Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcelo Verdad.
Hi Marcelo, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in León, Guanajuato, México, and from a very young age, I was interested in art. I always say I started drawing before I could even walk. I always knew I would become an artist — it was just a matter of figuring out how.
I have an uncle, Fernando, who always supported my artistic journey. He lived in Los Angeles and would bring me art books, sketchbooks, manga, and even got me my first Wacom tablet. When I was about to graduate high school in México, my uncle told me about an amazing art school where the most fabulous artists studied — ArtCenter College of Design. I looked into it and instantly loved it. I took a year off to prepare my portfolio and during that time, I met my first amazing art mentor, Napo, who taught me so much about digital art, character design and helped me put together a solid portfolio. I applied to ArtCenter with no backup plan — and luckily, I got in.
For me, there has never been a Plan B. I’ve been lucky to have a lot of clarity throughout my journey; it’s almost as if I didn’t choose my path, but rather, it chose me. I’ve learned to trust myself and trust what life brings my way from a very young age.
Before leaving México, I visited one of my witches. At the time, the moment felt small, almost meaningless, but with time, it has become prophetic. Without me telling her anything about myself or my plans, she said two things. First, she offered me a random book she happened to have about creating picture books — a book that, unknowingly, predicted my future career. She asked me simply to keep it. I never read it, but it’s still in my bookshelf and I can actually see it from here in this moment. I can’t reveal the second thing she said just yet, but I’ve been working on a project that might confirm her second prophecy. I think about that encounter often.
Moving to Los Angeles to attend ArtCenter became a complete shift — it became my new home because I devoted all of my time and energy to learning and growing as a profesional. Leaving México — leaving my family, my sister, my friends, my boyfriend at the time — was incredibly hard. I cried so much and missed my life there deeply. But deep inside, I knew I was making the right choice.
A year before graduating, I took a picture book class out of curiosity, and that’s when everything clicked. At the time, I felt so frustrated, angry, and disappointed with politicians, corruption, social injustice, and the state of the world. But picture books completely changed my perspective and gave me a purpose. Through them, I realized I could actually help create change — by focusing all of my energy on children and speaking directly to the future of humanity.
I see adults as fully grown trees — hard, stiff, and almost impossible to change. But children are tiny seeds, still flexible and full of possibility, able to grow depending on how we nurture and water them. With that realization, I made a conscious decision to devote my work and my existence to children, helping to give them a strong foundation rooted in consciousness, openness, acceptance, and kindness.
My greatest hope is that, when they grow up and it’s their turn to make the decisions, they will change the world and fill it with color, compassion, and tenderness.
That’s why I pursue both of my dream jobs: teaching children and writing for them.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being an artist is always rough and uncertain, but I’ve known from a very young age that this was my path. I’ve always felt ready — mentally and emotionally — for every challenge that has come my way. Being an artist feels like the most natural, organic, and simple thing for me to do.
What has actually been the real struggle is denying what feels like my “destiny” — ignoring my true calling. I remember applying to countless awful jobs after I graduated, none of which made me happy or inspired me. I faced constant rejection for months.
It wasn’t until I reconnected with my passion for kids and teaching that everything changed. A friend happened to see an opening for an art teaching position and encouraged me to apply. I did — and within a week, I got the job, doing what I love and what truly feels like my life’s path.
Being authentic, honest, and staying true to myself has always made my path smoother — not without challenges or difficulties, but with a strong sense of purpose. Even in the struggles, I can find meaning.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I write and illustrate picture books. My work is heavily influenced by play and inspired by my own kids — my students. I often study their mark-making techniques, their rawness, their honesty, and their confidence when creating art, and I try to replicate that spirit in my own process.
My style is all about unlearning the institutionalized aspects of art making and reconnecting with my inner child — letting him have fun and create freely.
I always say I create for myself and for the younger version of me, who I’m still very close with. If my work makes me happy and makes sense to me, that’s more than enough — that’s the biggest reward. I’m proud to say I’m my own biggest fan!
I believe that each of us is unique, and no one can do what Marcelo does better than Marcelo himself. I’m pretty bad at pretending to be someone else — but I’m really good at being myself. That’s what sets me, and each one of us, apart.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My advice is to always be kind to everyone — no matter who they are. It comes naturally to me to befriend the cleaning and maintenance staff and to always greet them first before anyone else in a building. I started doing that from a very young age, back when I was in school in México.
I would become close friends with the cleaning ladies at my school, always stopping by to greet them, hug them, and chat with them every day. I still remember Doña Jose — she was so sad when I graduated that she gave me a tiny necklace with a little religious figure to protect me. Even though I’m not religious, I still keep it with me. I believe it carries her good energy and her wishes for my protection.
That’s how my mom raised me — not just through her words, but through her example. I’m beyond grateful for her guidance.
At the end of the day, we are all human, and we naturally prefer to work with and keep kind, humble people close to us. Kindness always opens doors, arms, and hearts
Contact Info:
- Website: https://marceloverdad.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marceloverdad/
Image Credits
Ximena Verdad
