Meet Juliana Castro | Illustrator

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

Hi Juliana, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Just like many other professional artists, I started drawing at a very young age. Art has always been a major part of my life. It is like a safe space, where I can be truly myself and express my emotions in ways that I couldn’t do with words.

Living in Colombia, I didn’t think of my art as more than a hobby. In fact, I didn’t know that art could be a career because I didn’t know of anyone who studied art. Naturally, I thought that a career as a veterinary or engineer was more fitting. When I moved to the US, I kept on drawing just for fun. I used to go back to Colombia every summer while I was in High School in Florida, and my dad enrolled me in oil painting classes. That was the first time I took any type of art class. Although I loved the classes so much, I still didn’t consider art as a viable career. I was stuck with the mindset that being an artist was not worth it because in Colombia a lot of art gets pirated and sold cheaper, and the artists don’t get the credit. I didn’t understand that art in the US is different, and that a career as an artist was an actual possibility.

During my Junior year of high school, I learned that I could major in art and actually be successful. So I took the risky choice of applying to an art school (Savannah College of Art and Design) and trying to be an artist. The thought that I could do something I actually loved as my job was truly inspiring. I believe that we have a responsibility to share our talents with the world and actually do what we love, so that’s what I chose to do.

During my time at SCAD, I realized that illustration was my passion. As my artistic voice began to form, I realized my why. I decided to pursue an artistic career because through my illustrations I can raise awareness about topics that are important to me. These topics include the environment, animals, and Hispanic culture. Art is my way of inspiring others, expressing myself, and helping bring a smile to people’s faces as they learn and are encouraged to take action to help protect this wonderful world we live in!

What should our readers know about your business?
I run a one-woman freelancing business that focuses on illustration services and some illustrated products. I think what sets my business apart, is that I aim to not only meet but exceed your expectations as I bring your ideas to life. I love solving problems visually, but what I love more is making my clients happy. I have been freelancing full-time for about 2 years, and the reason I went into freelance rather than a regular stable in-house job, was because I was afraid of getting rejected, so I decided that if I could start my own business, then I was in control. It is funny thinking about it now, because freelancing is way harder than a normal job, and there is still a ton of rejection that happens, but I love what I do and I couldn’t be happier.

Within this past year, I have worked on two really cool projects that I am very proud of. The first one was a math product called “Watermelon Math.” It includes 44 illustrated cards, and it is currently being sold at the National Museum of Mathematics in New York. The second one is a Wappapello Lake activity book that I illustrated for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These are my most proud accomplishments when it comes to the side of my business that focuses on illustration services. As far as the product side, I am very proud to announce that I have started an Etsy shop, and I am working really hard to make it grow.

Being a freelancer is everything but easy. It definitely comes with a lot of challenges because I have to rely on myself for everything. I have to wear many different hats at the same time, like the accounting hat, the contracts hat, the designer hat, the negotiator hat, and the customer service hat, etc, so it can get a bit overwhelming sometimes. Having a strong support network and being willing to research and learn on the spot are two of the things that have helped me overcome the challenges in my business.

Being my own boss, I have learned that you can really do whatever you put your mind to if you are willing to put in the work. There is nothing more fulfilling than seeing your business grow and knowing that it is all because of you.

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?
We will definitely head down to Wynwood to check out the wonderful art and take some Instagram-worthy pictures. We could even head to Espanola Way for a stroll and explore some of the cafes and restaurants on this charming street. Since my best friend is also Hispanic, she is sure to enjoy hearing the musical rhythms as we walk. We will also spend a day at the beach, probably down at Miami Beach. And it would be cool to do a tour of the Everglades because I have never been and I’ve lived in Florida for over 10 years…

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to shout out my professors at SCAD, especially Mike Wimmer. He saw the potential in me and encouraged me to work hard and give everything 150% of myself. He mentored me in the business aspect of illustration, and because of him, I was able to start my own business. He also recommended me to “The I Spot” an illustration agency that mentored me for a couple of weeks. They helped me fix my website, and figure out my pricing so that I can be successful in the Children’s book industry, the toys and games industry, and in the Stationary industry.

I have to also shout out my mom for all her support. When everyone questioned why I wanted to study art, such an “unstable” career, my mom was there always encouraging me to keep going and to do what I loved. She has always been my number-one fan! Even when my early drawings where a bit deformed as I had no clear understanding of anatomy!

Website: https://julianacastrc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drawingsjuli/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianacastr/

Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DrawingsJuli?ref=dashboard-header

Image Credits
Juliana Castro © 2023