Art & Life with Christine Lezcano

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Lezcano.

Christine, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
My artistic journey began early, and because of my family, I was exposed to multiple creative art forms. My dad has always loved carpentry and welding, my crafty mom likes quilting and designing, my grandma enjoyed drawing, and my grandpa spent a great deal of time painting and building small models. I remember drawing and doodling as a kid and always choosing the “Make a piece of art” option for projects in school. During high school and college, I found that making art was not just a hobby- it was a form of meditation and a way for me to express my perception of the colorful landscapes around me. Travel became my main source of inspiration. After attaining a BFA in Art Education and a minor in Sustainability, and working at an art gallery in Scottsdale, I found my passion- teaching art at a private high school. I also create digital illustrations for the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, sell prints and original pieces through my Etsy store, and welcome custom artwork requests.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I create original acrylic, pencil, and watercolor artwork based on photographs my husband and I have taken all over the world. I also create custom pieces of art, such as portraits, murals, digital illustrations, and hand-lettered items.

Traveling provides a bounty of inspiration for my artwork. When I travel, my senses seem heightened, and everything is full of color and life. Plein-air sketching allows me to take note of lighting, moods, movement, design, details, and whatever seems interesting. From Yosemite to Maui to Europe, our vacations have always been accompanied by hours of research beforehand and countless Excel spreadsheet itineraries. But these structured trips always have time built in for sketching, photographing, and taking it all in. I am always filled with excitement when I’m about to begin a new artwork. Whether someone else with an idea approaches me, or it’s my own creative vision, I’m always a little nervous at the beginning, not really knowing what the final product will look like or how the materials are going to take over- but that’s half the fun.

Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
If I could, I would tell a younger version of myself to stop waiting for that “perfect idea”- just put onto paper or canvas whatever is on your mind or in your heart. Start there, and the rest will fall into place if you trust the creative process. As Maya Angelou once said, “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can find my prints, original artwork, hand-lettered pieces, and custom pricing information at www.etsy.com/sho

/WildThingsAndCoffee.

Follow me on Instagram @christinelezcano to see what projects I’m currently working on.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WildThingsandCoffee
• Email: christinelezcanoart@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinelezcano/

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