Life & Work with Claudia Valenzuela

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Claudia Valenzuela.

Hi Claudia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I have always been drawing since I was young – that was a huge thanks to my older sister. From there, I had dreams of becoming an artist when I grew up, which was met with a love for taking pictures and the harsh reality of what life means for an artist. A passion for creativity became a battle to keep alive in a world where the idea that “you can’t have a hobby for a career” reigned “true.”

Chasing your dreams is never a comfortable feat, but it has and never will fail you from taking you to exactly where you should be. I didn’t allow the doubts of others to take my dream away from me; instead, I looked for ways to keep my creative fire alive while being able to support myself. I majored in graphic design, which led me to find a deep endearment in the world of typography and see how my commitment to drawing and photography could come together as one in any given medium.

Because of who I am, I am always looking for new skills to add to my portfolio – as I grow tired of one medium, I start exploring another. I think this innate restlessness for the unknown exists in every artist, though – the desire to be able to try and do everything all at once. Because of this, I am where I am today – I am a Graphic Designer, a screen printer, an illustrator, a sculptor, a visionary – I am an artist.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Chasing your dreams is never an easy road to follow. Challenges exist as obstacles created by others or even by life, but mostly by those made in our own minds.

Every artist can attest to self-doubt, and the more we listen to outside voices telling us what we want can only exist in a dream, we slowly lose sight of ourselves and what makes us unique in this world. I was constantly told that I could never create a stable life for myself following a creative career. This led to many moments where I felt I had made a mistake or even saw myself as “useless” to the world for pursuing what I loved.

It’s messed up how our world conditions us to believe that our dreams are only dreams and that we first have to be practical. Yes, this can be true in certain ways, but it doesn’t mean all hope should be lost altogether. I found difficulty, of course, playing with new mediums, but isn’t that kind of the point? You need to mess up to better understand the material you are working with.

This same thought process epitomizes my and many’s experience as an artist as it takes failure, self-doubt, and reassurance to fuel this passion to fight for something you love.

I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I currently work as a Graphic Designer for Native Roots Cannabis Co., where I spend a lot of time creating print ads, promotional collateral, store assets, packaging, and so much more. However, I am also working on my brand, Cloudyv.

Within Cloudyv, I can express who I truly am as an artist in any medium I want. I have been specializing in screen printing, graphic design, photography, and illustration for the last three years in this brand, as I have curated and designed a few collections of works and clothing lines under the Cloudyv brand name.

I am excited to explore more areas where I can express myself in my brand, from sculpture to animating, though it can be difficult to find the time while working a professional job. But the same as previous questions reigns true here- anything worth learning/fighting for never comes easy!

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I have learned in my journey has been to never give up and to stay true to yourself and your own style as an artist.

Keeping a positive mind and always having hope are also things that I have learned along the way that can take you further than you would ever imagine.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cl0udyv.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cl0udy.v/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/claudval