Episode #12: Venezuelan Character Designer & Illustrator Ree

Episode Summary:

In this week’s episode, I speak with Seattle-based Venezuelan character designer and illustrator Ree. Ree has established her style over the years to create her own world of cute textured characters. Listen to this episode to hear us talk all about why she moved to Seattle, how she recovered from intense creative block, and how she found her artistic style.

Episode Notes:

This week’s guest found her way to illustration after resisting a creative career for a few years. Ree is a Seattle-based Venezuelan independent character designer and illustrator. She’s built a career off of her unique character style and perspective and continues to share it with the world through Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

Ree found herself in a severe creative block for the past few years, but is now finally on the other side after relocating to Seattle and adjusting her work/life balance. Now she prioritizes self-care instead of overworking herself in order to prevent creative burnout.

In this episode, we go over how Ree revitalized her creative practice, how she developed her artistic style, and her tips for prioritizing self-care.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Topics Covered:

1. The pros and cons of living in Miami

2. Exploring different career paths

3. Launching her online shop

4. Balancing content creation with artwork

5. Prioritizing self-preservation over content creation

6. Struggling with depression and anxiety as an artist

7. Working through art block by prioritizing her own needs

8. Knowing when it’s time to take a break instead of burning out

9. Discovering her unique artistic style

10. Ree’s creative routine

11. Advice for finding your own style and illustration world

12. Rusalochka - The Little Mermaid, USSR, 1976

13. Evolving with your work online

14. Being embarrassed by your own artistic evolution

15. Her marker collaboration with ArtXX

16. How TikTok is the new place to be

Guest Info

Check out Ree’s Instagram, TikTok, YouTube channel, and Portfolio.

Special Offer

Listeners of the podcast can get a free, undated weekly and monthly planner inspired by the show from our website here.

Follow Host Fabiola Lara between episodes:

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• Youtube

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Episode Transcript (auto-generated):

00;00;09;29 - 00;00;35;05

Fabiola Lara

Hey, everyone. Welcome back to another episode of Draws in Spanish. A podcast that showcases the creative journey of notable Latinx visual artists and designers. I'm your host, illustrator, podcaster, youtuber Fabiola Letta. If this is your first time listening on this podcast, I talk to my favorite Latinx American artist base in the U.S. about how their culture and identity influences their work.

00;00;35;17 - 00;00;59;05

Fabiola Lara

Today, I'm sitting down with Venezuelan illustrator and character designer Ree. Ree is a Seattle based artist who illustrates her own world of youthful characters draws insightful comics and shares YouTube videos about her life as an artist. Ree has mastered her style over the years and continues to expand her illustrated world and draws us in with every new, adorable character.

00;00;59;18 - 00;01;24;16

Fabiola Lara

Please join me for this chat with Ree as we talk all about her recent move to Seattle. Overcoming Creative Block and how she prioritizes self-care. Let's get right into the show Welcome to Jazz in Spanish. Thank you so much for. For taking the time to participate in my little podcast. It really means so much to me. So thank you.

00;01;24;16 - 00;01;28;27

Ree

Thank you for having me. This is very exciting to me and it means a lot to.

00;01;28;27 - 00;01;35;12

Fabiola Lara

Okay. So just very quickly, like more high level, can you introduce yourselves?

00;01;35;22 - 00;01;53;07

Ree

Yeah. I'm an illustrator from Venezuela and I live in several different places, including Chile. So I know you're from and I am living in Seattle right now and I like to draw in a very cartoonish style.

00;01;53;28 - 00;02;02;09

Fabiola Lara

Perfect. And so I know that your Venezuelan just mentioned that, but you're currently in Seattle. How long have you been in Seattle now?

00;02;02;24 - 00;02;03;25

Ree

Sorry, three months.

00;02;04;03 - 00;02;05;25

Fabiola Lara

Wow. Very new.

00;02;06;03 - 00;02;12;24

Ree

Very new. I've been getting to know the city and I've been loving it. I like the rain That's good.

00;02;12;24 - 00;02;17;01

Fabiola Lara

That's good that you like the rain because otherwise you would have a problem. Where were you coming from?

00;02;17;10 - 00;02;35;01

Ree

I was living in Miami. I spent the whole pandemic there. And I was feeling a little blocked creatively. So I really needed a change. And a city that was more like a light with me. So that's why I decided to come here after I visit.

00;02;35;17 - 00;02;40;15

Fabiola Lara

How did you end up in Miami or in the U.S.? Can you tell me a little bit more about that?

00;02;40;16 - 00;03;08;13

Ree

My family moved from Venezuela to Miami back in 2009. So a long time ago, and I didn't like it. I was having a bad time there, so I decided to move and I moved to several different places. But then in November 20, 19, I decided to come back to the States. Yes, for family reasons. And I got stuck in Miami because of the pandemic, I think.

00;03;08;20 - 00;03;09;09

Ree

Wow.

00;03;09;09 - 00;03;18;09

Fabiola Lara

I also got stuck in Miami because of the pandemic, but not for that long. Only for like two months. But it was horrendous. What don't you like about Miami?

00;03;19;05 - 00;03;40;29

Ree

I don't know. I really tried. You know, I make my best effort to like like integrated into society there in the pandemic, too. But, you know, I tried before in terms of nine and also in 2014. I live in Miami again. So every time I try it, it's like there's not the kind of like I mean, don't have me around.

00;03;40;29 - 00;03;54;19

Ree

There's a lot of culture there, but I just don't buy with the style of the city, I guess. And also I need a city that I can walk around in. And the public transportation there is like nonexistent.

00;03;54;24 - 00;03;56;19

Fabiola Lara

Not at all. Yes.

00;03;56;22 - 00;04;08;28

Ree

And every time I meet someone that aligns with my personality, your style interest, they move out of Miami. So there must be a reason. It's not only me, and I hear that you don't like it either.

00;04;08;28 - 00;04;16;23

Fabiola Lara

So I do not like Miami. I like to visit Miami, but I don't like it. If I had to live there, I wouldn't.

00;04;17;09 - 00;04;18;09

Ree

Think I would love.

00;04;18;11 - 00;04;40;09

Fabiola Lara

That. I think it's a big thing. The transportation really impacts like the community feeling because everybody's driving around and I know like I'm sure in Seattle it's nice to have a car, you know, like it helps to have a car, but you don't have to have a car or I think, you know what? I was reading about cities like Miami are made for a driving.

00;04;40;09 - 00;04;57;25

Fabiola Lara

And so everything is designed for people in a car, like all the billboards and the signs are for when you're in a car, but in a smaller city where people walk. That's why it's like charming, because the signs are made for like the height of when you're just a person walking, not a person in a car. That's a big thing.

