We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sara Escobedo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sara below.

Hi Sara, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

It wasn’t until after college, as I started my career as a graphic designer, that I had the desire to embrace that artistic side of myself. The job that I had at the time, bought a drawing pad for me to use on projects where I had more creative freedom, such as designing cover art for albums and singles for some of the bands and artists we worked with. This was some of my favorite work I had gotten to do so far (and my favorite still to this day). This discovery of digital art was a game changer.

When I eventually quit my job, I was sad to not have a tool like that drawing pad anymore. Hearing this, my uncle graciously gifted me an iPad later that year for my birthday. I practiced procreate for hours! Testing out all the different brushes, drawing things that will never see the light of day, making art that makes me happy. The iPad is one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received. Not only has it helped launch Awkward Bear Artwork, it has helped open up this whole other creative side of me I never would have gotten to explore. Thank you Uncle John.

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

I created Awkward Bear Artwork because I knew that art was something I wanted to peruse in one way or another. I use to obsess over the fact that my art isn’t in one specific style, but I do have a theme to my art and I feel that is just fine. I like to call my art “light-spooky.” It’s spooky themed with a fun/playful side to it. I kind of just draw whatever I want in whatever style I feel like. Maybe this will change over the years, but for now, I’m totally okay with not confining my art into one box.

I really like drawing random and one-off designs that I go on to sell at markets and my online shop, but what I really love is designing and illustrating cover art.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think connecting with people over my art is the most rewarding thing. My illustrations are some of the things I’m most proud of. They’re products of my imagination and bringing them to life and seeing them printed out is so cool. Going to markets and actually meeting people who appreciate my art and see something in it has been so validating. Like, people want to buy my art and want it in their homes? It’s so crazy to me and such an incredible feeling.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I’m very proud of all the album and single cover art I’ve created over the years. It’s my artistic interpretation of a song, or a collection of songs and it lives permanently on streaming platforms, some of them are even physical CDs and Vinyl. It may not be known by many that I created it, but I can at least know, “Hey, I made that!.”

My goal would be to create cover artwork of all different styles for all different kinds of bands and musicians as more of a full time gig. It’s harder now with AI and premade templates out there available at anyone’s fingertips. However, I think nothing beats sitting down and collaboratively thinking of a concept and bringing it to life to reflect the music the artist had made. It’s so much more real.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/awkwardbearartwork
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awkwardbear_artwork
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraescobedo1

Image Credits

Sara Escobedo (Awkward Bear Artwork)