Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Indira Burgos. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Indira thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with 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?

Am I happier as an artist? Yes, I am very happy as an artist.
But do I sometimes think about what it would be like to have a regular job? Absolutely.
When do I think like this? In the slow season, when something isn’t going the way I thought it would, when I get home at 1 or 2 am after work and I still have invoices to send, emails to answer, content to post, and reels to edit. It’s a constant thought of what I am going to do next to improve my art, to sketch faster, to improve my sales, to book more.
As a creative, you’re not just the artist. You’re the sales team, the accountant, the social media manager, the logistics coordinator. When you’re tired, there’s no one to pass the baton to. It’s all you.
I sometimes think about what it would be like to be in something corporate. A structured schedule, weekends off, paid time off, co-workers, knowing exactly how much money is coming in, not having to constantly market yourself. Even small things like end-of-year parties. I have always wanted to go to an office, and I never got to experience that.
But then on the other side, I see guests amazed, holding their sketches, smiling, taking pictures with their portraits. Brides messaging me about how special it was for them. Also, all the places and events I get to see: I have been to Dallas AT&T Stadium, Houston Country Club, Chicago, beautiful hotels in downtown Austin, SXSW. I was once sketching at Formula 1. I get to do what I would have never imagined, which is earning money while illustrating, rendering clothes with markers and paint.
A regular job might give me stability — and I respect that deeply — but it wouldn’t give me what art does. The feeling of watching someone see themselves through my art for the first time. The freedom to build something that is fully mine. The ability to decide which direction my brand goes next. The possibility.
Being a creative is harder in many ways. It’s uncertain. It demands resilience. It forces you to confront your insecurities constantly. But it also stretches you. It makes you braver.
So yes — I do think about what it would be like to have a regular job. Especially on the tired days. Especially when income fluctuates and when I’m handling everything alone.
But it’s not about which path is easier. It’s about deciding which kind of challenge feels meaningful to you. And for me, right now, that’s the challenge that allows me to create.

Indira, 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?

Hi! I’m Indira Burgos, the founder and artist behind Burgos Illustrations. I was born and raised in Mexico, where I went to fashion school. I moved to the United States at the age of 20 as an Au Pair. During my au pair years, I took a sketching class at Austin Community College with an amazing teacher (Stephanie J. Schiller), who not only taught me how to refine my illustration but also introduced me to the world of live event sketching.
Today I specialize in live event illustration — weddings, corporate events, social gatherings — capturing moments and people in a way that’s fun, vibrant, and personal. My goal is always the same: to create art that captures real moments and brings joy to the people who experience it.
What sets me apart is how I blend my fashion background with technical skill. I provide something tangible and memorable that becomes a meaningful keepsake, in a way that people can truly connect with.
I’m most proud of the moments when my work makes people stop, smile, and truly connect with what they’re seeing. Seeing someone’s reaction to a sketch — realizing it captures a meaningful moment for them — is an incredible feeling. I’ve been lucky to work at amazing venues and events, from SXSW to Formula 1, and each opportunity pushes me to keep growing as an artist.
For anyone curious about my work, I want them to know that Burgos Illustrations is about more than just pretty drawings — it’s about creating memories, celebrating people, and sharing a little bit of joy through art. Whether you’re planning a wedding, a corporate event, or just looking for a custom illustration, I bring detail, and a touch of fun to every piece I create.
I also work every day to refine my art, letting my customers know they can expect nothing less than continuous improvement.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Being an artist means you’re constantly evolving. You’re never finished. Your eye sharpens, your taste refines, your voice gets clearer. Growth becomes part of the job.
There’s something humbling about looking back at old work and realizing how much you’ve grown. Not with judgment, but with gratitude.
Being creative requires you to stay curious. To experiment. To risk making something that doesn’t fully land. And through that process, you start to understand your own rhythm.
Most rewarding aspect for me is that, get to experiment and to never stop.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I’m going to say this, because I get it so, so many times — and it really goes both ways.

I have non-creatives who look at what I do and say, “WOW, you can sketch that in 7 minutes? I could never.” And then I have people who ask how many I can do in an hour. I say around 8 to 10 guests, approximately. And they respond, “Is that it? You can’t do more?”

And that right there is something I think non-creatives struggle to understand about the creative journey.

Because what they’re really seeing is the result — not the years behind it. They’re seeing the 7 minutes, not the 10+ years of training my eye, studying proportion, understanding poses, sketching thousands of figures, learning how to read a person’s posture. The speed isn’t magic. It’s practice.

And when someone says, “Is that it? Can’t you do more?” they’re often seeing it as production. As output. As numbers. I understand when its a big event and they just want to know how many people are going to get a sketch, but I am a person, not a copy machine.

What they don’t see is that each sketch is observation, connection. It’s translating someone’s energy onto paper in real time. Even if it takes 6-7 minutes, that’s 6-7 minutes of full concentration, decisions, and physical execution.

I think non-creatives sometimes underestimate how much invisible labor goes into creative work — the years of refinement that make something look effortless.

You never know who might benefit from hearing that — especially someone who feels like they’re “not creative.” Most creativity isn’t talent. I wasn’t talented when I started, my sketches used to look horrible, but I put a lot of hours to get them somehow right.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.burgosillustrations.com/
• Instagram: @Burgos.illustrations

Image Credits

Madebymaricruz