00;04;57;25 - 00;05;05;24

Fabiola Lara

Miami doesn't have it like it only has it in small little pockets, like, I don't know, maybe like Coconut Grove, you can walk around, but like, it's fake.

00;05;06;06 - 00;05;10;28

Ree

Exactly. It feels like plastic I don't want to offend anybody, even if they don't know where.

00;05;11;02 - 00;05;12;00

Fabiola Lara

I think people today.

00;05;13;20 - 00;05;32;12

Ree

I guess, feel like was in that I always say this, but I feel like I was in the highway when palm trees nightmare. And it's so true that what you just said, because it's like that's what I mean when I say like, I don't feel there's culture there, but it's because you walk around and there's just concrete and pulses and that's it.

00;05;32;23 - 00;05;53;25

Fabiola Lara

And it's like planned that way. It's not like it's been that way for years. It's like, new, like, Miami is pretty new. And so everything is like strip malls and malls, super malls. I grew up there. I appreciate it for many things, but I couldn't live there today. And so. But Seattle is super far.

00;05;54;01 - 00;05;57;03

Ree

Yes, that's Buddhist festival. Yes.

00;05;57;03 - 00;06;00;20

Fabiola Lara

Tell me about that. Tell me about why you decided to go to Seattle.

00;06;00;20 - 00;06;22;20

Ree

I decided to visit Seattle because I'm a big twin, big fan. One of my bucket list things was in the double air cafe and I came here in others and I was mesmerized because I love nature and trees and I've always I used to watch Portlandia and I was like, oh, my God, I really love to live in a place like that.

00;06;22;26 - 00;06;43;22

Ree

So I came here. I was like, right, this do so I don't know. When I came here, the air just felt so fresh and that things were so beautiful. And I found so many coffee shops and I don't know, I like how broad dressing and so many cafes, and I love coffee too. So it makes so much sense.

00;06;43;22 - 00;06;57;07

Ree

You must just checking all my boxes. So I was like, you know what? I'm going to move here. And just actually, I was in between. I went to seitan and my options were New York or Philly, but when I came here, I was like, No, wait, I think this is for me.

00;06;57;07 - 00;07;21;12

Fabiola Lara

This is it. Yes. I mean, definitely Seattle and Philly are so different just geographically. I get it. I'm always in love with the Pacific Northwest. Like, Portland always has my heart because I just love the vibe there. So I totally get it. And I'm glad you just like, went for it, you know, because I think people are like, Oh, I don't have a real reason, but it's like, you don't need a real reason.

00;07;21;12 - 00;07;26;15

Fabiola Lara

It's your life. The reason can be that you like it better there, like every day is going to be a little better.

00;07;26;26 - 00;07;32;25

Ree

I will so many times that now for me is like, you know, I'm just I just want to be in peace. If I want to move, I'm going to move.

00;07;33;09 - 00;08;02;22

Fabiola Lara

So I love that so many people feel like they need some higher power or something. Hopefully people listening if they're like, I kind of want to move here, but I don't have a really good reason your reason is that you maybe want to go. It's time for the next thing. I wanted to ask you, are there any now that because from the sounds of it, you lived a lot in the U.S., a lot in Latinx America, are there any like stereotypes that you're tired of hearing about in the U.S.?

00;08;02;27 - 00;08;15;05

Fabiola Lara

And then I would also like to ask you the reverse. Right, like stereotypes about Americans question mark or like you ask people that are Latinxos in Latinx America I mean.

00;08;15;13 - 00;08;25;17

Ree

I've been here for three months. And honestly, my experience before I was in Miami and there was a lot of other people in the same situation as me, like first.

00;08;25;23 - 00;08;26;17

Fabiola Lara

First-Generation.

00;08;26;19 - 00;08;54;02

Ree

First generation of immigrants. You know, I moved there when I was like a real like an older teenager. So I didn't get to meet anybody in Miami that was like Super American just because there was a lot of people in the same situation as me. And the people that was living there for a long time where I get used to people like me, First-Generation, immigrants and my family.

00;08;54;12 - 00;09;11;03

Ree

So I don't know. It's now that experience, like being in like an American city. There's like two Venezuelan restaurants here, which is so weird because all of the cities that I've been always like a lot of Venezuelans, and here I do have a Venezuelan friend.

00;09;11;03 - 00;09;13;25

Fabiola Lara

That's good. I'm glad that you have one person at least.

00;09;13;25 - 00;09;39;22

Ree

Yeah, yeah. She's almost like my neighbor, which is great. We find these apartments but now and expensive that. And so far people have been very kind. So I don't know that, but I know that in South America they think about, you know, the super cliche stereotypes for Americans. They think they're dumb or like they don't I don't know you spices in their food.

00;09;39;22 - 00;09;40;29

Ree

It's so funny.

00;09;42;01 - 00;10;04;21

Fabiola Lara

I mean, it's true. It's true in some ways. I think it's interesting that now I tell this to a lot of people because I know a lot of people from Florida from my life, and I'm always like, if you don't leave Miami, you don't realize that Miami is not the U.S. the way people treat you in Miami and how you're perceived there, because everybody or most people are from Latinx America.

00;10;04;27 - 00;10;25;11

Fabiola Lara

So you have this understanding like you have less bias, I guess, against you and then you leave and that's when you start encountering like weird things. I think I've said this in another episode, but like as soon as I left Miami, just 2 hours north, that's when I had somebody told me, you know, we don't speak Spanish here. We speak English, stuff like that.

00;10;25;11 - 00;10;45;20

Fabiola Lara

You know, I hope you never encounter that because you're in a big city, but, you know, you never know. And that's why I like to ask the question because it's like especially everybody comes from a different walk of life. And I think when you're in Miami, nobody's going to tell you that. But when you leave Miami, you realize oh, most people, you know, maybe aren't used to me or used to people like me.

00;10;45;20 - 00;11;01;28

Fabiola Lara

So it's interesting. I like to ask and then the flip side, I wonder what? Because I haven't spent much time in Latinx America, so I wonder what people in Latinx America or Latinxos in Latinx America think of Latinxos in the U.S.?

00;11;02;09 - 00;11;19;23

Ree

I don't think they even think about that. You know, they just think about Americans. And that said, I think they see them as just another type of American, just an American. But you know what? I'm remembering the story. Sorry. I was in New Orleans this year because I was getting a tattoo and I was waiting to cross the street.

00;11;20;09 - 00;11;41;10

Ree

There were a couple of white ladies next to me and there were no cars. So I decided to get a walk because it was raining. So you know, just walk across the street, no harm. And I hear the lady what else the lady say, oh, maybe because we're white, we don't do jaywalking. These are something along those lines.

