Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Prado.
Hi Monica, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in Abilene, and in high school I took an art class that completely changed the way I viewed the world. From that moment on, I naturally fell into the art world—entering competitions, exhibiting my work, and discovering a deep passion for creative expression.
My educational journey was not a straight path. After taking a detour through Amarillo College, I continued my studies at West Texas A&M University, where I later became a McNair Scholar. Graduate school had never really been on my radar until my junior year of college, but that experience encouraged me to pursue higher education and ultimately apply to Texas Tech University. I received my MFA in 2019 and began teaching shortly after.
Today, I teach at Hardin-Simmons University and online through Amarillo College, while continuing to create and exhibit artwork in my hometown of Abilene.
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?
Pursuing college was not easy for me. I struggled for a long time with math and kept failing my classes until I attended Amarillo College to finish my basics. It was there that I realized I was not bad at math—I simply learned at a different pace. Once I found the right environment and support, I not only passed my math class, but excelled in it.
That experience taught me that I could accomplish anything through determination, patience, and hard work. I never allowed failure to define me or consume me; instead, I used it as motivation to keep pursuing my goals.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in printmaking, specifically screen printing, collagraphs, monotypes, and monoprints. I also enjoy incorporating collage and sewing into my work, practices that have been part of my life since childhood. My grandmother sews, so I grew up with a needle and thread in my hands, learning the value of mending, making, and working with textiles. Those traditions continue to influence my artistic practice today.
In many of my prints, I incorporate stitching and woven elements, especially within my collagraph work, using layered textures to create dimension and deepen the narrative within each piece. Through these processes, I explore and reflect on my Mexican-American identity, blending traditional craft practices with contemporary printmaking techniques to tell stories of memory, culture, and belonging.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
To never stop making. Often, when I teach, students ask me, “What more can I do?” and my answer is always the same: never stop creating. The day you stop making is the day you stop problem-solving, experimenting, and learning. When nothing is made, nothing is learned. That idea is something I carry with me in both my teaching and artistic practice.
Making art has taught me how to constantly problem-solve—whether it’s learning new software, navigating the mechanical processes of printmaking, or troubleshooting an issue in a screen print. Every challenge becomes an opportunity to learn something new. That continuous process of creating, failing, adjusting, and discovering is what keeps me growing as both an artist and educator.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pradoprints.com
- Instagram: @pradoprints
- Facebook: Prado Prints
- LinkedIn: monica-prado-03109621a
