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

Hi Stacie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

From a young age I have always been painting and drawing, and when I was about 9 years old I started an art “club” in my neighborhood. The kids on my street would meet every Saturday morning in our backyard to draw. Back then, creating was natural, and I could spend hours doing it without noticing the time. But then I grew up, and art took a backseat – I went years without creating anything. In college I majored in Marketing because it was a safe choice while still being artist-adjacent (I thought I’d go into advertising). I also earned a degree in graphic design (very art-adjacent) and took art courses as electives, but was never ready to admit that I would rather be creative for a living.

It wasn’t until early 2019, near the end of a wonderful opportunity to live in Paris for three months, that it occurred to me I wanted to be, and at my core, I was, an artist. And at that point I started thinking of all the ways I could pursue this path in a meaningful way.

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

I’m a surface designer and illustrator, and founder of the design studio The Lucky Bandana. I make patterns and illustrations based on the inspiration I gather in my neighborhood and on my travels near and far, as well as the everyday objects that surround us. I am obsessed with painting in gouache and applying colored pencil and pastel to it – basically, a mixed-media approach. Making work in my sketchbook is one of my favorite things to do, and I usually have four different sketchbooks “on the go” at any given time.

In 2019 when I began actively pursuing a creative path, I learned Adobe Illustrator in-depth, and how to use it to create repeat patterns from my paintings and drawings. These patterns can then be licensed for use on products. I have fond memories of the wallpaper patterns in my house growing up, or on my mom’s and grandma’s clothing, or even on my favorite stationery. Those memories conjure feelings of love, beauty, warmth and possibility, and it’s my aim to put as much of that back into the world for others to enjoy.

It’s not always a straight path to becoming an artist – and I have personally taken many detours along the way. But without those experiences I wouldn’t be where I am or know what I know now. Above all I’m most proud of my ability to take risks and trust that whatever happens I will rise to meet it. And, if my designs or words of encouragement help someone even a little, then I consider my work a success.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

By 2006, after several years as a Marketing Manager, I felt quite unsatisfied with my work. While I was still too afraid to admit out loud that I wanted to be creative for a living, I knew I wanted to be surrounded by art and artists, and thought working in a museum would be the best next move. So, I researched what education was required and I started taking French courses at Pasadena City College in the evenings after work, knowing I would someday need to pass a foreign language exam as part of my Master’s degree. When I finally applied to graduate programs in Art History I was rejected by every single university. But, rather than give up, over the next year I doubled my focus and energy: I began taking Art History courses over the summer at the university to get to know the ins and outs of the system, and to get relevant experience under my belt. Then, at the beginning of the next application season, I planted myself in front of the Dean’s office and waited for her office hours. I introduced myself, and through our discussions I was able to show her my true sincerity in pursuing a career change and wanting to join the master’s program. When it came time to apply, she was an advocate for me and my application sailed through the approval process.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

There are several books that have significantly impacted my entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy, but perhaps not in the way one would expect. Yes, I can totally recommend The One Thing by Gary Keller to learn how to set and reach goals (it’s a fantastic book), but I tend to read books that are more related to mindset and instinct rather than those about straightforward “business.”

I believe mindset is the key to unlocking the door to what we want, so I tend to lean into books about that more than others. In this category I recommend The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, Art and Fear by by David Bayles and Ted Orland, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theluckybandana.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theluckybandana/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theluckybandana
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacie-martinez-80706b53/
• Substack: https://staciemartinez.substack.com/