We were lucky to catch up with Maya Corona recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Maya , thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I have always been creative since I was little. I remember saving money to buy new colour pencils or crafts by selling candy at school or family dinners with my allowance. I would buy the sweets, sell them for double the price, and get more money to buy my favourite colour pencils.

I would go to the community center to take drawing classes, card making and whatever I could get my hands on, which also would turn into me selling some of the cards I made.

When it was time to go to university, I’ve always wanted to do something creative, my ex-boyfriend invited me to his house, and when we got his sister making a collage, it looked so fun. I couldn’t believe it. I asked what are you doing; she said homework!
I was like, I want that homework, so I asked what she was studying, and she replied advertising & graphic design. I thought of going into art, but someone said I would starve.

So yes, my love for creating began when I was very young. Still, it took a turn when I started my journey in the world of advertising and graphic design—collapsing my need for “a good job” with my desire to create.

Over time, creativity was removed, edited, streamlined, stifled and strategized. I was not happy doing all this design work. Still, the obligation to those around me to “keep pushing” prevented me from honouring the covert message deep down inside. Twenty years passed, thinking this was how it had to be if I wanted to be creative.

From 2017 to 2019, working in my branding agency, I was involved in building a new philosophy and approach for branding and marketing. Inside that work and testing my assumptions, I began to shine the light in the dark corners of my identity and what the new definition of creativity was for me.

It was not in marketing campaigns and brand strategies that made my life happy anymore. However, fun, freedom and belonging are my core values, and they are present in everything I do. While playing with my 5-year-old twins with some watercolours, I rediscovered my passion for creating with my hands and playing simultaneously; it was magic.

Maya , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was born and raised in Mexico City and currently reside in Calgary, AB, where I have reignited my passion for art. I am an artist who enjoys exploring various techniques such as watercolours, acrylics, and mixed media on any scale. My artwork is characterized by bold, vibrant colours, and I always strive to imbue a sense of liberation and freedom in my pieces.

My artwork is available for purchase online, and I offer commission work, ranging from people and animal portraits to landscapes and botanical subjects. My ultimate goal is to inspire others to express their own unique identity by incorporating my artwork into their personal spaces.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of exhibiting my work in numerous collective local exhibitions, including those held at the SpanicArts & Art Commons at the +15 galleries, the Consulate of Mexico in Calgary, the McDougall Centre Art Exhibit, cSPACE King Edward, Casa Mexico, Kiyooka Ohe Arts Center, Fuse33, Mastrius, and the Ferri Building Gallery in Vancouver. In addition, I have held a solo show at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, where I showcased my latest collection in 2022 from April to August.

I enjoy exploring new avenues for artistic expression and have created outdoor murals for community projects with Crescent Heights and Mount Pleasant. Furthermore, as the president of Bear and Unicorn Creative Company, I am currently building a new community called Magic Colour Makers, which brings together artists and industry professionals with an eagerness to learn, share knowledge, and grow in areas such as art, marketing, design, branding, sales, and relationships.

In my capacity as an artist and community builder, I have been involved with various organizations, including the SpanicArts Board for the past two years, the Mexican Woman Artist Collective, Motive Art Academy at Southcenter Mall, and the Calgary Artist Studio Tour.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Upon arriving in Canada in 2007, I faced a daunting challenge. As a newcomer who did not speak English, I had to enroll in an ESL program to improve my communication skills. Despite the language barrier, I was determined to stay in Vancouver, the city I had grown to love.

With a background in Advertising and Graphic Design in Mexico, I enrolled in a program called Electronic Media Design. This program was an opportunity for me to learn new skills and meet incredible people who made a significant impact on my life, including my husband. However, as English was my second language, I often found myself feeling shy and unable to speak confidently during meetings with clients.

To express my creativity, I experimented with various mediums, including acrylics, coloured pencils, markers, and my computer. But it wasn’t until I tried watercolours that something clicked. The meditative and therapeutic nature of watercolour painting reignited my passion for art. Whenever I had a spare moment, I would immerse myself in my paintings.

Gradually, I began sharing my artwork on social media, and people started showing interest in purchasing my pieces. Encouraged by the positive response, I started conducting watercolour workshops to share my knowledge with others. In 2019, I made the decision to pursue my creative passion full-time, creating original artwork and accepting commission work.

This journey has not been easy, and there have been challenges and setbacks. But my resilience, determination, and unwavering belief in myself have helped me overcome these obstacles. I have built a community of supportive individuals who have encouraged and inspired me to pursue my dreams. Today, as the Bear and Unicorn Creative Company president and the Magic Colour Makers community, I aim to share my knowledge and experience with others and inspire them to pursue their passions.

I still practice graphic design, but I am now more selective about my projects, preferring to work with artists and organizations whose values and creative vision align with mine. This allows me to combine my skills in design with my passion for art and contribute to projects that truly inspire me. However, my main focus remains on my creative practice and sharing my art with others.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the most important lessons I had to unlearn was the belief that I could not make a significant difference in the world. I used to feel that making an impact required changing the entire world, which felt like an impossible feat. However, I gradually began to realize that it is through one person at a time that significant changes can occur, and the impact of even small actions can be contagious. I now focus on creating art that inspires others to pursue their passions and make a difference in the world, no matter how small it may initially seem. I hope this inspiration will spread, and together, we can create a more positive and fulfilling world for everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mayacorona.com/about-maya
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayacoronaart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MayaCoronaArt
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/notifications/
• Twitter: @MAYA_C0RONA
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCns_GXWIEeDpmRKl8GJQ9EA
• Other: https://magiccolourmakers.carrd.co/