We’re looking forward to introducing you to Isabel Garcia . Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Isabel, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
There are a couple decisions in my life that I am so grateful I made with caution and took my time to think upon. Some of these decisions regarded the next steps in my career path, personal relationships and my work. It has helped me immensely to take a moment to pause and consider all angles. I used to be quite impulsive and would make an on-the-spot choice that I thought would be the best, but turned out to be the best…but just for that moment and ended up dreading it later. One of these instances was very recent as I have been on a journey searching for a good, solid shop to pursue a tattoo apprenticeship. This being a life-long practice, I knew it would be important to do my due diligence and research. As desperate as I was to get taken in by SOMEONE, I am grateful I took time to build intentional relationships and talk to tattoo artists whose work I truly admired. Doing so has allowed me to meet amazing people and fall into just about the perfect environment. Patience is key!!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an artist with an overactive mind who likes to self-soothe by doing a bit of everything pertaining to art. Illustration, mural painting, teaching and talking about art, participating in art shows, chasing a spot in the tattooing world, and any creative gig I could land is just a bit of what I have dedicated my life to thus far. Connecting with other artists and like-minded creative people is so special to me and just like anyone else, I deeply value community and learning from others who both inspire and scare me. A lot of my work is inspired by life, nature, the fun and all fantastical interpretations of the world my brain comes up with. It pleases me to no end to be able to inspire and create powerful bonds with others through our work, collectively or individually.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
My crippling self doubt is like a distant old friend who is also a feral animal who is also a scared child. Fortunately, I no longer really resonate with any of these guys. As I’ve gotten older and really dedicated my life to my craft, the better I’ve gotten at shutting out the part of me that tells me I’m not good enough. Receiving support of people around you is really beautiful and endlessly appreciated, but it just doesn’t hit the same when you can’t recognize that in yourself. I learned that the one thing I kept running away from and the wall I always wound up running back into was the one I built myself around ME, about ME. It was terrible. I’m still learning how to differentiate between healthy self-criticism and reflection versus just straight up self-deprecation, so my journey isn’t done yet. But it has gotten better and I push myself everyday to let that go. My work and all the ways I express myself creatively has been my saving grace and what gets me out of bed in the morning.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
That it’s OKAY. Failing is not only inevitable, but it is IMPORTANT. It’s not even necessarily failing, it’s an opportune moment to get your shit together and analyze what you can do the next time to do even better. It’s okay to mess up. To miss the mark, get the timing wrong. It all creates this frustration inside that could either make you angry and give up, or you could focus and do it right the next chance. Even if you feel like that’s the only one chance you have in that moment and the world comes crashing down when you mess up, it is OKAY. I believe things happen for a reason, but they also happen the way we prepare for them. Of course there’s a balance because one can ever be too prepared— but there’s a certain way we can train our minds to be able to keep moving and not accept defeat. This is what failing has taught me, and I’ve failed plenty of times.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I am Mexican-American, my family comes from Mexico and I hold our roots close to my heart. My work ethic is something I don’t play about. I was taught to work hard, but to still enjoy life and what it has to offer. It’s important to practice discipline and push yourself, but it’s equally important to allow yourself to be silly. I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by the hardest working people I know, and get to celebrate anything alongside them and honoring our inner children. The whole mentality of “work hard, play hard” is my family’s specialty and I try my best not to take myself or life too seriously even though I work really hard.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing?
I will never regret choosing art. Art chose me as a kid and I let her take full reign of my life and all my thoughts. I will never ever ever regret pursuing careers in the art world where I can practice what I do while also teaching about it. I have never felt a day where I felt like I should just do something else, and I think it’s also because I’m stubborn. But it is something that makes me happy and something that I can see a tangible difference in the lives of others and how I can change the spaces around me with my art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artbyisbl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbyisbl/
