We were lucky to catch up with Carlos Andres Aponte Otero recently and have shared our conversation below.

Carlos Andres, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I’m currently finishing a project called ‘Lifesavers’ ; a short story that I’ve held in my heart for quite some time now! This is the first time where I’m creating a project around something that’s greatly dear to me, so it’s very intimate, but it’s also been very daunting. I’m exhibiting a part of myself that I don’t go openly sharing with others, so I’m really putting myself out there. Not to mention this project would be competing in the Kyoto International Manga Awards, so it’s a little nerve racking! But I think that’s led me to become extremely passionate about it, because it’s truly become an extension of me. It can be intimidating reaching that far deep in yourself, especially knowing others are free to speculate and judge my work, but it’s also very liberating! I’d say it has enabled me to authentically express myself through this project, which makes me hope others will be able to enjoy this side of me! I’d describe the story as a love letter toward my appreciation for manga, and to my younger years in Puerto Rico: sunny beach days, jangueos, tart passion fruit helados . . . and emotional angst! A lot of meaningful memories bloomed during that time and I look back at them very fondly. I say all this as if I were some old fart reminiscing about his youth (I haven’t even reached my 30’s). . . but working on this has really opened my eyes toward appreciating life and the different stages it has! I wouldn’t say I’m the wisest person, but it’s been an enlightening experience being able to go through such a process. If my experience and work on ‘Lifesavers’ could offer any kind of insight, I’d say: don’t take your life for granted! Amidst the ebb and flow of our lives, it’s important to step back every once in a while and look at the bigger picture. Appreciate what you have, and enjoy it!

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

I’ve been invested in art ever since I can remember, but I don’t think I can consider myself a true artist yet. Granted, drawing and doodling is something I always found myself doing. I was fortunate enough to attend an art school, and also pursued my masters in architecture, all of these pushing me to engage my artistic side in more ways than I anticipated. But I admit that I haven’t taken it as seriously as I do now. Over the years, I felt very stiff when it came to drawing, and was somewhat aimless. I felt that my art revolved strictly toward what I was taught and found it difficult to express myself properly through it. But being consistent and learning from others helped me recognize what I want my work to accomplish, and I think working toward that kind of goal can truly define you as an artist. It seems more fulfilling to draw and sketch when there’s a purpose behind what you create, and it can add value to why you do it. When the going gets tough and I’m dreading the idea of drawing, I remember that ethos, and it motivates me to overcome my reservations. I create art that’s true to my passions and inspires others, but above all . . . I want to have fun while doing it! If I can enjoy what I make, then I can be confident that the quality of my work will reflect through that. It’s so easy to get caught up in your own bubble, you forget why you do all this in the first place! Maintaining that quality is essential for me, and I’m hopeful that my art has incorporated that. When I draw, I attempt to be as loose as possible and do my best to not take fundamentals too seriously. Fundamentals are important, so they should be respected, but challenging that really broadened my horizons and allowed me to be more expressive with what I make. Things like exaggerating perspectives and abstracting concepts can add so much more depth to a piece, but I still find myself practicing to display that balance to the best of my abilities. I work toward harnessing that and show it on social media every so often, creating original ideas or expanding on whatever entertains me at the time. Seeing how others react to what I make is always fulfilling, frankly any reaction is welcome! At the end of the day that’s what art is made for, we benefit from having that dialogue and should use it to expand each other’s perceptions, even apply it toward our own ambitions. And there may be people who try to bring you down and that don’t agree with what you make, but as long as you have fun doing it, who really cares!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I strive to have my work be the best representation of myself in the moment my art is made. Whatever I create encompasses what I’m learning and how I’m applying that in my drawings. Initially I thought it was easy to confuse this with being a perfectionist; you’d always want your work to be absolute. But I’d say it’s also important to look at mistakes in the process of executing something and reflect on how it can add to your piece. Nothing will ever be perfect! And if you can incorporate that into your work by embracing those ink blots or wiggly lines, whatever it may be, I think that can enhance art immensely. Those kinds of mistakes leave behind traces of you as an artist, and are an imprint of our humanity.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being able to elicit some kind of emotion from others, or have my work resonate with another person is incredible. While working on ‘Lifesavers’, there were plenty of moments where I would relive my childhood just by incorporating references in my narrative or drawing certain scenes, and it can be very powerful! I had a friend go over one of the first few manuscripts from the story, and they were ecstatic when they noticed a specific landmark or the way a character said something. It was exhilarating! Since the process of creating a story has been mostly solitary in my case, I don’t really get that kind of feedback, and I’m holding in all kinds of emotions and thoughts. All this sentiment kind of just seeps onto the pages I work on, and I can only hope that people can pick up on it and identify them. If someone looking at my work can recognize something I do, and think back to a memory or experience they had, I think I can die happy.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @capepotrashcan