We recently connected with Blanca Estefania Dunwoody and have shared our conversation below.

Blanca Estefania, appreciate you joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

It is incredibly fulfilling to work as an artist. Creating something can be frustrating and challenging, but seeing a project come together and knowing I made it is incredibly satisfying. And there is nothing like seeing my artwork published, printed, or televised. Like many creatives, I have had to work “regular” jobs to get to where I am. I have done food service, retail, and various customer service jobs while pursuing my art degrees and profession. I am certainly glad I had the experience of working 9-to-5 jobs but don’t miss it. They all have lessons to be learned, and I am a better professional now because of what I learned in those jobs.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m an Illustrator and designer, and I enjoy bringing visions to life. Sometimes it’s incredibly difficult to get thoughts and images on paper, and that’s where I come in. I have a BFA in 2D Studio Art from Sam Houston State University and am an MFA candidate in Illustration at the Savannah College of Art and Design, both of which have helped me hone my skills and expertise in various industries.

My primary focus is to create illustrations that resonate with diverse audiences. I don’t like to shy away from gender, race, body type, or skin color, and I take a particular interest in taboo or sensitive topics. It can be more difficult to approach or discuss certain topics, so I aim to make them easier to understand to a broader audience.

I love seeking new experiences with the different people I work with, always on the lookout to learn something new, and capturing the essence of my clients in our collaborations is an absolute delight. I take pride in being open to all possibilities that allow me to use my artistic talents to help others discover and develop themselves as people and brands and evolve personally and professionally.

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

The journey of an artist is a story of resilience. There is never a shortage of nay-sayers along the way. I have no idea how often I’ve been asked, “What are you going to do with those skills when you’re done?” or “How is this going to help you find a real job?”

Some people don’t seem to understand that being an artist is a real job that is never done. No project is ever truly finished because the artist constantly improves their skills and can always go back and improve their previous work. And everywhere you look, there is an artist’s work. The design on your soda can, the cover of a book, and your favorite home decor were all made by artists of one capacity or another.

Even architects and engineers can be classified as artists, in my opinion. It takes a particular skill set to look at something and design a finished product. Whether that’s the composition of a painting, the plans for a building, or the interior design of your home, it all requires a person with the capacity for creativity.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

An incredible amount of resources are available, but the most helpful so far has been The Graphic Artist’s Guild’s “Handbook of Pricing and Ethical Guidelines.” It is indispensable for artistic professionals and provides things like salary information, self-pricing guides, model contracts, and forms, amongst other helpful information. It is updated yearly to keep up with market changes, but even older editions are a treasure trove of information.

Aside from that, “Art & Fear” by David Bayles and Ted Oland is a great book to pick up. They discuss common questions and fears artists might face in their journey and help artists find their way. “Lastly, “Seeing is Forgetting the Name of the Thing One Sees” is a book on the experiences of Robert Irwin as an artist, put together by Lawrence Weschler. Irwin’s journey as an artist resonates with the spirit of being an artist, and it helped me view my career from a different perspective.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.blancaestefania.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/be_illustrates
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/be.illustrates/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blancaestefania/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/be_illustrates
• Other: https://linktr.ee/be_illustrates