00;11;41;10 - 00;11;58;28

Ree

I don't remember exactly what I was shocked. I was like, Oh, my God, what? So I guess that's my first experience. And the only one so far that was really shocking. And it took me a while to process that day that that happened. I was like the I imagine that.

00;11;59;03 - 00;12;03;22

Fabiola Lara

Right and what did they meet? Like, did that really happen? What do they.

00;12;03;22 - 00;12;04;10

Ree

Mean?

00;12;04;19 - 00;12;26;27

Fabiola Lara

Why was jaywalking? Should I really not have jaywalking? Is it that big of a deal? Just makes you question stuff. And like, I always think those little passive things kind of like make you think about how people perceive you. And I don't think you like most people think about that until you encounter these things. You're like, oh, wait.

00;12;27;13 - 00;12;35;15

Fabiola Lara

They can tell that I'm not X or y or Z or something weird. I don't know. Well, thank you for sharing Amy on TikTok.

00;12;35;15 - 00;12;58;06

Ree

You know, I like to watch it. It saved me during the pandemic and there's a lot of these quotes about being white passing, especially for Latinxos here. And they start to say that people that don't like me which is, you know, I'm light-Skinned, but I'm not white. And they says, no, you are white passing, you're black, white. And then that happens.

00;12;58;06 - 00;13;02;00

Ree

And it's like, no, it's not. You're just chronically on line like.

00;13;02;04 - 00;13;25;20

Fabiola Lara

Yeah, I think white passing is more like an experience. It's not like a race. It's like an experience. And I think sometimes you can experience it and sometimes you don't experience it like you did it in that occasion. But maybe, I don't know, maybe if you put on a blazer and I don't even know, but like maybe there are times when people think that you're white and maybe there are times when they don't.

00;13;26;01 - 00;13;46;23

Fabiola Lara

For me, most of the time I think people think I'm white if I don't say my name, if I don't say anything about myself, if I'm just like high by. But then if I say my name or I don't know, like other things, then you realize that I'm not white. But I think for you, I feel like you're very obviously not white.

00;13;47;11 - 00;13;55;05

Fabiola Lara

You know what it is another conversation that is interesting is like, you know how like the Kardashians while like the Jenner's.

00;13;55;18 - 00;13;58;23

Ree

That's what I was going. Yeah, they tend right.

00;13;58;23 - 00;14;09;20

Fabiola Lara

So they're, like making us think that that's what white people look like. And so then they're like, okay, ri is white. But I'm like, no, the Kardashians have moved the bar. And now we're all.

00;14;09;20 - 00;14;10;19

Ree

Confused on what.

00;14;10;19 - 00;14;11;20

Fabiola Lara

Normal like white.

00;14;11;20 - 00;14;31;26

Ree

People look like. Exactly. People like Ariana Grande, they and the Kardashians, they inject their lips and they tan, and then they look more like me. And now people are like, oh, they're white. So Snow White passing. And it's like, nope, that's not true. This is so weird.

00;14;32;01 - 00;14;58;18

Fabiola Lara

At this point. I feel like racially, you know, if I had to check a little box, like on the census, I put that I'm white, but culturally, that's because I'm very light. Like, I'm probably lighter than you, but culturally, I'm not white. You know, I don't feel like I'm American, American, like, you know, generations. But that's like the complicated thing here in the U.S. is that everybody assumes that white means white American.

00;14;58;24 - 00;15;19;15

Fabiola Lara

And that's not necessarily true. You can be white from Argentina, you can be white from de la, you can be white from Mexico, you can be away from all these different countries. But doesn't mean you're culturally like gringo American. Moving on from this deep conversation that I love so much, I want to talk a little bit more about your art and how you got into being an artist and an illustrator.

00;15;19;24 - 00;15;24;20

Fabiola Lara

So what is your earliest memory of being artistic?

00;15;25;08 - 00;15;50;23

Ree

It was actually a Christmas memory. My mom gave me this set. It was like a suitcase. And you can and has like a lot of color pencils. I don't know if you ever got that because I think it was like a childhood thing and I was mesmerized. And I will draw all the time. I will draw on the walls on paper, when I got back to Gaze and yeah, that's my earliest memory.

00;15;50;23 - 00;15;51;27

Ree

I just remember opening it.

00;15;52;09 - 00;15;54;22

Fabiola Lara

Yeah, just opening it. And it's like, wow.

00;15;54;24 - 00;15;55;11

Ree

Yeah.

00;15;55;11 - 00;16;06;22

Fabiola Lara

Endless possibilities, right? Like I can use marker or pencil or pastel or whatever random thing you have in sight. Do you have like something that you used to draw a lot when you were a kid?

00;16;07;03 - 00;16;32;29

Ree

Yeah, I will draw comics all the time. When I was younger teenager. I will also make more comics. I will, you know, those Japanese magazines where you can read manga, but it's like serialize those different stories. In my one magazine, I will recreate that. So I will make like ten different stories and continue in like chapter by chapter with each version of the magazine.

00;16;32;29 - 00;16;42;18

Ree

And I will like staple them and show it to my friends. So yeah, that's the highlight from my childhood and art.

00;16;43;01 - 00;17;00;11

Fabiola Lara

Wow, that is so like dedicated. That is such dedication and like big concept, you know, like, what a commitment. All I would do is draw SpongeBob and you're making magazine comics, zines for your friends. I love that so much. And you said that was like in high school.

00;17;00;23 - 00;17;21;05

Ree

Yeah, I was feeling to animate. Not so much anymore. I don't know why, but I guess, you know, I love it. I love manga especially and spoiler. Like, that's what I will like to do with my work and you know, like making graphic novels because I like books a lot and makes sense for me.

00;17;21;11 - 00;17;30;26

Fabiola Lara

How did you get started with your career in illustration? How did you take it from a hobby to something that you want to pursue professionally?

00;17;31;04 - 00;17;55;22

Ree

It took me a little, you know, I'm just stunned that other people because in my head, I don't know, I was like, No, I have to study something that's going to give me like say, life or whatever that means, you know, a lot of pressure from society and my family and things like that. And I felt like I had to study something else.

00;17;55;22 - 00;18;01;10

Ree

So I was like, Oh, I'm going to study. I actually change. You go yourself.

00;18;01;21 - 00;18;19;00

Fabiola Lara

Please tell us about it. Because I feel like there has to be a lot of people that go through this and a lot of the illustrators that you see, it's like I've always drawn and I went instantly to be an illustrator and so now that you're telling me this, I feel similarly right? Like I took a lot of different paths.

00;18;19;08 - 00;18;22;21

Fabiola Lara

And so I'm like, Let's talk about it because I haven't had a chance to with anyone yet.

