We recently connected with Fernanda Martinez and have shared our conversation below.

Fernanda, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success looks different for each of us. For some people success has a correlation with money and for some others, it looks more like a personal achievement. In my experience, I describe success as how accomplished you feel in your life purpose and how is this purpose impacting your personal life and the people surrounding you.

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

I was born and raised in Mexico city and moved to Oakland in 2015. I started painting as a hobby and soon a realized that this was my true passion, so I created LA TINTA, my personal brand.

My Mexican heritage has a profound impact in the way I’ve developed my art vision and themes; all my life I’ve been exposed to vibrant and colorful scenarios, textiles, architecture, and florid traditions that have shaped my art practice and style. Living in the bay area the past five years, where the art community is so robust and supportive, has contributed to my growth as a maker and creative. Luckily, I’ve been able to exhibit my work at some galleries, shops and even expand my work to murals across the bay area.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Over the years I have learned that “word of mouth” is a great selling strategy especially for mural painting. Every time I paint a new mural it speaks loud to a greater audience and normally, I get new clients that once saw my work as a mural or that know someone who recommended me as a muralist.

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

Building a brand and an artistic career from zero has been extremely hard. It has taken me several years to realize that I have a voice and that my way to speak is through my art. The first limitation I faced was convincing myself that pursuing this dream was allowed and that every step I make even if looks like a small one, is going to be relevant eventually. As many other artists, my work has been rejected countless times, from exhibitions, collaborations and competitions; but it is the NO, what makes me persist more.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.latintaart.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/tinta_art
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/latintaart
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/fernandamtz

Image Credits
Natalie Schrik