Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronica Estrada.
Veronica, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
“Remember what I said about finding a meaningful life? I wrote it down, but now I can recite it: Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”- Tuesdays with Morrie
In the midst of raising a kid with ADHD on my own, conquering college, my own mental health, and creating art, I’ve found that I’m drawn to sharing my experiences. Fear the Nobodys started as an idea for an art collective between my friends and I who wanted to share our medium through every outlet we could think of; whether it was canvas or the streets, we wanted to be heard. Many years later, art is still that outlet for me to express the things that I have gone through. I’ve learned throughout my life that art is an outlet, and continues to be an outlet for a lot of individuals. Art has saved me more times than I can remember, and it’s in these creative outlets I find myself teaching others what I know.
My long term goal is to pursue occupational therapy & open an art studio. I want to create a safe for those who are like me, that seek out art as therapy from whatever they are going through.
I’m letting everyone into my life, to possibly encourage those who have walked down similar roads to open up and start the journey to happiness. My happiness has always rotated around art; it’s what has saved me again and again. So I encourage others to join me in finding a creative outlet. Art will save us all.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t think anything we really want comes easy.
For starters, I was a young single parent. I had my daughter when I was 19. Her dad decided he didn’t want to this life and so he left. I myself had lost my dad as a kid, so I really didn’t know what a nuclear family looked like. I decided I wanted more and pursued college. It took me some time; I attended two community colleges just so I could transfer to University. Once I got to that point, I had no idea what I wanted to study. I pursued Human Services in Mental Health recovery while I focused my little free time to drawing and painting. I threw myself into any art opportunity I could find; online art forums, gallery showings, commissioned pieces. Anything to continue to show my work.
My daughter is now 11 years old; she struggles with ADHD & some other diagnosis & art has been even more important for my sanity. I spend a lot of time advocating for mental health and I see how important finding an outlet is. I’ve done art workshops for previously homeless individuals, and I see how important it is for them to be heard & to express themselves. This can be true for everyone.
It’s still a journey I’m on to make art. For myself and for others.
Please tell us about Red Estrada – @Fear the Nobody’s.
Fear the Nobody’s began as an art collective & transitioned into my safe space. I share a lot of my drawings, paintings, commissioned pieces, etc. Some of my work I give away when I know people connect with it.
I’m most proud of the art I get to display. I was invited to participate in an art show hosted by @eladaniiii back in August, and it was a reminder to keep doing what I’m doing. I hope to continue to be invited in group shows & focus on doing large scale pieces within my community.
I think what sets me apart from others is that I don’t have a set theme or character. A lot of my work is just based on what I feel or what I’m going through at the time. I do a lot of portraits on stickers because they’re eye-catching & portable. I put some of my art on the streets, or I trade with other artists. Anything to connect with people, really. I think some of the work that stands out are my color pencil work. I don’t do them too often, but I focus on small details when I draw with pencil.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I don’t know if I would do things differently, because it really shaped me to be who I am. A lot of messed up things happened to me, but it really opened my eyes up to mental health & how little advocacy there is. It also showed me how important art has been into helping me and others around me. My experiences have really humbled me and I’m grateful for that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fearthenobodys.bigcartel.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @fearthenobodys
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