00;18;22;28 - 00;18;50;03

Ree

I knew this. I had to make a like a traditional career, but I was like, you know, at least I want to keep it funny, creative side as much as I can. It's not like I went and studied math, but I started with publishing and then I was like miserable and I changed the graphic design. But that was exactly when I moved to Miami.

00;18;50;03 - 00;19;14;21

Ree

So I had to leave that on the side and you know, because of the waiting for the green card and all of that, I have to wait a year without doing absolutely anything. So then I move to Spain and I study mother and languages in Spain, which is like for two years. And then I was like, I assigned to meet more artist and I was like, Gosh, you know what?

00;19;14;21 - 00;19;52;00

Ree

This is what I want to do. Actually, I was 22 at this time, I think, and I decided to change careers again. I came back to the States and I studied animation and it was not in a very good school. They actually are now infamous for that. So I didn't learn much. I actually learned like by myself, I will cry in front of the computer and look at YouTube tutorials because my professors were not help at all.

00;19;52;06 - 00;19;59;20

Fabiola Lara

Oh, that's unfortunate. That sucks because you're like, were going for it and then the schooling held you back. That's frustrating.

00;19;59;27 - 00;20;26;15

Ree

Yeah. So I was like 24 at this time and I was like this going YouTube and Instagram, like the art community there. And I was like, Wait a minute, can do that? Maybe get you pushed every day. So I decided to do that, and I remember participating in the first in October and another 31. So my first year and I completed it.

00;20;26;15 - 00;20;29;28

Ree

That's the only time I did that. Wow.

00;20;30;15 - 00;20;32;27

Fabiola Lara

That's when you had that drive, the hunger.

00;20;33;04 - 00;20;44;26

Ree

Yeah, exactly. And I started gathering a lot of followers, and that's how I, you know, I did I was like, maybe I should open up online store and sell stickers and I don't know, I just went for it.

00;20;45;02 - 00;20;46;21

Fabiola Lara

Is this about 20? 15?

00;20;47;02 - 00;20;47;19

Ree

Yes.

00;20;47;26 - 00;20;51;11

Fabiola Lara

So did you end up finishing that animation degree in.

00;20;51;12 - 00;21;10;06

Ree

Yeah, but online because I decided to move again now that I transferred to the main campus and it was even worse let me tell you. It was terrible. No, it was fun. Is on the animation to you know, I was miserable.

00;21;10;16 - 00;21;14;27

Fabiola Lara

Right, right. That's not your style at all. Now I can see you don't have any interest in 3D.

00;21;15;26 - 00;21;27;25

Ree

Just a little tiny bit. Sometimes I have like I will be nice to, you know, sculpt something. But no, I, you know, it's, you know, I'm done. It's a lot of political items and informations.

00;21;28;17 - 00;21;42;20

Fabiola Lara

It's also just a lot of work. If you don't love to do it, then you're not going to do it. It's it's like anything else. Like like if you don't love oil painting, you're not going to make an oil painting. So it's similar. If you don't love animation, why would you put yourself through that?

00;21;43;02 - 00;21;45;04

Ree

Exactly. Now, is this a nightmare?

00;21;45;24 - 00;22;06;13

Fabiola Lara

So you finished animation and then you kind of started with YouTube and that's when you started doing your merch shop and all of that. That's amazing. I'm so glad that you did that. I'm so glad that you shared about your trajectory, because I think a lot of people like think it has to be like step one to three, four and like you found your way to what you're doing now.

00;22;06;19 - 00;22;11;21

Fabiola Lara

You took all sorts of different steps that maybe aren't traditional. You know, you went to Spain to study.

00;22;12;22 - 00;22;13;23

Ree

Mother and languages.

00;22;14;19 - 00;22;16;01

Fabiola Lara

Other languages, language courses.

00;22;16;05 - 00;22;20;17

Ree

And if you're at a linguist, not necessarily that atlas. Wow.

00;22;20;17 - 00;22;25;07

Fabiola Lara

Okay. Yeah. So you can go do that and then come back and art is still there and there's still hope.

00;22;26;03 - 00;22;45;26

Ree

Is willing to let you know. That's something I learn and I still struggle with that sometimes. And you have to remember, age is just a number as much as I appreciate that is just the truth. It doesn't matter. You can start doing anything at any time. And it's not like 25, 26, 27 is late. It's not night.

00;22;46;07 - 00;23;05;28

Fabiola Lara

It's not like competitive swimming or something, you know that. It's like, yeah, when you start early it's better. But you can get into art whenever and you your career can take off at any point and you just have to be persistent. And I think that you really show that I'm a really new YouTuber, right? I am just starting my channel.

00;23;05;28 - 00;23;10;24

Fabiola Lara

It took me years to like get comfortable with the idea of being.

00;23;10;24 - 00;23;10;27

Ree

On.

00;23;10;27 - 00;23;28;15

Fabiola Lara

YouTube and I had no idea until this year basically how much work it takes to make a video. I was wondering how do you balance creating content like video and Instagram post and all of that and creating your art and your merch and your products?

00;23;29;00 - 00;23;56;23

Ree

Honestly, I don't do a good job with YouTube. I just first when I can just because I enjoy it, I'm not like, that's why I'm like, yeah, I do YouTube videos that I stop it being consistent a long time ago just because like you said, it's a lot of work. So I try to just buzz when I can if I want to and if I like it because otherwise I will be mortified.

00;23;57;13 - 00;24;36;04

Ree

Like 2 hours later at that post. I mean, I don't, I'm not like 100% proud of I mean, I'm not 100% proud of anything. I think that's something, you know, artist but you know, at least feeling decent about it. So identify when I can sometimes I get like manic. I'm like, yeah, I'm going to be this a week. And I did that in October and hearing in Seattle and then you know I eventually crashed and burned and I had a lot of other things to do because I have to pay my bills and it always seems like that.

00;24;36;04 - 00;25;01;26

Ree

So but you know, I'm realistic. So I always talk about that on my YouTube videos. Like, you know, I, I'm doing what I can. I'm not going to make big promises. And also, it's kind of hard when you struggle with a mental illness. It's like you know, that's another ingredient into trying to create a good balance because you have to put that into consideration.

00;25;02;03 - 00;25;08;22

Ree

Sometimes that's going to take time from you because you need to rest and you need to make space for their mental health.

00;25;09;01 - 00;25;31;21

Fabiola Lara

Yeah, I can all be about about the work I noticed, you know, speaking of that, of, of like mental illness and feeling depressed and stuff like that. I noticed that you shared in a moving video on YouTube, I think, in October that you've been feeling, quote, in an art blog for almost a decade. So I was curious like, where are you right now in this process now that you're a little bit more settled into Seattle?

00;25;32;03 - 00;25;33;22

Fabiola Lara

How are you doing with that creative block?

