Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Cruz
Hi Melissa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey as an artist began in my childhood. I’ve always had such an intense love for art, and it’s something that came very naturally to me. Growing up, art was practically an obsession and I spent most of my time sketching and experimenting with different mediums. Pen and ink were definitely a favorite. Thankfully, I was encouraged by my parents to pursue art and they would support my interest the best they could, taking me to after school classes and providing me supplies.
I was introduced to digital art when I was 18, and that opened a whole new world for me. The convenience of it is amazing, and it really elevated my art at the time. While it still has a learning curve, it provides a lot of freedom to explore ideas without the permanence or time consumption of other mediums. Around that age, people had started to reach out to me for commissions, and I made my first prints and stickers. I began to attempt to sell my art on the Venice boardwalk. I would grab a friend, take the train to the beach and sit on the floor displaying a handful stickers and such. I was just having fun, and a lot of days had no turn out. Eventually, I’d make small sales here and there. I think my younger year old self would be super excited to see the vending setup I have now, with all of my blacklight work and a whole collection of stickers and prints to sell. I love the range in style I get to do for my commissions. I don’t know what my ultimate goal is as an artist yet, but I love what I’ve been doing and plan to keep exploring new projects and ideas.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Honestly, I think my biggest struggle along the way has been internal. I feel like I’m capable of so much more, but motivation and self discipline have always been tough for me as a person with ADD. It can be really hard for me to apply myself sometimes and give myself credit where it’s due. I am getting better though and I have a lot of support around me, so I know to keep pushing when I get stuck in an artistic rut.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have a pretty wide range in what I create and what mediums I use. Lately it’s been a lot of digital work, but I also enjoy using pastels, acrylics, paint/alcohol markers, spray paint, and gouache. I feel like there’s a lot of existing beauty and art within nature, and there’s so much inspiration to be taken from that. I draw a lot of animals, and I’ve loved doing pet portraits for people recently. I’ve done tshirt designs, logos, and band art. My personal work includes a lot of stickers, prints, and original paintings. I’ve also recently experimented with cutting out my own MDF board for custom panel paintings.
I would say people would describe my art as unique, edgy, and psychedelic. I think what sets me apart from other artists is my style. All of my work falls into different levels on a scale of illustration and realism. A lot of my drawings include heavy line work, with intricate detail and a sense of flow in the overall design. I love incorporating a dark edgy vibe to my paintings, mixed with a trippiness in my choice of colors or linework. Recently, I’ve been doing a lot of blacklight and glow in the dark pieces, which are a huge hit.
How do you think about happiness?
I’ve always found a lot of joy in little adventures. Even just simple things, like visiting a place I’ve never been. I love the forest and being outdoors in general. I feel like it really recharges me mentally. My friends and family make me happy, my cat makes me happy. I love when I make really good connections through art, when you’re talking to people about what they do, and you can just feel their passion and excitement radiating from them. I’ve met so many amazing and talented people through creating art, and that makes me super happy and grateful. It makes me super excited to see what the future holds for all of us as artists.
Pricing:
- Digital Pet Portraits: 200-250
- Pastel Pet Portraits: 350-500
- T-Shirt Design: 175-250
- Custom Work: $35/hr
- Pricing can be flexible depending on overall detail and size
Contact Info:
