Check Out Sita Cardenas’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sita Cardenas.

Hi Sita, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. 
I was born and raised in Tucson, AZ. My two absolute favorite pastimes growing up were drawing and playing video games. It really shaped my world and influenced the kind of people I surrounded myself with from a young age to adulthood. I also always had an interest and admiration in ancient cultures and art, especially Mesoamerica since my father’s side of the family is originally from Mexico City. I remember always being surrounded by family and culture, which had a big impact on me. The artwork that I have been creating over the last several years really reflects those elements of my life and the things that helped form the person I am today. 

I knew from a young age that I wanted to be an artist and have been drawing ever since I could pick up a pencil. I was the introverted artist kid in middle school and mostly drew inspiration from my favorite video games and TV shows like Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon. In high school, I took art classes and started experimenting with more mediums like watercolor and acrylic. After some community college credits, I attended the University of Arizona and studied Illustration, graduating in 2010 with a BFA. 

I started this body of work about 10 years ago. My first piece was inspired by one of my favorite games, Super Metroid. I did the piece to display in a video game art show my sister and I were putting on together in downtown Tucson. The positive feedback I received from show attendees and online inspired me to continue in this style and create more art like it. Shortly after the show I vended at my local Comic Con and continued to grow my inventory of pieces and spread out to other shows around the country. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Working as a full-time artist has many ups and downs and has come with many unexpected challenges. I wish I could say that I just get to draw and paint all day. But in reality, the actual portion of creating artwork only constitutes to about 30-40% of my job. Being self-employed, all of the duties that are usually assigned to multiple people falls on the artist. I am my own social media manager, website developer, SEO specialist, graphic designer, secretary, bookkeeper, product photographer, printer, and salesperson. Tax preparation is also a major struggle, along with high expenses, especially when it comes to booking shows and traveling. 

One of the biggest struggles I have had is to maintain the passion for what I do and hold onto inspiration and creativity amidst all of the stress that comes with being a full-time self-employed artist. It is especially difficult on those days when you almost have to “force” yourself to be creative when you’re just not feeling it. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My current body of work is a focus on pop culture blended with Mesoamerican themes and aesthetics. I draw inspiration from both the Maya and Aztec. I always do a lot of research before starting a new piece. I have a lot of reference books, including remastered codices and manuscripts, ancient Mexican motifs, and many art and history books. I try my best to represent the culture in my paintings. I love incorporating these aesthetics into current pop culture icons, and the process of re-imagining these characters is a lot of fun. 

All of my pieces start out as a sketch, which is refined into a clean final drawing. The drawing is then transferred to a wood panel and meticulously painted by hand using acrylic paint. These pieces, from start to finish, can take anywhere from 16 to 120 hours depending on the size and detail. I often complete the piece by building a frame and hand-painting it to match. The whole process is quite labor intensive, but the work is very rewarding. My favorite thing to listen to while I am working is video game soundtracks. Often, I listen to the soundtrack that accompanies the game or show I am painting. I also enjoy video game speed runs and true crime playing in the background while I work. 

What I am most proud of about my work is how it can spark a conversation. I love going to shows sharing my work with people and hearing about their experiences through life and gaming while also discussing the cultural aesthetics incorporated in my pieces. I have had many say that they really appreciate their culture being represented in a modern world. Sharing stories, passions, and life experiences with others is part of what drives me to continue the hard work of being a self-employed artist. 

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I have been very fortunate to have a big support system in both family and friends. My parents and stepparents have always encouraged me to do what I love. My sister, being a successful artist herself, has always given me great advice, support, and encouragement. My best friend and I often do shows together, and she is a big source of encouragement for me. We enjoy having art parties, which helps me stay productive and motivated. My ex-husband is one of my biggest cheerleaders, and we are still friends to this day. Many of my friends and acquaintances have my art hanging in their homes. I wouldn’t be where I am without the support of my family and friends. I have also found tremendous support from my colleagues and convention family. I have met so many wonderful people vending at the various shows around the country. 

I attended a fantastic art program with outstanding professors and mentors. 

I also would like to give a shout-out to those who follow and support my art and share it with their friends and family. It has been such a big help on this journey. 

Pricing:

• Prints: $10-$50

Contact Info:

• Website: www.retronerdstudio.shop
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retronerdstudioart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/retronerdstudio