00;25;34;03 - 00;25;55;00

Ree

Now that I'm here, I'm in a new blank chapter in my life. I feel like where I am prioritizing myself and I'm trying to do things because I want to and I'm trying to remember that at the end of the day, all I have is me. So I'm going to treat me well. And always that's one of the reasons why I move.

00;25;55;03 - 00;26;34;04

Ree

And now it's like a lot of chaos. It's behind me and I'm just dealing with like you know, processing a lot of things still. But it's crazy how much more creative I feel before I will get into a depressive episode and I just will then be able to draw something for myself. I will just still work, you know, like literally today I posted something because I was having a bit of an existential crisis, but I was able to, like, sit down and draw and feel better, like release something from that by making art, which is something that I struggle with before.

00;26;34;04 - 00;26;58;23

Ree

And I will feel like, oh, I'm like not a real artist because when I'm sad, I'm not able to draw, but it's just because I was overwhelmed with being in such a dark space. I guess, like a lot of things were going, like a lot of negative things were happening, and now it's like I have been and I am in a much better environment and yeah, I'm prioritizing myself.

00;26;58;23 - 00;27;14;28

Ree

So that's very important. I don't see a lot of people talking about that. I feel like there's an old saying that I can't remember right now, but you got to have a good foundation to do anything else at all. In a good way and enjoy it and be proud of that.

00;27;15;12 - 00;27;26;10

Fabiola Lara

How would you say you're prioritizing yourself? Like what are those little things that you're doing for yourself? To come out of, create a blog or be more at peace? Like you're saying.

00;27;26;29 - 00;27;49;20

Ree

Like I say, taking time for yourself and taking the right amount of breaks because I will push myself before and force myself to do things that I didn't want to. And so I will end up like crashing and having and huge our blog for a long time. And instead now I'm just like, Okay, you know, I'm not doing it.

00;27;49;20 - 00;28;10;02

Ree

I'm just going to take a quick nap or I'm just going to stop for the day or, you know, I'm going to stop for 2 hours and then I'm going to see how I feel and continue and things like that. That's important. Also, personally, I used to I was in a situation where I was helping other people and not thinking what I wanted to do for myself.

00;28;10;17 - 00;28;33;26

Ree

And just feeling like, No, I'm just going to help other people. I'm just going to do this for this person. And like, they have to be successful you know, I got to help. I got to do whatever. And now that I think about it, I feel like I didn't believe in myself much. So I will like not just work and help other people and this person.

00;28;34;01 - 00;28;56;28

Ree

And now I'm like, No, wait, I can do it too. You know, it's it's silly because it's like, I've done many things in my career, but I still will recognize that. So yeah, a lot of tips to help with that. And that's the way I see myself now because it's like, Yeah, you can do it. Everything's possible, and hopefully it's never too late.

00;28;57;05 - 00;29;28;22

Fabiola Lara

I love that. I'm so glad that you're in that space after like a dark time because obviously you are going to continue to do it no matter what. But to be doing it happily now and maybe have a little bit more understanding of what it takes to stay in like this positive space is so valuable. And I can't like if you were doing what you were doing with your art in a negative kind of more dark place, and now you can do it from a positive place, like you're going to go so much farther, you know, like all that effort is going to pay off even more.

00;29;28;22 - 00;29;46;12

Fabiola Lara

And now that you have this, like, new mindset, thank you. I'm excited for you. And hopefully, you know, anyone listening who maybe feels similarly because I feel that way too. I don't feel it like for for that long, you know, but I go through ups and downs, like in one week, right? In one week, I'm like up, down, up, down.

00;29;46;19 - 00;29;57;28

Fabiola Lara

And I think you're right it's about creating kind of the space for yourself and prioritizing your needs and valuing yourself so you're not constantly, like, in this place of doubt or something.

00;29;57;28 - 00;29;58;26

Ree

I don't know. Yeah.

00;29;59;08 - 00;30;09;05

Fabiola Lara

It's hard. I wanted to ask you, like, because we're kind of talking about this, do you have any, like, creative routine or anything like that that you could share with us?

00;30;09;15 - 00;30;25;14

Ree

I don't feel like I do. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I just wake up early and I work till eight, and that's when the only thing is like, no, I have to manage myself. I mean, like, stop it. You have this stuff and you have to sit down and rest.

00;30;25;16 - 00;30;27;04

Fabiola Lara

How long is, like, your workday?

00;30;27;22 - 00;30;51;05

Ree

It depends, but when I have the energy, I can go forever. If I have something in my mind that on this project, I will wake up naturally from anxiety like that. I don't know, seven, six I am. And I will just sit down and start working and working with going to work. Something that I do a lot is just watching these or like listening to podcasts while I work.

00;30;51;12 - 00;30;59;18

Ree

So that also helps the time to go really fast and suddenly it's late and I'm like, Oh, I work the whole day. I should take a walk.

00;31;00;09 - 00;31;10;14

Fabiola Lara

Like you said, you get really excited about these projects and you want to get them done. What kind of projects are you working on? Is it mostly for your shop or for something else? Can you share about that?

00;31;10;24 - 00;31;25;12

Ree

Yeah, I'm working in other stuff right now, aside from my shop and everything. Okay, I don't know if I can say really, but I'm working on some designs for some character designs for our project that may or may not happen.

00;31;25;18 - 00;31;38;03

Fabiola Lara

No, no problem. That's exciting. I wasn't sure because on your Instagram you share more of your personal work. So I'm like, is she getting up every day to make comics for her Instagram? Like, that's so intense but amazing at the same time.

00;31;38;05 - 00;31;49;09

Ree

Yeah, there's got, you know, some commissions here and there. And also I'm trying to write my graphic novel, and so I find it amazing.

00;31;49;09 - 00;31;52;15

Fabiola Lara

Yes, the dream is coming true. Slowly pulling.

00;31;52;16 - 00;31;52;29

Ree

This.

00;31;53;25 - 00;32;04;19

Fabiola Lara

What were your early influences for wanting to be an artist like? Do you have anything specific that you feel like was like key to developing your artistic style?

00;32;04;27 - 00;32;27;21

Ree

Yes, actually, I've always loved cartoons, obviously, you know, Peanuts, Charlie Brown. I always loved that since I was a little kid. Like, I will watch it on Christmas and I to look at it and I was like, Oh, this just gives me the serotonin. I don't know. It just makes me feel some type of way. I love the designs and the colors.

00;32;27;21 - 00;32;54;11

Ree

Like they were muted, but they were like, How do I do this day? I have the same reaction also when I was little, they will play this Russian Little Mermaid movie. It wasn't animation. I was beautiful. It's called Rosella Sugar, which used to be my sign handle for my art and it's from 1968 and they will play it for some reason on our Venezuelan TV channel.

00;32;54;17 - 00;33;15;06

Ree

I don't know why, but it will played all the time and it's so beautiful and it's like, I think 45 minutes or something and it was really mesmerizing to me and it had some kind of, it was sad because it's more loyal to the original tail and The Little Mermaid. So yeah, that was really impactful. Too.

00;33;15;16 - 00;33;17;12

Fabiola Lara

Amazing. I have to check it out.

00;33;17;12 - 00;33;18;22

Ree

Yeah, you love it.

00;33;18;22 - 00;33;35;16

Fabiola Lara

I was seeing on your like when I was like Googling you and everything. I saw that handle I like was seeing that name. I was like, I wonder what that is. And now you connect it there for me. Amazing. Okay. Yeah, I'm going to have to check it out and I'll leave it in the show notes for anyone who wants to check it out as well.

00;33;35;16 - 00;33;59;13

Fabiola Lara

We can watch it together and get on the Russia Loves Go fandom. Okay. And then as someone like I draw a lot from photo reference, but like way more realistic. And so I'm always really impressed with people who create these, like, characters like you do. How did you discover, like, the characters that you create in your world? I feel like it's super established and I'm just wondering how you got to that place.

00;33;59;25 - 00;34;24;11

Ree

Thank you. I feel like that's something that I share along the way because if you see my style back in 20, 16, 20, 15, it's completely different. And I went, I guess trying to find myself. I wasn't satisfied with inking. Sometimes I will add a lot of detail that was unnecessary in my head, and then I will be like, Oh, I don't really like it.

00;34;24;11 - 00;34;45;10

Ree

So once I discover that this is more, I guess for me, at least as I understand sometimes more is more to just click you know? And I feel like I've been consistent now for like only two years, not even that long. But before that I will expand experiment a lot and I'm thankful that everybody kept up with me.

00;34;46;18 - 00;35;14;03

Ree

So there are so many changes, but it was fun finding my style. Now I'm pretty satisfied with it. I hope they it can keep evolving, but it went through a lot of changes and I will, you know, I will feel like, why am I feeling dissatisfied with this? I'm not 100% happy with what I draw. And so, you know, so then I was like, maybe it's because what I like the reason why I started drawing is because of cartoons.

00;35;14;03 - 00;35;37;03

Ree

So why not? You know, there was also I will get comments. Well, I think I still get those comments that people like to tell me that they miss my old style. So I used to be like, oh, maybe I should like go back or something. Yeah, because I want to keep living out of my art, so maybe I should listen to my audience.

00;35;37;08 - 00;35;44;22

Ree

Then I was like, No, you know what? I'm happy. I'm just going to make what everyone wants to see it great for sure.

00;35;44;22 - 00;36;03;03

Fabiola Lara

And I think those people stick along and and if they like what you used to draw, most likely they will like what you draw next. You know, like the art. The chances are very high, and you have to keep doing it for yourself, too, because this is your career and you want to be happy with it. You don't just want to make stuff that other people want that you don't like.

00;36;03;23 - 00;36;24;09

Fabiola Lara

That's no way to live. Actually, my next question, and I'm so glad you brought this up was how do you feel about showing your artwork over the years? And it's like if you scroll back, you can see the evolution. My question is a little bit more towards YouTube, because with Instagram, people usually just delete the old stuff and like nobody notices.

00;36;24;09 - 00;36;38;13

Fabiola Lara

But with YouTube, like you don't delete videos, right? Because then you have like no videos. And so I'm wondering like how do you feel about that, about like the archive of your evolution being out there if you don't love it anymore?

00;36;39;00 - 00;37;03;25

Ree

So on one side, I haven't society so I don't I don't like to think about it. I guess my anxiety turns into embarrassment for some reason, but then on the other side, I'm like, No, it's fine. Like not everyone. I don't and never met anyone that just started drawing and was like a master right away. This is just evidence of my evolution and it's completely normal.

00;37;03;25 - 00;37;32;16

Ree

And if someone sees that and they it helps, then I'm happy, you know? So that's what I tell myself because I'm anxious and like everybody else that draws and or whatever artistic thing they do, we tend to be really tough on ourselves. And especially in the past. So so I tell it about understanding that everything is a process and I just don't have a.

00;37;32;26 - 00;37;52;17

Fabiola Lara

I have to tell you, I love that you do this, that you have like the old videos up and stuff like that because I feel like I'm not quite there with my artistic style yet. And by seeing your videos and seeing that evolution, I'm like, Oh, everybody starts somewhere. It's just like more proof that it takes time, that it takes commitment and that is just going to happen to everyone, right?

00;37;52;17 - 00;38;09;12

Fabiola Lara

Like even if you're not trying, it's going to happen to you. And I think you have to just like embrace the evolution like you are saying. And it is a little bit embarrassing. It's like looking at pictures of yourself from high school or something is like kind of embarrassing. But but you did. It happened, right? It's who you are, too.

00;38;09;22 - 00;38;19;25

Fabiola Lara

And it's proof that you everybody has to start somewhere. So I love it. I hope never delete anything too much. Right. I understand some deletion makes sense, but I love to see it. So I.

00;38;19;25 - 00;38;22;27

Ree

Love it. I'm so glad and thank you.

00;38;23;23 - 00;38;34;22

Fabiola Lara

Like, I like to see like the trajectory, you know, and it explains why. Then I want to talk to you because I'm like, tell me about this time. Tell me instead of you just only showing the best of the best today, you know?

00;38;35;06 - 00;38;58;05

Ree

Yeah, I like to be vulnerable. I don't need that type of person that is like, okay, if we are not talking about our deepest fears and feelings, then I cannot connect with you. Or so I. I don't have time for my you to be this. I talk about struggling with outlook or depression and art and all of that, and I notice that that's not what people really want to see.

00;38;58;15 - 00;39;19;26

Ree

And I was talking to a person the other time recently and they were like, yo, and I'm sad. I don't want to see people feeling sad too. And I was like, That's interesting because I like when it's sad. I like feeling like seeing that in community and it's someone is speaking out. They feel it's great for me. So I guess the majority is like my friend.

00;39;19;26 - 00;39;21;04

Ree

That was so saying that.

00;39;21;04 - 00;39;44;19

Fabiola Lara

I don't know. I don't know if that's the majority I feel like I would like to see. Like, I feel like everyone on the Internet tells us they're doing great. Right? Like, everyone online generally puts only the positive out there. And so I think it's refreshing and authentic to show the three 60, right? Like I can be happy in the morning and I can be sad at night and the next day I'm over it or I'm not.

00;39;44;19 - 00;39;56;06

Fabiola Lara

You know, I like to see the true feelings and and I notice that in your videos, and that's why, that's why I asked the question. And I think people want to see the reality because you can just put on a movie.

