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

Alright, Valencia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

The first time I realized I wanted to pursue art professionally was when I was in community college. At the time, I was studying nursing because I felt it was what my parents wanted for me. They worried I wouldn’t be able to make a living as an artist. I didn’t want to disappoint them. they came to America to build a better life for themselves and for me.

But I was deeply unhappy. No matter how many hours I studied, I was barely scraping by, earning mostly C’s and D’s. After my final exam in a nursing class I needed to enter the program, I received a C-. I had technically passed, but instead of feeling relieved, I was hit with a heavy question: Do I really want to do this for the rest of my life? Studying endlessly, graduating, and working as a registered nurse? The answer was a clear no.

I switched my classes to an art degree and moved into graphic design—but I didn’t tell my parents. I was afraid of how my father would react. One day, I accidentally showed him my grades without thinking. He looked at them and said, “Art… art… art… Are you doing an art degree?” I answered yes. He simply said, “Okay.” It was nerve-wracking to say the least, but I felt an immense sense of relief and happiness knowing my father accepted my choice. At the time, I told myself graphic design would be the practical path. I could make money and still do art. Even then, I wasn’t quite brave enough to fully pursue what I truly wanted.

After graduating from Waubonsee, I applied to Northern Illinois University as a graphic design major, hoping I’d get in. I didn’t. The rejection felt devastating. the one thing I wanted had been taken away. I had to find another option quickly, and that’s when I discovered NIU’s illustration program.

Illustration was everything I loved: drawing characters, telling stories, building worlds. At the end of the semester, there was a portfolio review to determine if I could move forward in the program. I invited my dad to attend. I passed and it remains one of my happiest memories.

I think I always knew I wanted to pursue art professionally. What I lacked wasn’t passion, but the courage and confidence to believe I could do it.

Valencia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m an independent illustrator and artist who creates and sells original artwork through art markets and online platforms. I began my journey as a sole proprietor after deciding to take my career into my own hands and sell my work directly. The idea took shape when my mother-in-law let me use her Cricut machine and My grandparents Gifted me a Printer as a graduation gift the stars were aligning yall, which opened the door for me to start turning my illustrations into physical products and build a business around my art.

My work is offered as stickers, magnets, prints, and acrylic paintings. I create for both kids and adults. For younger audiences, I design my Fruit Bears—lovable little bears who have eaten far too much of their favorite fruits and are full of personality and charm. For adults, I create expressive illustrations that people connect with emotionally, often finding pieces of their own stories reflected in the work.

One of my most meaningful memories was during my second time vending at an art market. An older woman spent time looking at one of my framed illustrations, The Big Boar. She shared a story about her friend and said she wanted to buy the piece for them. I was stunnnnned! it was the first time someone had purchased one of my framed prints. I was so unprepared that I didn’t even have a bag for her, haha i was fumbling over myself. but I still remember the look on her face and how that moment affirmed why I do what I do.

What sets my work apart is the focus on connection and inclusivity. I want my customers to feel seen and welcomed. Every piece I create has a story or message behind it, and my goal is for people of all ages and backgrounds to find something they can connect to. What I’m most proud of is building something entirely my own—learning as I go, showing up despite self-doubt, and creating art that genuinely makes people happy.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

When I was around 15, I started making manga comics mostly romance and drama. At first, it was just for fun, but it was also very personal. Growing up, I rarely saw characters in media who looked like me, so I created a story about a mixed Mexican–Japanese girl finding love in Japan, filled with classic shoujo moments and lighthearted fun.

A large part of my audience grew from those comics. People connected with the characters and the emotions I put into the story. That connection is what helped my audience grow organically. My advice for anyone just starting out is to create work that feels honest and meaningful to you, and to focus on connecting with people through your art. When your audience feels seen in your work and when you take the time to connect with them in return they’ll stay.

Today, my audience comes from many places: social media, Twitch, art markets, and comics. But at its core, it’s always been the same foundation people connecting with me through my work.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

After I graduated, I spent months applying to jobs in animation and illustration, but I wasn’t getting any responses. It was discouraging and forced me to confront the reality that the traditional path I expected might not be available to me right away. Maybe I was like my dad haha he owned his own Carpet cleaning business. Instead of waiting indefinitely, I made the decision to pivot and take ownership of my career by selling my own artwork.

That shift required learning an entirely new skill set—from producing my own products like stickers, magnets, and bookmarks, to setting up an online shop, navigating art markets, and understanding the responsibilities of running a small business as a sole proprietor. At the time, I struggled with self-doubt and often questioned whether I was capable of sustaining myself this way. But seeing people genuinely happy with the illustrations I created gave me the courage to keep going. I continued moving forward, learning and growing with each step.

That pivot changed everything. It allowed me to build direct relationships with my audience, grow my confidence, and define success on my own terms. Sometimes the best thing you can do is get rejected so you can take on a new LEGENDARY PATHHHHH

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.valenciabaez.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shinta_zan/?hl=en shinta_zan
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShintaZann/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shintazan9777/videos
• Other: This is my Etsy: ShintaZann

  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shintazan?lang=en

Image Credits

All of these photo’s were taken by myself. the Pic of myself at an Art market my Husband took