Meet Isabela Escobar: Demon-Slaying Illustrator Raised by Feral Possums

We had the good fortune of connecting with Isabela Escobar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Isabela, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
Do you want to want to be “an Artist” or do you want to “Make Art”? I can’t attribute this quote to any one person in particular, its mostly a self-formulated idea that brewed itself during conversations with fellow artists. But there seems to be a fundamental difference between wanting to create for the sake of creating, and wanting others to identify you as a person who creates. In my perspective, it speaks about the motivation behind creativity and makes an important point– what is it then, that moves your insides towards creating? Is there a desire for recognition within the other, a search for a mirror that validates our identity? Or do you simply have all this within your being that needs to be expressed? One is not necessarily better than the other, but identifying this drive can give us fundamental insight about our priorities. Other’s perception of your identity has little influence over who you really are as a being. Only you know your true intentions Personally, i find that i have started to care less and less about the way other’s perceive me and preoccupied with the drive to express. Once I stopped judging or critiquing myself, or questioning why I gravitate towards the things i do, or do thing the way I do them, I have found that my creative process has taken leaps into congruity. For me, being perceived matters very little. And sometimes I do not care to be perceived at all. In fact the “Artist” label comes with its own set of biases and challenges that the majority of people struggle to understand. But there is no denying that unstoppable force within that makes me create. Therefor, I choose “Make Art”. Because if i’m keeping true to my Self, there could be no other way I would live this life. 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Taking the full plunge into following my drive to make art is the decision that’s made me happiest. I quit a job at marketing and said, I don’t know how, but I need make my art work. And it was NOT easy, even with all the privileges and advantages I was lucky enough to have. But slowly, and in time, it took shape. One of my professors in college said to me: “This gets easier you know. Its not a struggle forever” (they were referring to the life of an artist) and for some reason that stuck with me. I believed them. I decided to believe them. And it was true, i does get easier. But you have to STICK with it. The biggest lesson I have learned, as a romantic creative type, is that talent is a wonderful gift but it takes us nowhere without discipline and consistency. Any career path you choose, any undertaking requires you to fully commit in order for it to be sustainable. Nowadays, after a couple of years pf being consistent, I make a living doing what i love, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I wish this same thing for every other fellow human on this earth. May you get to follow your essence.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Although Wynwood is a must-go there are more intriguing places popping up around Allapatah and Little Haiti as of late. Wynwood is a commercial hub, and whats happing there is booming, but their are still pockets within the city that sustain their authenticity. Downtown has interesting pop up art galleries during basel times, and its a little grimier and more street style, which I like. “Backwood” as some call it, or the side streets of Wynwood also have a lot happening I always end up taking my visitors to look at the art at The Faena in Miami beach. One of my dearest friends took me there years ago and I found myself going back whenever i needed a creative boost. The murals are a dream and a symbolism jackpot. The complexity is gorgeous. Its one of my favorite places to visit, and the beach there is always nice.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
To every person who owns one of my pieces, print or original. You own a little piece of my soul.

Website: www.isabelaescobar.com
Instagram: @isabelaescobart