00;39;56;25 - 00;40;19;27

Ree

Yeah, exactly. But I don't know, maybe I have, I guess, the wrong perception because I usually like when I post on YouTube specifically, not on Instagram, but on YouTube when I post something, something more sad and I don't get as much engagement, but I don't know, maybe said YouTube thing or not unlike recognize that I have to think about it, but I would like to know.

00;40;19;27 - 00;40;21;03

Ree

I would like to think that.

00;40;21;07 - 00;40;23;03

Fabiola Lara

Maybe people don't know what to say.

00;40;23;10 - 00;40;24;04

Ree

Yeah.

00;40;24;20 - 00;40;52;14

Fabiola Lara

Like it's harder to say something thoughtful when somebody is sad, you know, like it's harder to reply verses if somebody shares, like, amazing news, it's easy to be like, congratulations. I feel like I prefer authentic truth because it makes me feel like you said I feel seen. I feel like I'm not alone. You know, I like to see that other people are struggling with what with our or what their life so that I'm like, okay, it's normal, you know, like, it's not just me alone in the world.

00;40;52;25 - 00;40;56;04

Ree

Yeah. This sense of community is very important.

00;40;56;06 - 00;41;03;01

Fabiola Lara

Do you have any advice for someone who wants to, you know, start drawing and creating their own world and characters?

00;41;03;14 - 00;41;29;09

Ree

I will say, obviously just start, but also look up the things that you enjoy. What kind of stories do you get? Like what kind of characters do you like? And try to think how if you can take some pieces from each character and create your own and then think about how they will look like and thinking about what's that that you like and making a combination of that.

00;41;29;09 - 00;41;42;04

Ree

And it's all about the things that you like. It's like little pieces of yourself and you're going to merge them together and then you're going to have your world else and your style. That's how I like to think about it.

00;41;42;07 - 00;41;50;07

Fabiola Lara

Yeah. Just combining all your little interest together that makes it feel a lot more approachable than like, okay, just draw anything.

00;41;50;28 - 00;41;51;05

Ree

Yes.

00;41;51;16 - 00;42;18;01

Fabiola Lara

We just are not a big deal. Just go ahead. Just draw. You're like, What do I draw? Okay, you know, I'm not much of a person to draw like a world and characters like that. But since I do struggle, I'm still like restarting my creative, artistic style. That is really helpful to just take a little pieces of art that I've made, that I like, and art that I've seen, that I liked and start kind of Frankenstein, my own version exactly.

00;42;18;01 - 00;42;23;19

Ree

Frankenstein. Your home version. Yeah. They have the expression of yourself. I'm sure you're going to do amazing.

00;42;24;22 - 00;42;37;04

Fabiola Lara

Thank you. I want to talk about your new marker collaboration with Art X. Can you tell me about this project, how it got started? Just like the fun part about it, all of that yeah.

00;42;37;04 - 00;42;58;03

Ree

I started working with them like a year and a half ago. They both just kindly send me some boxes for me to try since they knew I use I like markers and I was really surprised with the quality and I genuinely enjoy it. The ink, I only say this, but the ink flows so well and it's just juicy, you know?

00;42;58;10 - 00;43;30;10

Ree

And also very colorful. Like I like bright colors. So sometimes with other brands I will be like you know, I feel like they catfish me with the colors and it'll send me with this one. I was really surprised in a good way. So I started using them all the time. They didn't even ask for it. Sometimes I, you know, if you see my videos for like 20, 20, I will always use always and then they contact me one day and they were like, How about we make your own mark?

00;43;30;10 - 00;43;53;04

Ree

I said, I was like, Yes, please, they'll be amazing. I've been using my first yeah, my first cupcakes. I got in 20, 15 because they were all the rage and I got like two goals and I was so excited so now I discover this brand and it's great and it just made sense for me and I was really excited.

00;43;53;05 - 00;44;20;15

Ree

I'm very grateful for the opportunity. And I actually, you know, they asked me to make the cover. I selected the color palette. So picking the colors was easy because I love taking photos. That's like my favorite thing to do. I love limited color palettes is just great, so it's easy. But I actually did a first illustration I actually did a version that I was like, Yeah, this is a great idea.

00;44;20;15 - 00;44;40;11

Ree

Let's like a girl on a picnic looking like on an angle from like a angle or whatever. And I was painting it and I send it over to them and then I was like, Oh my God, I hate it so much. How did I do? No, you know, this happens, this happens.

00;44;40;11 - 00;44;41;10

Fabiola Lara

It does happen.

00;44;41;14 - 00;44;46;11

Ree

Yeah, but I haven't it. Once again, I don't want to be the anxiety girl, but it is true.

00;44;46;25 - 00;44;50;03

Fabiola Lara

Yes. No, you're not the anxiety girl. It's reality.

00;44;50;04 - 00;45;07;26

Ree

So for two days, I was like, terrified to tell them, like, can I change it? Can I just draw something else? I was like, No, they're going to hate me. And I made this story in my head that they weren't going to hate me. And they did it, and they were completely fine with it. They were really sweet.

00;45;08;06 - 00;45;14;07

Ree

So I made at the administration very sweet and like fun and cute.

00;45;14;14 - 00;45;21;18

Fabiola Lara

Yes. It's like a little bit more pastel than I am assuming maybe than the other one. But then the color palettes specifically.

00;45;21;24 - 00;45;42;07

Ree

Yeah, and I wanted to show that you can use that color palette in different ways because there's like details on the inspiration that are like that. I use very bright colors, so I actually made less need to be here that I posted. It wasn't me using this color in a different station and the main ones where the bright ones.

00;45;42;07 - 00;45;45;09

Ree

So it looks like two different things, like completely.

00;45;45;10 - 00;45;51;05

Fabiola Lara

That's so cool. You can get like both. You can use it. It's like so versatile in different ways.

00;45;51;08 - 00;46;02;03

Ree

Yeah, that's what I wanted to show. So yeah, I'm very happy with it and it's been doing amazing. I didn't expect it to do so well and I'm very grateful and like, yay.

00;46;02;22 - 00;46;24;26

Fabiola Lara

Know, I'm so that is a big deal to do. Like a brand collaboration like that, especially a product that you already like really, genuinely love. That's so special. And then it also did well. I'm so happy that that the stars aligned for that project for you. And even though you were like stressed out about the art, you know, you just asked and they were like, Yeah, it's fine.

00;46;25;23 - 00;46;26;16

Ree

Yeah, I.

