Life & Work with Andrew Calvillo of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Calvillo

Hi Andrew, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up, I was always drawn to the creative arts. Acting, dancing, modeling, and baking as a child were my immediate go-to’s. That is exactly what I wrote on my second-grade questionnaire: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Anything that had to do with creativity was really what made my soul feel happy. Art has always been a way for me to express myself as a person. As a child, that is who I felt I was created to be. Throughout my childhood, I studied and practiced various types of arts, always trying my best to learn and grow as much as I possibly could in different fields.

It wasn’t until high school that I took a home education class and had an assignment asking to make a car out of a 9” round cake that really excited me. Coincidentally, there was a new show on TV called Ace of Cakes with Duff Goldman that gave me a different perspective on mixing art and baking cakes. I never considered incorporating intricate art into baked cakes. From there on I was hooked and obsessed with any and all new techniques that were accessible to me. I dedicated countless hours to learning the art of baking cakes and piping. Over the last 18 years, I have created hundreds, if not thousands, of cakes, worked multiple cake jobs, and even had the opportunity to become a corporate team member for Duff’s Cakemix DIY cake & cupcake decorating studios. I worked there for almost 10 years before it unfortunately closed down due to the pandemic. When things closed down, I knew I had to continue with some form of art. I definitely wanted to try and progress, utilizing all the skills I had acquired. I’ve always told myself that every job and opportunity is training for the next big thing. I knew I loved my cake decorating art, but I wanted to find a way to still showcase my piping skills without compromising the finished product. I would often be told how my cakes were “too pretty to cut” upon presenting them to clients, which led me to discover heavy, thick acrylic paint. It gave me the opportunity to combine my cake decorating skills with different art techniques and still keep it’s form since I wasn’t working with food anymore. It allowed me to build a collection of art pieces that can withstand time. I was then able to share on social media my various piping techniques and designs through my account, CalvilloCreates. This led me to launch a website called CalvilloCreations on SquareSpace, where I have pieces available for purchase. My art is unique in that it is 3D textured on canvas and, once fully dried, can be gently touched. It took many years for me to venture out from cake decorating to art on canvas, but I always felt a motivation to build from previous experiences and hoped it would lead me in the right direction.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s definitely been a road of challenges, learning, and growth. Like any new experience, there has been a lot of trial and error. There have been many days that I have dedicated to just practicing techniques, only for them to fail. When you create designs in your head or just want to create something based on expression, there really isn’t a how-to book. I am also currently trying to navigate the business part of this journey. There are so many different aspects to consider: creating video content, building a website, and marketing. Also, I still have a full-time job and a family, which can make it difficult to carve out time to pursue what I’m working towards. However, I see all these challenges as opportunities for growth and wouldn’t want to push forward any other way.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an artist. I produce 3D-textured works of art on canvas. I’m professionally trained by years of working as a cake decorator, so I have used those talents to put a unique spin on canvases which brings a more realistic look to my designs. Most of my designs feature plants and florals within the art. I love the fact that you can touch the texture of the art without compromising it, and it has some slight movement. I’m proud of the years I’ve dedicated to advancing my skills and growing in my craft. I spent many days from high school until now generating fun designs just to practice my craft. . I feel what sets me apart is my style, which mainly involves a piping bag, but instead of the bags being filled with buttercream, it’s heavy acrylic paint. I incorporate various piping tips to showcase all the details of different leaves and petals. My skills in decorating over the last 18 years have been able to help me transition from cake to canvas and from buttercream to heavy acrylic paint. I’m definitely proud to be able to start something that is reflective of me and and my personality.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
For me, being positive and passionate for the arts has kept me going and motivated. It’s what I truly love and find interesting, and it has motivated me all these years. There have been hard times, but decorating cakes or canvas has always been a peaceful outlet for me. Since I’m just starting out with selling my work, I will continue to have a positive outlook and hope for the best. Either way, I’m enjoying the process, and that is just as important for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://calvillocreates.squarespace.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calvillocreates/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@calvillocreates