Today we’d like to introduce you to Raquel Castro.
Raquel, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
It’s been a lifetime goal of mine to become a well-known artist throughout my community. I began drawing at the age of 4. I’ve been doodling ever since. By the time I was in middle school, I was determined to become an artist. I started off very humble. I was a shy girl when it came to speaking up in class, and it was even worse when it came to showing off my art. I felt that my peers were going to laugh at me and judge my art style, but what do they know? They’re middle schoolers!
Nevertheless, I opened up about my dreams of becoming an artist up to my friends and family, and I gained so much support from them, especially my uncle, who is an artist himself. I then started a DeviantArt account, but barely gained any recognition and soon was abandoned. By the time I got to high school, all these questions about what college you want to go to and what do you want to study gave me a reality check. I doubted myself, thinking I wasn’t going to make it in the “real world” as an artist. But, those questions never stopped me from doing what I love.
With that, I become involved in clubs at school, and they got me to be proud about what I wanted to do. Later on, in my junior year of high school, my club asked to paint a mural. This, I consider to be my breakthrough moment into the art scene of San Diego. After I started that mural, I met this person, who later becomes my friend, who told me about the local music and art scene here. I knew that this was my opportunity to have my art publicly shown.
After my first art show, I was surrounded by the most eccentric people that were not judgmental or critical towards my art, but rather open and supportive of what I can do with my talent. With that, I became a well-known figure within the local art scene of San Diego with the help of Instagram, friends and most importantly, family.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I started off really shy. I barely posted on my DeviantArt page, and it wasn’t really the best way to get started off as an artist, in my opinion. I even tried Tumblr at one point, but I would rarely get any weblogs, let alone likes either. I then sought Instagram as my last resort. It grew widely amongst my friends and family.
Soon after doing some art shows, it expanded from 30 followers to almost 70 within a few days. While I barely have enough time to post now, due to finishing high school and getting ready for college, Instagram really helped me with the public boost I needed.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the bby_lemonade story. Tell us more about the business.
I am an artist, I do mixed media, paintings, collages, and illustration. I’m known for small art pieces, usually 8 1/2 x 11 on colorful construction paper. I see my art as very humble. I limit myself to using very cheap art supplies as well as common household items such as newspaper clippings, expired grocery store coupons and old magazines.
I don’t want to call my art cheap, but I could say that it’s, “experimental” in a way that I use such common art supplies that you can get at your local dollar store or even at Wal-Mart. Consider my art to be everything at the local supermarket store, except the kitchen sink.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I would say that this whole experience has been good luck. From that fateful encounter, I had with the person who told me all about the local art scene here in San Diego to me doing this very interview had been good luck.
Contact Info:
- Email: castroraquel303@gmail.com
- Instagram: @bby_lemonade
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
