Conversations with Steven Carranco

Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Carranco.

Hi Steven , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story has had many unexpected turns, but I believe those experiences have helped shape who I am today.

I have always been creative and interested in art, design, and visual communication. I studied Medical Illustration at Rochester Institute of Technology. As part of my education, I took a course called Surgical Illustration, in which I created four illustrations documenting my head, left leg, and left foot. This experience helped me better understand anatomy and the medical procedures related to my injuries. Over time, I also developed an interest in photography and other creative work.

A major turning point in my life happened on my first day of school in 2018, when a box truck hit me while I was walking in Rochester, New York. I suffered a traumatic brain injury and serious injuries to my left leg and ankle. I went through multiple surgeries and a long recovery. For a long time, I did not feel completely like myself.

Running became one of the things that helped me move forward. At first, it was about rebuilding my strength and confidence, but eventually, it became a major part of my life. I began participating in local races, half marathons, marathons, international races, and fitness events such as DEKA and HYROX.

Running also gave me a community. I became one of the original members of ASL Run ATX. I enjoyed being around other runners, encouraging people, pacing others, and helping make the running community more welcoming and accessible for Deaf runners.

Now I live in California and continue to stay involved with running communities while growing professionally in photography, design, and other creative work. I am still figuring out exactly where my career will take me, but I know I want creativity, community, and accessibility to remain important parts of my life.

When I look back, I am proud of how much has changed since 2018. I still have goals I want to reach, but I also try to appreciate how far I have already come.

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 definitely has not been a smooth road. One of the biggest struggles in my life was recovering from a serious accident in 2018. I went through multiple surgeries and a long recovery process that required patience, determination, and a lot of adjustment. There were times when I felt frustrated because my daily life and future plans had changed so much.

I have also faced challenges while navigating school, work, and different opportunities. Communication and accessibility have not always been straightforward, so I have learned to be prepared, adaptable, and proactive in making sure I understand expectations and can do my best work.

I have experienced career changes, job setbacks, and periods when I was unsure which professional direction to take. Although those experiences were difficult, they encouraged me to become more flexible and explore different paths in design, photography, illustration, and other creative work.

Running has helped me through many of these struggles. It gave me something positive to work toward and helped me rebuild my confidence. I still face challenges, but I have learned that progress does not always happen in a straight line, and that persistence can lead to new opportunities.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work has always been about more than just making something look good. I am drawn to visual communication because I like taking something complex, emotional, or difficult to explain and turning it into something people can understand and connect with.

My background is in Medical Illustration, which taught me to be very observant and detail-oriented. I learned how important anatomy, accuracy, composition, and storytelling can be. That interest became even more meaningful to me when I visited Florence, Italy, and explored more of Leonardo da Vinci’s work and anatomical studies. Seeing how he connected art, science, and observation really stayed with me because those same ideas are such a big part of medical illustration.

Over time, I also became more involved in photography and design, which gave me different ways to tell stories visually. I also spent a year as an art vendor, where I had the opportunity to share and sell my work directly to the public. In addition, I worked with clients on custom tattoo designs as a side job, creating personalized artwork based on their ideas and stories. This experience strengthened my ability to collaborate with clients, understand their vision, and translate personal meaning into thoughtful visual designs. It also helped me grow more confident in presenting my art, connecting with different people, and understanding how others respond to my creative work.

I think what sets me apart is the combination of precision and emotion in the way I approach creative work. I pay attention to the small details, but I also think about how the final piece will make someone feel or what they will take away from it.

I am most proud that I have continued creating even through major changes in my life and career. My path has not been simple or predictable, but every experience has shaped the way I see and create. I am still growing and discovering where I want my work to take me, but I know I want to keep creating work that is thoughtful, intentional, and meaningful.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I have not really had one formal mentor, but I have learned a lot from people I have met through school, work, creative communities, and running.

What has worked best for me is simply talking to people, asking questions, staying connected, and being open to learning from people who have more experience than I do. I also think networking feels more natural when it comes from a real connection instead of only reaching out because you want something.

My advice would be to find people whose work or journey you genuinely respect and start by having a conversation with them. You never know where one connection can lead.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carrancoillustration.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skelencil/