Today we’d like to introduce you to Kellin Esquivel.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m from Lima, Peru. I’ve loved drawing and painting ever since I was a kid. I was often sick with asthma and missed school a lot, but when I was home on my bed, I would always have a pencil and paper, drawing animals. I never thought that I would end up doing the same now as an adult. I graduated with a degree in Communications. After that, I came to the US for 6 months to practice my English and fell in love with the city. After a couple years later, I decided to move to the US. How did I start SketchPup!? Well, everything started when I adopted my chihuahua Lalita nine years ago. She taught me what unconditional love is. She helped me get through depression and opened my eyes about animals, how they feel like us humans, and how they can feel pain, sadness. and happiness. That’s also the reason I became vegan. Then, in 2018 I started to foster dogs for rescue groups. I was looking for a way to help shelter animals more, so I decided to combine my love for art with my love for animals. That is how SketchPup! was born. I create fun and unique digital pet portraits. I taught myself how to create art with my digital pen and started to design my friends’ and family’s pets. Now my clients also include people that I met on social media or at art fairs.
Now with SketchPup! I have the opportunity to help shelter animals, donating part of the proceeds of each sale that I make. And this could only happen because of my clients. They are part of this mission.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. Starting a new business is not easy, but not impossible. I attended workshops to learn about how to start a business. I created my own website in 2018 because I didn’t have the money to hire a website designer. Now I’m redoing my website with a professional web designer. More and more people know my brand and how committed I am to raising awareness about adopting, rescuing, and fostering animals from animal shelters. When Covid-19 hit it affected my business and many businesses, sadly. I couldn’t participate at art fairs so I had to find other ways to spread the word about SketchPup!. I started to look for partnerships with animal rescues and be more active on social media. I got creative. As an entrepreneur, we have to do everything ourselves until you reach a point when you can hire more people.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I design fun custom pet portraits, pop art style. I only use my digital pen. From a good quality picture that my clients send to me, I start the process of designing from scratch. I’m very into the details, especially the eyes, because they are the mirror to the soul. I also started designing family portraits with their fur kids because they are part of the family too.
What sets me apart from others is that I don’t only design classic portraits. People can also choose a famous personality that can be portrayed through their pet, such as Frida Kahlo, RBG, Beyoncé, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia. These are some of the very popular portraits that people have requested. Plus, I create t-shirts with cool designs to raise awareness about adopting, rescuing, and fostering animals. And I always give back to the rescue community.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Yes. During the Covid-19 pandemic, I had to find other ways to reach people. I started using more social media to find partnerships. At one point I was ready to give up because I wasn’t selling anything, but I’m still here because I love what I do. I love animals, I love to paint and I would not change it for anything in the world.
Pricing:
- Custom Pet Portrait on a Canvas from $140
- Custom Pet Portrait on a Poster from $72
- Custom Pet Portrait on a Tote Bag from $85
- Custom Pet Portrait on a Pillow from $86
- Custom Pet Portrait on a t-shirt from $83
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.sketchpup.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sketch.pup/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sketchpupstore/
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SketchPup?ref=shop_sugg
