Daily Inspiration: Meet Damaris Santos

Today we’d like to introduce you to Damaris Santos.

Hi Damaris, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a first generation Puerto Rican and Cuban woman, born and raised in Colorado, and art has been in my life for as long as I can remember. My mom was a craft artist, so I grew up watching her make things with her hands, and I naturally followed. School was tough because of my dyslexia, but I’ve always loved learning. At Metropolitan State University of Denver I built my own major through the Individual Degree Program in Natural, Historical, and Social Analysis, which shaped me into a well rounded thinker. I worked under Dr. Elizabeth Renee Fajardo in the Journey Through Our Heritage outreach program, and that experience opened doors into the arts community, including showing at CHAC Gallery and participating in First Friday events. I was even nominated for Best Student Employee in 2015, which meant a lot as someone who had struggled academically.

Since 2013 I’ve shown work at Nan Desu Kan and have won multiple art awards there since 2017. I’ve painted murals for the City of Lakewood and CHAC, had my first solo shows last year. One at CHAC and one at GRACe Studio and Gallery, and I have another upcoming solo show at GRACe this March. I wrote and self published my slice of life fantasy novel The Life and Times of a Wise Slime, which is currently available at 2nd and Charles in Colorado Mills, and I sell enamel pins at Danny’s Comic Shop in Lakewood. I teach art classes at libraries like Edgewater Jefferson County Public Library and CHAC, work at Pueblo Vida under Joe Molina, table monthly at Aquí Art Show, and am stepping into a role as assistant director with Flamboyan Theater. I’ve faced poverty, anxiety, and setbacks like losing my position at Museo de las Americas, but the arts and Colorado’s creative community helped me bounce back. Now I’m working on my second book and continuing to build a life that proves art can carry you through.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I grew up in poverty, and being dyslexic made school feel like an uphill battle even though I genuinely love to learn. As an asexual hispanic woman I’ve had to carve out space for myself in rooms where I didn’t always see people like me, making socializing difficult. I deal with anxiety often, and there were times I questioned whether I was capable enough, especially in academic and professional spaces that don’t always understand neurodivergence or creative minds that think differently like myself. Especially recently with my mom struggling with dialysis and searching for a B+ kidney donor.

Professionally, one of the hardest moments was being let go from Museo de las Americas under the at will work law. It was painful because I had poured so much into my role and into the arts community. But every setback pushed me back toward my foundation, which is creating. The support I found through spaces like CHAC Gallery, Spectra Art Spaces, Flamboyan, Pueblo Vida and the rest of the Colorado art community reminded me that my work has value. The struggles shaped me, but they never stopped me. If anything, they made me more determined to build something that no one can take away from me and prove that discrimination is only a wall if you make it one.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As an artist and creative, I specialize in storytelling through visual art and writing. I work across mediums including acrylic, watercolor, digital illustration, murals, and sculpture, and I’m known for blending folktales, fantasy, and cultural symbolism into colorful, emotionally driven pieces. I’ve been exhibiting at Nan Desu Kan since 2013 and have won multiple art awards there since 2017, which helped establish my name in Colorado’s anime and pop culture art scene. I’ve also shown work at CHAC Gallery, Memento Mori tattoo and gallery, Spectra Art space, Brighten Armory Event Center, Aquí Art show and GRACe Studios and Gallery, painted murals for the City of Lakewood, for CHAC and, I currently work under Joe Molina at Pueblo Vida. At the same time, I’m an author. I wrote and self published my fantasy novel The Life and Times of a Wise Slime, which is available locally at 2nd and Charles in Colorado Mills.

What I’m most proud of is that I built all of this from the ground up. I built my own website, table monthly at Aquí Art Show, teach classes at libraries like Edgewater Jefferson County Public Library, and I’m stepping into a leadership role with the local Puerto Rican theater Flamboyan as assistant director. I’m a first generation Puerto Rican and Cuban woman, asexual, dyslexic, and I refused to let any of that box me in. What sets me apart is that I don’t just make art, I build ecosystems around it. I connect communities, I teach, I write, I organize, and I create worlds. My work is rooted in resilience, science, fantasy, culture, community and imagination, and that combination is uniquely mine but inspired by others.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I would not be where I am without strong mentors. Dr. Elizabeth Renee Fajardo was one of the first people in academia who truly saw me. Through Journey Through Our Heritage at Metropolitan State University of Denver, she trusted me with responsibility, leadership, and real community work. That confidence changed how I saw myself. Miguelangel Rivera has also played a major role in my growth. Working with him him at the Aquí art shows and being around so many established artist has taught me how to move professionally, not just creatively. And with Jon Marcantoni at Flamboyan Theatre, I’ve found a space that honors Puerto Rican storytelling in a real and unapologetic way. That cultural grounding matters to me deeply.

Outside of them, my foundation has always been my mother Rosa Nunez, who is going 12 year doing dialysis as we search for a B+ kidney donor for her. I’ve also had friends, fellow artists at conventions like Nan Desu Kan, librarians staff like Rocio Vasquez-Flores the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Coordinatorwho trusted me to teach, and community members who buy my books and artwork supporting artists each year year after year. Their support is not small. When you grow up in poverty and deal with anxiety and dyslexia, every person who says “keep going” becomes part of your success story. None of this was built alone.

Pricing:

• Traditional art: cost of materials multiply by three. 1st cost to replace the supplies, 2nd cost to make restock, 3rd cost to pay as labor amount. Keeps the art fair and reasonable for clients of all financial standings
• Digital art: $20 pre 30mins, file sizes have ranging cost from $5 to $85
• Sculpture: cost of materials multiply by two, size has ranging cost from $2 to $200,
• Website: $20 an hour only if all verbiage and images are available. $40 an hour if everything is created from scratch.
• Booth items cost: having ranging prices from $1 to $20. From what I’ve see now a days most people have just about $20 to spend at any event. So keeping items priced low but having a lot of them often leads to profit.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shadowsantos-arts.yolasite.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadow_santos/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WiseSlimeLife/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shadowsantos/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Shadowsantos-Arts
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@shadowsantos_arts

Image Credits
All images are taken and created by me. Damaris Santos.