Today we’d like to introduce you to Fernanda “Halia” Bañuelos.
Hi Halia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
It all started as a therapy exercise, my psychologist encouraged me to share my writings and drawings on social media. Eventually, people got into my writing and my drawings giving me this idea that maybe this is what I am meant to do for a living and here I am 3 years later illustrating stories, creating merchandise and custom drawings. I have only been a freelancer for 1 year, that has been the biggest challenge but I’m still trying to make this happen.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not, something you struggle with is that people don’t value your work, getting clients who respect your prices and work is always a challenge, but over time you learn that not everyone sees art the same way.
Another difficult thing is the merchandise, getting suppliers with good prices and quality is an odyssey, at the beginning, everything is trial and error which means that sometimes money is lost, but like everything…practice makes you better
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a digital illustrator and author, I specialize in narrative illustration. I guess they recognize me for my character Kiu on which I base my merchandise and my illustration style that is combined with anime and cartoons.
something of which I am very proud… my first book that was the one that opened the doors for me to illustrate stories of other authors and for me this is my main goal, to illustrate the words and feelings of someone else. And sometimes my own, why not.
I think that something that sets me apart from other illustrators is my obsession with creating a story for everything, even some merchandise carries its own story. I love combining the words with the illustration, I feel that I can convey more emotions with a few words and a drawing full of color.
I know I’m not the only illustrator who does this, but the cute cartoon style illustrating serious topics (also cute ones) is my thing for now
What matters most to you?
feelings, my career as an illustrator began as a space to vent what I did not dare to say out loud, it is my space to be able to express what I feel and not only my feelings but also those who identify with something that I can illustrate.
Pricing:
- custom illustration starts at $25 USD (recreate a photo or creating a new memory, your pets on drawing or maybe a fanart with your favorite character)
- Illustrated logo design starts at $150 USD (can check my work on my web page!)
- Illustration for texts $10 USD per hour (books, journalistic investigations, poems, etc.)
Contact Info:
- Email: halia.artwork@gmail.com
- Website: www.byhalia.mx
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byhalia.art/?hl=es-la
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/byhalia.art
