We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Checa Aka Mirror Mom a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Checa , thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
I like to call it… The “Smiles Save” Project.
I had read about a guy who always waved and smiled at everyone, no matter who it was, even if he got weird looks. One day, his girlfriend asks him why he does it. He replied that he had heard about people who had tried to commit suicide, but failed… A majority of them stated that maybe even if a stranger would have acknowledged them, that they wouldn’t have tried to end their lives…
Ever since then, I take my smile everywhere I go, literally! Leaving “Smile” clips and mini mirrors throughout the city, even out of town trips too. Sometimes we need a reminder to smile, it could also be someone else’s will to live… I’ve gotten caught leaving one behind before, the lady shouted; “I want to hug you, I love this sooo much!” All I can think is; “I wanna save lives too”. 💚💛❤
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
As a young adult, I would write affirmations for myself on the mirror. All my life, all I ever wanted was to stand out and be different, now as a mom I apply this to my parenting style. I don’t just think outside the box, I live outside the box… Every weekday morning, they’d wake up to a mirror covered in information. I included the weather, an affirmation, fun fact, word of the day and the National Day, complete with Spanish translations! I’d draw to help convey the information while keeping the kids engaged and entertained. We’d even play our own game show where I would quiz them about the content; “WHAT’S. ON. THAT. MIRROR?!!!!”, sound effects and everything! The winner would get a prize (money, snacks, anything I could find).
I originally started out with dry erase markers. They’re great to use but can be a little hard to see. I later came across chalk markers and fell in love! They gave my drawings a “POP” that I didn’t even know I was looking for!
My work has transitioned from my mirror to frames, cars, houses, businesses and any other surface I can get my hands on. I love spreading joy and partying daily! I’ve said it so many times: “Any day that you get to wake up is a reason to celebrate, especially because many might’ve lost that opportunity.“ I want to make the most of every day and have fun along the way. When I came across National Days I started incorporating them to help show that there is literally always a reason to invoke happiness! I grew up listening to Bob Marley and embody “One love” in everything I do, I wake up and give thanks for every chance I get to share my love. Kindness is free so I make sure to sprinkle it everywhere I go. I try to execute this on a daily basis by advertising the National Day on the “Mirror Mom Mobile” or drawing cute characters for my “Mirror Mom Minis” to be left behind on my bicycling adventures. I get to make people smile and spread National Day awareness so that many more will join in on the celebration of life!
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My priority is making people smile and leaving my mark on the world. Love is the only thing we have to share, and I want to encourage everyone to do so while partying daily. There have been plenty of times where I’ve learned or tasted something new because of National Days. I love that I also get to see other traditions and how the rest of the world celebrates!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
That it’s limitless. The possibilities are literally endless! I think it’s strangely cool that I get to draw on more than just paper, that I can illustrate what I see in my head and bring it to life. Mirror Mom has been hired for advertisements, custom frames and many other special occasions. I absolutely enjoy being able to create customs for my customers. Unfortunately, the downside is that my toddler follows suit and thinks he can draw on everything too…
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mirrormom.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirror.mom/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/mirrormom/
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/mirror_mom
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCkkb_81lTZ_hzF7Zth3izMQ