Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Paola Cano. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Paola with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My grandparents, the hardest working people I know, moved from Mexico to San Antonio, Texas, leaving their home, and starting over with little money and a growing family uncertain about their future. All they wanted was a better life for their children. As a first-generation immigrant, I was always inspired by their stories of hardship. I remember seeing them coming home from their 12-hour shifts exhausted but still having enough energy to be so loving and attentive to my brother and me, even at a young age; seeing how exhausted they were and telling myself I had to work just as hard as them in hopes of one day giving them an easier life. They were some of the first people to see my passion for art, always hanging up my doodles on the wall and telling anyone who would listen about my passion, even if it sometimes embarrassed me. Though my grandparents were highly traditional people, they pushed me to break from the norm and pursue a career in illustration because they saw how much I truly loved it, as well as knowing that when I put my mind to something, nothing can deter me, just like my grandpa’s stubbornness. Though over the years, I have lost two of my grandparents, which was one of the most challenging experiences of my life, I know they will always be with me, giving me luck and love and pushing me in everything I do. They always told me to pursue what I defined as success. I recognized that success is made up of some luck but another part of hard work, giving it my all in everything I worked on. Thinking of the sleepless nights and long days my grandparents endured to give me and my family a better future inspires me to work as hard as possible in my career and create art that would make them proud.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
As an environment concept artist, I love to bring imagined worlds into reality. I focus on creating the overall setting and tone that reflect the stories I want to tell. Though I create most of my pieces digitally, I want to incorporate my traditional background as a painter. I love for my environment to look traditionally painted and have that sense of texture. I treat my environments as if they were their own character, giving them a personality, tone, gesture, and feeling of life. One of the most important traits within my art is the amount of detail I put in my environment. I have a particular fondness for maximalism, often hiding small secrets within my art that, if viewers look closely enough, they can find. When I create my environments, I take a lot of inspiration from the real world. My family loves to travel, and being able to experience so many different places and cultures inspires me to develop unique environments that reflect the people who live in these illustrations. My art’s impact on people is also always very fulfilling, especially when seeing someone’s reaction to viewing their dream world come to life, from idea to actual visualization.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Continuous learning is one of the most incredible things we, as creatives, can do. Even after earning my Bachelors in Fine Arts with a concentration in Illustration and a Minor in Business, constantly learning new techniques and skills is essential to me as an artist. I have to be able to adapt new software and techniques to aid in improving my art as much as possible. Throughout this process, I have to be resilient; this industry can be highly challenging. Hearing many “no” s can discourage artists, but what is essential is to always get back up and continue to make art that brings you joy. Whenever I feel like giving up, I think of my grandma and her advice, “No te dejes.” I never want to give up and always remember why I became an artist, for my love of creating. Keeping that passion for art alive and well inside me is crucial. I want to ensure that creating my art will not turn into a chore but instead into something I genuinely love to do. Keeping this passion alive is done by creating art that I am genuinely proud of and reflects me as a person through every piece I make. Remember, the joy of creating art is what fuels our journey and keeps us inspired.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
As I approach my graduation in May, I am committed to the collaborative process and eager to connect with other passionate creatives who share my love for storytelling. If you are dreaming of creating a video game, film, or animation, I would be honored to be part of the process, bringing your environments and worlds to life and helping to tell your story in the most engaging way. I am confident that together, we can create something truly remarkable. Please feel free to contact me via my email [email protected] or LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/paolacanoillustrator.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.paolacanoillustrator.com/
- Instagram: @doodle_paola
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolacanoillustrator
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