Breaking Barriers in Visual Art: Andrea Campos' Inspiring Story as a Mexican American Latina Artist
Story written by Marivette Navarrete
Visual artist Andrea Campos of @dreasdoodles
“Another thing I’ve struggled with is this feeling that - since there is not a lot of representation in the picture book, I can’t mess up…Because I’m not only representing myself but also my family, community, and culture - so the stakes feel higher.”
Andrea Campos is a talented Mexican American Latina visual artist whose creative works have caught the eye of art enthusiasts and critics alike. Her art, which is characterized by vibrant colors, bold lines, and a strong sense of cultural identity, reflects her unique perspective as a Mexican American and her passion for storytelling.
Recently, Andrea's illustrations for "Con Pollo," a children's book written by Jimmy Fallon and Jennifer Lopez, helped the book become a New York Times bestseller – and is just the latest chapter in a career marked by creativity, passion, and hard work. This success has brought increased attention to her art and raised awareness of the importance of diversity in the arts.
In this interview, we had the pleasure of speaking with Andrea Campos about her art, career, and insights into being a Mexican American Latina artist in the industry. We delved into her creative process, the inspirations that drive her work, and the challenges and opportunities she has faced along the way. Through her insights and personal stories, she is shedding light on the vibrant and diverse world of visual art and inspiring others to embrace their own cultural identities in their creative pursuits.
(M) Marivette for The Mujerista
(A) Andrea Campos
(M): Tell us a little about your background and how you started in visual arts.
(A): In January 2020, I decided that it was time to leave the corporate world and focus on my creative pursuits. At that point, I had been moonlighting as a creative director and photographer on nights and weekends for years, and I knew that it was something I was meant to be doing full-time. But I was scared….Would I make enough money? What if I got no new clients? Could I actually do this? The realist in me was drowning in fear, but the little voice inside of me had grown too loud to ignore. So I stopped second-guessing myself and took action, resigning from my day job and pouring my heart into what I loved doing: photography & art direction. It’s hard to explain how liberating it felt — I was excited and free and knew in my heart that I was doing the right thing.
Then, weeks later, the pandemic hit, and the world came to a screeching halt. California shut down, and every project and campaign I was set to work on disappeared. Like *millions* of other people around the world, I became unemployed overnight.
The feeling was surreal. I remember thinking, ‘What now?’ My creative future in March 2020 looked bleak, and I wasn’t sure what to do next. So, for a while, I did nothing.
You see, I had been coming out of a pretty traumatic work experience where I had witnessed and experienced prejudice firsthand. It was the single most challenging time of my career, and it took a lot out of me. So I decided instead of worrying, I would take a month off to focus on myself and my health and do what I could to make my unemployed quarantine experience pleasant. I read, went on socially distant walks, baked cakes, tried to learn how to sew, and drew. And drew and drew some more.
Maybe it was the familiarity of it all ( I used to draw a lot as a kid) or the fact that it felt like a safe place (ahem — art therapy much?), but I started to dedicate hours and hours a day to drawing. And from that, @dreasdoodles was born.
Andrea Campos on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon for ‘Con Pollo’
M: Your latest project is the book "Con Pollo," in which you collaborated with Jimmy Fallon and Jennifer Lopez. Can you talk about how that opportunity came about and what it was like to work on that project? What did you learn from that experience?
A: After months of unsuccessfully pitching myself to various publications and editors - I got an email, one rainy day, from an Art Director at Macmillan, saying that they had a celebrity picture book that they thought I would be a good fit for. To be honest, when I first got the email, I thought it was a scam - but it turned out to be quite the opposite, and the celebrities, well, they turned out to be Jimmy Fallon and Jennifer Lopez. I think about that moment a lot - reading that email for the first time. How my body froze, and my eyes widened - as they do in the cartoons when the cat sees the shiny ball. I couldn’t believe it - I still can’t.
::laughs::
I’d later find out that they approached me because they saw some of my artwork on Instagram - which is just wild because how many things had to go right for that to happen? Truly what are the chances?
Working with them was an incredible learning experience - and I feel like I learned so much not only about the publishing industry and being an artist but also about myself and what I’m capable of. My last full-time job before “Con Pollo,” had made me feel small, and this reminded me to dream big, to trust my gut, and that we are all capable of growth.
And that has been the most impactful thing.
M: Your work often features themes of Mexican culture and identity. Can you discuss why these themes are important to you and how they influence your work?
X: These themes are a huge part of my identity. So for me to fully show up in my work, they have to be a part of it. Sometimes they show up in obvious ways, for example, bilingual characters. Other times the influence is more subtle and comes through in the color, pattern design, and texture I use.
But with everything I do, I try to highlight the joy of my culture and identity. This is something that I think oftentimes gets overlooked in the media, which tends to limit Latine storytelling to topics like immigration.
M: What is your creative process like? Can you walk us through how you approach a new project?
X: My creative process always starts with a little bit of fun. I’ll go on a hike, bike ride, or play with some Legos or something - to really help me focus on the problem I’m trying to solve or the story I’m trying to tell. From there, I’ll write out some rough ideas and do a few sketches before doing research. Research really varies by project and can mean looking for inspiration on Pinterest, reading a ton of children’s books, and sometimes even looking at dozens and dozens of photos of real-life chickens.
M: You have worked on various projects, including book illustrations, murals, and branding designs. Do you have a preferred medium or type of project to work on?
