We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Wendy Plata-Acevedo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Wendy below.
Hi Wendy, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I have been drawing my entire life. In my journals, notebooks, computer paper, anything that was I can my hands on really. Never did I think it would turn into a career.
I was in my first year of college when I took my first art class. I immediately felt a sense of belonging. I decided to explore this more by taking my first painting class right after. I told myself, if I pass this class I will officially call myself an artist. Second semester came to an end and at this point it was obvious to me and everyone around me that an artist had awaken.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
When I was a little girl I would tell everyone I wanted to be an astronaut and a cartoonist. I loved space, especially the moon and the mysterious darkness that surrounds it. At that young age, drawing was becoming a way to escape all the things I couldn’t control around me. I would spend hours creating my own world within sheets of paper. Everything was possible in that moment.
The dream of becoming either slowly faded away once I learned what living undocumented meant. It almost vanished when my high school counselor suggested I get married after graduation. College was not an option. School was never easy for me so I believed she was right. I lost all motivation and hope for my future.
After graduation, while all my friends were getting ready for college, I found myself browsing the internet for small private colleges. I thought there could be creative careers that may not require a college degree. I knew I loved drawing- I was not great at it at the time but there was potential. I also had a strong passion for films.
I did a little research and found an independent film school in San Francisco that did not require residency papers and was affordable. I did not love the idea of moving away from my mom but I had to give myself a chance to try. I really did not have many other options.
I loved San Francisco from the moment I arrived. I learned how to live on my own. How to pay for bills and time management. I was lucky to find a job in a small restaurant in the city. It helped me pay for school and living expenses. Jobs didn’t come easy when you don’t have residency status.
After a year, I made the decision to move to Los Angeles in order to pursue film production. I felt confident with what I had learned and was ready to broaden my skills. Shortly after arriving, I was hired as a personal assistant for an independent film producer. She immediately took me under her wings and taught me so much about bringing a film production together. From organizing auditions to casting actors and set management. I was able to see the very beginning of film making. What makes it even more interesting is that this was an animated and live action production, meaning we were working with 4 actors and the rest was going to be all animated. Including backgrounds.
At that time, drawing was a hobby. I remember thinking the animators were so cool. Never did I think I would be doing the same in a few years. Life is truly wild.
I would say life in Los Angeles was quite successful for the short year I lived there. I was working as a personal assistant, waitressing at a restaurant and started my own jewelry line. I still did not have my residency but I was hopeful, I was motivated. I was booking acting and modeling gigs on the side also. I had met wonderful people that looked out for me. I was able to work in the coolest film studios. On the days that I wasn’t working on set I was waiting tables in Burbank. Many animators that worked in the Nickelodeon Studios would have lunch regularly there. I loved asking them questions about their jobs. Again, I never thought I would animate during this time.
Life seemed pretty great except for the troublesome relationship I was in. That came to an end abruptly which forced me to move back to San Diego. I didn’t say goodbye to anyone. I was heartbroken and disbelief on how my life changed completely overnight, it felt like.
Going back to San Diego, single, job less and still undocumented drove me straight into a spiral of depression. I didn’t accomplish what I set out to do.
I felt like I had to start all over again. Forget about film production and possibly move to Mexico. I was 24 years old. I had to make a decision.
I was lucky again to find another job at another local restaurant. I did not want to go from job to job for the rest of my life. I wanted stability and I wanted to love what I do. But again, my options were limited due to my lack of my unresolved residency.
That all changed, in that same year, Obama passes the Dreamers Act, DACA, which meant that people like me can now go to college and pay in state fees. This also makes you eligible to receive student loans and grants. We all know those are very helpful.
I right away enrolled into my community college. This is where I realized how powerful art was and how good I was at it. I found my voice and embraced that artist in me that wanted to be seen so badly. I wanted to use it to inspire, motivate, create awareness for social issues. It was another tool to use to tell my own story.
I mentioned that I struggled with school earlier. I always thought I was simply not smart. After sharing this with a professor, she encouraged me to take an online test to see what kind of learner I was. This little test was life changing. I am most definitely a visual learner. I went from an 1.8 GPA to 4.0 within two semesters.
After two years I transferred to UCSD. I absolutely loved the school. I had to pinch myself a few times when I walked around campus. It almost didn’t feel real.
Right after college a friend invited me to work on an online start up company he was creating. I started in the shipping department. The completely grew tremendously within a year.
When I heard they were looking for a digital artist I volunteered myself even though I had no idea how to do anything digital.
I went home and spent the night on YouTube looking at videos on how to create an infographic.
After two days, they were impressed by my work and offered me a full time position as an illustrator. Shortly after, I was trained to learn animation within 3 months.
I created my first short educational animation in 2019, “Coconut Oil For Dogs.” It did incredibly well on Youtube. That same year I continued the series with 2 more animations.
I was then in a healthy, loving relationship with my now husband. I was living the dream as a full time animator. Around this time is where I was sharing all my work on my personal instagram account Illustration Diaries. I began documenting my life through illustrations, the good and the bad. Life was so great until I was fired after announcing my pregnancy on my platform.
This happened at the beginning of 2020 and well, we all know what happens that year.
It was a horrendous time for the world. Zooming into my little world, I was growing a baby girl that joined us that summer.
I continued to share my life as a new mom. The beauty of it. The sad parts about it and the parts they never told us about.
In 2022, my film “Coconut Oil For Dogs” was screened at the iconic TLC Theater in Hollywood and won two awards. If that isn’t poetic justice, I don’t know what it is.
My life had come to a full circle where drawing and film were combined and brought me back to a city where I was once working for what I had at that very moment. Some things take time.
I am now a mother of two and still documenting my life in illustrations. I have released my own journal and notebook brand. I am working on a children’s book, comic book and my first feature short film. I hope to create work that will keep inspiring and help create awareness while raising two little humans.
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?
Having grit is one of the best qualities to have. That was something powerful I started practicing in college. Time management is another quality that I truly value. Making time to be 15 minutes before class gave me a head start. Being able to be on time to places helped me stay organize and accomplish everything I had to do for the day.
Third quality, not being afraid to ask for help. We can’t always do it all on our own. Life can be hard so its great to have people that you can count to help you achieve your goals. It can be anything like a ride to school or a pep talk.
Where did your inspiration come from?
I am currently in search of finding myself as an artist and now a mother. Motherhood is beautiful and transformative. I think it’s almost impossible to not go through changes. My inspirations are coming from long days at home doing chores and observing how my children explore the world. All in all, I am present in this moment. Soaking it in. It feels like a small pause. I am confident that with time I will figure out a way to keep creating while still be able to be there for my children.
Contact Info:
- Website: artmantikanimationstudios.com
- Instagram: @illustrationdiaries
- Youtube: Our Animated Life
