Meet Karla Guerrero | Illustrator, Designer & Maker

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

Hi Karla, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
I think about this all the time—how do I know when it’s time to give this up? I always come back to the same answer: my life feels better. Not because of success or money, but because of how I feel each day.

Ever since I began my business PAO, my days have more purpose. I look forward to making a new drawing. I get excited about the chance to improve someone’s day or make someone smile through a post. I have fun learning new skills and surprising myself with what I’ll create.

All this to say—when you grow through whatever skills or tools you have, you not only better yourself, but also the people around you. They become part of what motivates you to continue. And at the same time, you might be the one inspiring them to keep going too.

To me, that’s the only sign I need to keep going.

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.
Choosing design as my career path at 17 is what set everything in motion. I didn’t really know what I was doing—I just remember thinking it sounded cool, and even though I’d never seriously considered art, I trusted my gut. It was one of the only times in my life I made an impulsive decision on the spot and didn’t ask for anyone’s opinion—before or after. Then, from being accepted into the Product Design program to developing the skills to thrive in class, finding an internship, completing my thesis, and landing my first job—it all built on itself. Before that, the most creative thing I had done was drawing in high school art class. But choosing design is what opened up so many creative paths for me—now I find joy in illustrating, sewing, photographing, painting murals, and curating spaces, especially my own home. At the moment, the focus of my heart and energy is on PAO, my illustration business.

PAO is what I’m most proud of. It started as a small story I built from daydreaming and doodling and I can feel it growing into something much bigger—something that, most importantly, will help others.

PAO is an art & design studio that transforms everyday moments into a delightful collection of illustrations centered around a little teddy bear named Pao. PAO is more than just doodles—it is a lens for life. Lots of illustration accounts romanticize the mundane—but PAO goes beyond the aesthetic. It’s not just about looking at something cute and moving on. It’s about how a single image can shift the way you see your own life. It’s a practice in paying attention—and realizing that beauty has been with you all along.

The journey hasn’t been easy. One of my biggest challenges has been imposter syndrome—feeling like I wasn’t a “real” creative or business owner. I doubted my skills, especially my drawing. I loved it so much, but it didn’t feel effortless, and that made me question if I was cut out for it.

What helped me through that was the most simple and repeated advice I’ve ever heard: if you want to get better at something, just do that thing. If it’s running—run. Presenting? Present. And if it’s drawing—draw. There’s no shortcut. So I kept showing up every day and doing the work, even when I didn’t feel “good enough.” I would remember I was just having fun and it would take the pressure away from “how good can I draw this sketch?”

Eventually, it became second nature—the way my hand moved, the way the lines flowed. Without realizing it—I didn’t doubt my drawing skills anymore. It was an incredible feeling. I made a mental note to myself that I can use that same method with anything I want to learn. One of my favorite podcast hosts, David Senra from Founders Podcast, often quotes Paul Graham. One of my favorite lines by Graham that stuck in my mind was “Passion trumps fear.” It reminds me that if you are passionate enough about something, it does not matter how unskilled you are in the beginning, you will have an unlimited amount of fire in you to follow through compared to anybody else. That’s a superpower.

I want the world to know that PAO began from that exact place of uncertainty. I didn’t wait for the fear to go away—I just chose something and started creating, even with the butterflies still in my stomach. I knew whether PAO worked out or not, it would still push me towards the right direction. It is better to start creating & experimenting with anything than staying stagnant. Don’t overthink it just do it.

Like Joe from the movie Soul, I used to think my life was meaningless unless something big happened. But when I started doodling PAO and falling in love with the teddy’s little life, I realized the truth: I’m just like him. A tiny human, already special, already enough. You don’t have to look for the beauty in your life—you just have to look at it. PAO is meant to be that reminder for 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?
I don’t live in Miami, but I love visiting! My sister lives there, so I get the best of both worlds—staying in the city with her or soaking in the beach life. You really can’t visit Miami without experiencing the ocean; it’s my favorite part.

My favorite hobbies include walks (aka exploring), trying new food, looking at or making art, exercise/movement, and beaching—so when I visit, I make sure my trip includes all of that.

Here’s what I’d plan for a week:

Dedicate half the week for the beach side, and the other half in the city.

Start your morning at South Beach, watching the sunrise right on the shore. You’ll find lots of others out there too, quietly waiting for the sun. After that, head to Muscle Beach, an outdoor gym right on the sand. It’s free, has all the equipment you’d need, and is full of cool, motivating people.

Then grab breakfast (or a snack) at Under the Mango Tree. They serve some of the most delicious açaí bowls I’ve ever had, and the space is so cute and welcoming.

If you’re craving a sweet treat, I recommend Cafe Fleur – Café & Beignet—apparently the only beignet spot in Miami! It’s a small, adorable shop close to the beach with the most delish beignets.

I especially love that Miami has such a strong Latin influence—it’s joyful, full of flavor and life, and there’s amazing Latin food everywhere.

If you just want to walk around and admire Miami’s architecture, you can literally walk anywhere and it’s all around you. I haven’t explored many museums, but I’ve wandered into some gallery spaces and they are very cool to be in and get inspiration from.

Lastly, I have to mention Brickell, where my sister lives. I love that there is always a class you can sign up for like yoga or dancing because she always makes sure to take me! Plus Brickell City Centre, which is perfect for vibey window shopping and grabbing a coffee or a sweet treat. It’s a beautiful plaza and so fun to walk around in, especially in the evening. For a dreamy ambiance, there’s a rooftop bar called Sugar which is at the top of EAST Miami hotel. I’m all about the experience and sitting up there with the wind in your hair, moody lights around you, and the city out in front of you—it is magical.

What I love about Miami is I feel that wherever you go, you will meet the coolest people. It’s a different world there, I love it.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
If I had to dedicate my shoutout to one person, it would be my little cousin Ashley. She was the first person who truly made me feel like my drawings were special—before I even believed it myself. In the beginning, it felt like I was making PAO for her. Her joy and belief in my work gave me the confidence to keep going. Sometimes, all it takes is one person’s belief in you and I am so thankful for the impact she had on me.

Website: https://www.paostories.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlaguerrero00/

Other: My portfolio involving other creative work: https://guerrerokarla.myportfolio.com/work
Tiktok (involves my creative work but also my day to day life) : https://www.tiktok.com/@kggggirl

Image Credits
“Baby blues” print photos (photos 8 & 10) by Gia Kim.
Mural “MOVE DET” photo by Rachel Allen.