00;46;26;16 - 00;46;46;12

Fabiola Lara

Love when that happens because I feel like sometimes artists, but also just people in general get so in their head about like the response they think they're going to get. And then you just ask and it's fine. And worst case, they would say no. And you're like, Okay, that's a bummer, but it's still happening. But best case, you change it and you're happy and everyone's happy.

00;46;46;23 - 00;47;15;09

Ree

Yeah. I feel like you have to push yourself sometimes to have those experiences because that's how you learn that anxiety. Like, it's like you go and ask for it and then you're afraid to because you're were like thinking the worst scenario ever. And then you're like, Oh no, everything was everything turned out okay, so that wasn't true. So next time I'm not going to listen to that little annoying voice that is telling me that we're going to die or be humiliated.

00;47;15;19 - 00;47;23;25

Fabiola Lara

For sure. It's a learning experience. I think it's like practice, right? The more that you do it the less, like, scary it becomes.

00;47;24;01 - 00;47;24;26

Ree

Exactly.

00;47;24;26 - 00;47;32;29

Fabiola Lara

I want to talk a little bit, looking ahead beyond this amazing collaboration with Art X, what's a dream project for you in the future?

00;47;33;18 - 00;47;53;04

Ree

Well, I think I already spoiled that. You know, the graphic novel is like my ultimate dream. That's what I would like to do. With my career eventually. And that's what I feel like it's going to happen, or at least I'm going to try. You know, now that I'm feeling a lot better and a better headspace. So there's that.

00;47;53;04 - 00;48;11;06

Ree

But also sometimes, you know, a lot of times I think I would like to have a brand with like I don't know, like I really like clothing and fashion history, so I would like to do something with that. But, you know, it's just something that is in my mind, I haven't think seriously about that, but it's something I enjoy a lot.

00;48;11;07 - 00;48;19;24

Fabiola Lara

I know you use a lot of markers, as evidenced by the collaboration with Art X. Are there any other mediums that you would be interested in exploring.

00;48;20;03 - 00;48;45;22

Ree

Yes, actually, I would love to learn about acrylics or gouache. I been trying actually to learn, but I haven't have the time. Six months or the past month. But in October I was starting to learn more and more. And so I would like to continue because I want like to like paint, like big pictures, like big canvases. And there's a lot I want to do now that I'm like, yeah, I mean, I'm better than have.

00;48;46;03 - 00;48;52;15

Ree

But that's so good though. Yeah. It's not about hours in the day, but I'm going to try.

00;48;53;12 - 00;49;10;14

Fabiola Lara

Yeah, but that's good. I like that you went from, like, you know, a darker space to, like, dreaming again and thinking about, oh, I could experiment with this or that or acrylic and gosh, and blah, blah, blah. That's good. I'm glad to hear it. How important do you think it is to build like an online following for your art?

00;49;10;27 - 00;49;15;24

Fabiola Lara

And where do you think, like it's best to build an online following right now?

00;49;16;25 - 00;49;43;19

Ree

Well, right now I think it's a very quality time for like Instagram, specifically the algorithm. I see a lot of artists are complaining about it, and I noticed it too. Like, you know, and it's been actually a little frustrating. It's not just that I noticed, but, you know, I think it's all about quality and quantity. Nowadays. You need to find the people that really connect with what you do.

00;49;43;29 - 00;50;02;12

Ree

And that's the important thing. And as long as you do that, you're going to be okay. But if we talk about or you want to really like build something, I think big tech is the moment right now. I know it can be a lot because you not only have to record yourself, but you also have to draw something while being like, it's a lot.

00;50;02;12 - 00;50;02;21

Ree

Yeah.

00;50;02;21 - 00;50;05;19

Fabiola Lara

You have to like make something recorded. Edited.

00;50;05;26 - 00;50;28;06

Ree

Exactly. And so it's a lot of work, but I think where things are going, you know, especially because the algorithm on TikTok, it's much kinder than other places. I will try that. I also hear that Twitter is good, but I just go there and post and then leave because I'm like, I'm not going to like, I don't know what to say.

00;50;29;04 - 00;50;32;11

Fabiola Lara

Right, right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like a million conversations happening.

00;50;32;16 - 00;50;33;04

Ree

Yeah.

00;50;33;28 - 00;50;54;00

Fabiola Lara

You know, you mentioned that you started to watch during the pandemic and everything, but I feel like I wanted to ask you, because you have such a big following on on YouTube and on Instagram. And I'm like, you know, if somebody out there wants to start to get a following so that they can, you know, have a successful merch store or whatever, and just wanted to see what kind of advice you would have for that person.

00;50;54;07 - 00;51;16;03

Fabiola Lara

I feel like I agree with you. TikTok is it's a lot of work, but it's also like the funnest place on the Internet right now, in my opinion, especially with all the Instagram stuff. It's like, okay, TikTok's there. You may as well may as well try it. All right. So one little last question. Now that we're wrapping up the interview, how can we all support your work?

00;51;16;04 - 00;51;20;18

Fabiola Lara

You know, how can we support you, your art, your career, everything?

00;51;21;02 - 00;51;28;23

Ree

Well, there are several ways you can buy something from my shop or you can donate to my coffee.

00;51;28;25 - 00;51;53;14

Fabiola Lara

Amazing. Thank you so much for being on this podcast, for answering all my little questions and for sharing and being so vulnerable with me about, you know, anxiety and depression and creative blogs. I feel like that is so important and everyone only ever sees like the glossy, glamorous part. And I think it's important to talk like we were saying, like show it all three 60.

00;51;53;23 - 00;52;00;04

Fabiola Lara

So thank you for sharing that. Thank you for your time. I really, really appreciate it. And I'm just so happy.

00;52;00;18 - 00;52;11;26

Ree

Oh, no, I'm so happy to thank you and thank you for having me on. I just talking about all of this stuff. I think it was a great conversation. So thank you.

00;52;15;09 - 00;52;44;17

Fabiola Lara

Okay. Friends, thank you so much for listening to this chat with Ree. If you haven't already, go watch your YouTube videos and check out her shop. I'll leave her links in the episode notes on which you can expand right in your podcast app. Just a little reminder, listeners of the podcast can get a free and dated weekly and monthly planner inspired by the show by using the link in our show notes or going to draws in Spanish dot com if you want more content for me, I share studio vlogs and tutorials over on my YouTube channel every other week.

00;52;44;17 - 00;53;10;05

Fabiola Lara

Between podcast episodes, you can find my channel linked below or search for @Fabiolitadraws in the YouTube app. Finally, like always, if there's a Latinx next visual artist based in the U.S. that you think I should speak to on the show, go ahead and nominate them by going to Drawsinspanish.com/nominate. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit subscribe so you don't miss the next episode of Draws in Spanish.

00;53;10;17 - 00;53;13;14

Fabiola Lara

Thank you, hasta la proxima! Chauuu