas or capturing a fleeting moment through my lens. I created simply because I loved it.
When I first started sharing my art it was never with the intention to sell. I just wanted to show a part of myself. To my surprise people began reaching out asking if a piece was available because it spoke to them. The same happened with photography. I would post my work and people began asking how much I charged because they loved my style and wanted me to capture their special moments. That shift, seeing my passion turn into something others valued and invested in, confirmed I was moving in the right direction.
Of course I still get nervous, but I have learned to lean into that feeling. My truth is that as much as I may feel pressure, if I do not let out what is inside and create, I feel like I might explode. That release and commitment to expressing myself no matter what is where my confidence comes from. Every piece I share and every moment I capture reminds me that trusting my creative instincts is always enough.

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 an artist, photographer, and co-founder of Draw Lab, but above all I am a creator. My work is rooted in the willingness to take risks so that I can live in the freedom of expression. That freedom is what fuels me, and it is also what inspired Draw Lab. Together with my friends, I began this project as a way to bring the creative community together, to give others the same sense of home and belonging that I feel when I create. At Draw Lab, the goal is simple: to encourage people to show up authentically, to embrace their creative spirit, and to experience the joy of expression without fear or judgment.
My journey began in martial arts, where I competed and traveled. Those years instilled in me a deep respect for discipline, persistence, and hard work. Today those lessons guide every part of my artistic process. When I am painting or working on a challenging creative project, I do not force myself to keep going, I simply lose myself in the process. I enjoy it so much that time disappears, and before I know it I am creating until I fall asleep. The same happens with photography. I climb ladders for the perfect angle and edit photos late into the night, not out of pressure but because I feel so free and alive in those moments. For me, these are not just creative sessions, they are a form of healing.
Life can be demanding, yet when I am creating, everything feels aligned. That is the power I want to share with others. My purpose is to be the difference, to remind people that they can feel free again. Free to create, free to move, free to try, free to fail, and free to discover their best selves. I intend to carry out that mission through my art, through my photography, and most importantly through Draw Lab, which will always remain a space for community, creativity, and authenticity.

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

When I reflect on the path that brought me here, the qualities that shaped my journey were not just technical skills but deeper values that keep me aligned with my purpose. Three stand out the most: storytelling, authenticity, and the simple ability to just keep going.
Storytelling has always been at the center of my work. Whether it is a mural, a photograph, or even a Draw Lab session, I create with intention and intuition. I ask myself what message I want to convey and how I want people to feel in that moment. Storytelling allows my work to connect with others while also giving me a way to release my own stories through art.
Equally important has been staying true to myself and never compromising my values. I have turned down projects that did not align with me because I believe honesty and alignment matter more than opportunity. And finally, I live by the idea of just keep going, much like Nemo’s “just keep swimming.” When things feel uncertain, difficult, or overwhelming, forward motion is what brings growth, clarity, and reward. For anyone starting out, I would say embrace these three principles: create with intention, stay true to who you are, and no matter what, just keep going.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

This question really resonates with me because it has been on my mind a lot lately. In creative circles, there is often the advice that you need to niche down and focus on one lane in order to succeed. While I do believe there is truth in that, I also believe that if you only commit to one thing, you risk being overtaken by the next generation who can do it faster, differently, or better. My perspective is that you should absolutely find the thing that flows naturally for you and aligns with your purpose, but you should also remain open to the other callings that life places in front of you.
My own journey reflects this. I practiced martial arts my whole life, and when the pandemic hit, I started painting simply to stay busy since contact sports were no longer possible. That shift led to murals and paintings that now live in public and private spaces. Later, after graduating with my degree in Business, I was gifted a camera, and that gift evolved into a professional photography career. None of this was part of a rigid plan, yet each step aligned naturally and became part of my creative identity. It showed me that when something is meant for you, it will find its way into your realm, and if you allow it, it can expand your possibilities.
One piece of advice that stuck with me came from someone who told me that in a creative lifestyle, you must always have cookie jars. One jar may hold photography, another videography, another prints, another edits. The idea is that if you diversify your jars, you will always have something to pull from, and you will never go stale or outdated. That is why I believe in leaning into your strengths while also leaving space to grow into other areas. Creativity is not linear. The more jars you have, the more ways you can share your vision with the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: oraslens.com and orascnvs.com
• Instagram: @oraslens and @orascnvs
• Other: Draw Lab- @drawlaborlando and @drawlabmiami