A: I don’t have a preferred medium per se, but I do think there is something incredibly special about children’s books. Children's books are often a child's first introduction to the world of art and storytelling, and the illustrations play a crucial role in bringing the words on the page to life.
But it's not just about creating beautiful pictures; children's books also have a special place in the hearts of families because of the moments they create. They can be a part of bedtime routines, a way for parents and children to bond over stories and illustrations and create memories that will last a lifetime. As an illustrator, knowing that my work is part of those special moments is a truly humbling experience. It's an honor to contribute to a child's imagination and the world of storytelling and to be a small part of their childhood memories.
M: Your work has been featured in various publications and exhibitions. Can you talk about a time when you received unexpected recognition for your art and how that affected your career?
A: Last year, I got an email that I was truly never expecting to get. It went like this, ‘Jimmy Fallon would like to invite you to be a guest on The Tonight Show. Are you interested?’ … I think I waited about 30 seconds before responding - YES!
That moment, being on The Tonight Show, was huge for me. Not just because of the platform and the thousands of people that were introduced to me and my story - but because it forced me to overcome this fear of “being in front of the camera.” You see, I have a rare auto-immune disease called Parry Romberg Syndrome that slowly deteriorates the left side of the face (I’ve written about it here). It’s a disease that, while physically painless, has taken a toll on my mental health, and as you can imagine, that has made me incredibly self-conscious about my appearance.
So getting on that stage was huge for me. It pushed me in a way that I was unable and unwilling to push myself - and that has been really liberating. I feel a lot more confident in front of the camera now - I’ve even started a TikTok (@dreasdoodles), which I would not have felt comfortable doing a few years ago.
M: What do you hope people take away from your art and illustrations?
A: My hope is that my art brings a sense of happiness, wonder, and playfulness to those who experience it. I want my illustrations, whether they’re in books, on social media, in murals, or in ads to evoke a sense of childlike joy and wonder. When I started Dreasdoodles, I really intended it to be my little pocket of the internet, where it was always sunny - and I think that spirit is baked into everything I do.
M: What challenges have you faced as a Mexican American Latina artist in the industry, and how have you overcome them?
A: One of the biggest challenges I've faced as a first-generation Latina, who I should note did not go to art school, is simply not knowing how to navigate the industry. My family didn't have any connections in the publishing world, so I’ve had to figure out everything independently, from finding an agent to submitting my work to publishers. And this can be a daunting process, especially when you don't have any prior experience. Thankfully I’ve found that folks in the art space are very generous with their time and knowledge - and that a lot of experts share their knowledge online for free - which has been huge for me. Much of my education in this space has come from reading blogs, following publishing industry folks on Twitter, and getting coffee with folks who have done this before.
Another thing I’ve struggled with is this feeling that - since there is not a lot of representation in the picture book, I can’t mess up. (The last statistic I saw was that Latine authors/illustrators make up only 5% of the kid’s lit space, which is incredibly low when considering how big the Latine community is in the U.S. ) Because I’m not only representing myself but also my family, community, and culture - so the stakes feel higher. This is both incredibly motivating and overwhelming at the same time.
M: What advice would you give aspiring Latino artists trying to break into the industry?
A: There’s a lot I can say about this, so I’ll try to be concise.
Hone Your Craft: First and foremost, focus on developing your skills as an artist. Take classes, practice every day, and seek feedback from other artists. I attribute a lot of my early success with ‘@dreasdoodles” to the fact that I drew something every day for 100 days. It helped me figure out what I liked and didn’t, and even now when I look back at those pieces, I can see a bit of my style emerging.
Network: While it's not everything, building connections can be helpful in the illustration industry ( any industry, tbh). Attend events, join organizations, and participate in online forums where you can meet other artists, agents, and editors. Networking can help you learn about opportunities and make valuable connections that can further your career. Pro Tip: If you want to learn more about children’s publishing, follow your dream publishers, editors, and agents where they are most active!
Do Your Research: Before submitting your work to publishers or agents, take the time to research the industry. Learn about the different types of children's books, the publishing process, and the agents and publishers specializing in your interest. The more you know about the industry, the better you'll be to navigate it successfully.
Be Persistent: Breaking into the illustration industry is not easy, and getting your foot in the door can take time and perseverance. Keep creating work that you are proud of, keep submitting your portfolio, and don't be discouraged by rejection. Persistence is key to success in any creative industry. Just listen to Ke Huy Quan's incredible Oscars speech!
Stay True to Yourself: Finally, it's important to stay true to your vision and voice as an artist. Don't conform to what you think publishers or editors want to see. Instead, create work that speaks to your own experiences and interests. This will make your work more authentic and compelling and ultimately help you stand out in a crowded field.
M: What are some of your future goals and projects that you are excited about?
A: I’m really excited about my bilingual first words book that just came out! From picking out the words to drawing hundreds of different characters, this project has been a true labor, and I’m so excited to finally be able to share it with little ones. You can get your own copy on Amazon, Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, and select major retailers.
Regarding goals…my number one goal is to keep making art that lights me up, and excites me - (that’s what’s gotten me here thus far after), and that means building a career that is true to me and all of my talents and interests. I plan on continuing to illustrate children's books, but I’m also doing murals, licensing my artwork, writing, taking on speaking gigs, and even exploring how to develop children’s T.V. programming.
