Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheyenne Garcia.
Cheyenne, before we jump into specific questions about your art, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Well, both of my parents were artists so growing up, it was only natural that I followed. But it was in one specific moment of watching my mom draw my storybook cover for me that I knew that’s what I wanted to do. Growing up I was never involved in any extracurricular activities but art. Always art. But when I moved to Dallas in 2015, that’s when things got more serious for me. I was a full-time student, with a part-time job, not making ends meet. I was so behind on my school bill, I had three days to pay it or I was officially kicked out.
And that’s when I decided hey, maybe I can sell some of my art. So I did a handful of pieces, posted them on all my social media to sell, and I had so many orders, I not only paid my school bill but had an overflowing amount for the next due date! I was packed with orders for two months straight. That’s when the thought of starting “Impressions by Chey” began.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has NOT. It’s literally been a continuous up and down rollercoaster of all things that come with growing a brand. And that includes dealing with a personal life on top of it. We all have ups and downs in our lives and I am speaking for myself when I say this, but mine has been one very very very hard journey. While trying to build an art business, I also had life on the side throwing its own battles at me, making me feel like I was never going anywhere. I think the hardest part for me was just the very beginning. Deciding the name for my business and figuring out how I’m going to display my art. Because the beginning is where I barreled he lost with “what do you think you’re doing?” “There are so many good artists out there what makes you think you can do it?” And stuff like that. All while that very time in my life I was doing two things in my personal life: 1) grieving the loss of my mom. And 2) looking for my biological brother (that of which is a crazy story on its own).
So I had all these emotions coming at me and constantly feeling like I was failing. But that’s when I had to come to a decision. I am very passionate about art and it’s what makes me happy and if I can use that as a tool to help me get through this thing called life all while being a voice and inspiring those with my artwork, then I’m going to do it. And although I still battle with insecurities and just dealing with day to day life alongside building my brand, it’s nothing I’d trade the world for. Because it’s what makes me, ME and what makes my art business unique.
Tell us more about your art.
It’s all about art. I don’t have just one kind of art I specialize in because I love to grow in different aspects, but I’d say my most popular tend to be my calligraphy/lettering and paintings. But that’s what I’m most known for too. It’s what I love most too. And in my company, I’m most proud of how far I’ve come. I’m not famous, I don’t have thousands of followers on social media, and I’m not getting rich off my work, but I am on a whole other level than I was last year trying to figure out a name for my business.
But I surrounded myself with the right people, had the most supportive friends, and gave it all to God, and that is what pushed me out of my comfort zone and into a real business. It’s still at a small start, but I’m happy with where it’s been and where it’s going. Definitely, what sets me apart from the others would be me. The artist. And my story of not just how I got to where I am with art, but how I got to where I am having lived through the life I’ve had. But this life of mine is what made me who I am, and my main goal is for people to see and experience the same when they come across my business.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Oh man. There are sooooo many! If I named names, you would just be reading a long paragraph of them. Haha but definitely my family, my churches and spiritual leaders, and my closest friends. Family and leaders have been the ones to guide me the most, but it was my friends and church in Dallas that actually helped pave a way for me (as well as the guide of course).
They had me doing pop up shops, they threw opportunities after opportunities for me to share and grow in my work. I was surrounded by all creatives and my friends of which are the founders of Odd Society (a community of which promotes creatives), so I was doing nothing but growing and learning creatively all over! It wasn’t until them, that I took big girl steps in actually creating a platform for my business.
Contact Info:
- Email: impressionsbychey@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Captured by Jacob, Taco Mudez, & Oscar Torres.
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