Meet Vanessa “Nessa” Garcia-Carrera | Owner of “ArteNessa”

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vanessa “Nessa” Garcia-Carrera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vanessa, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I am a Houstonian! My mother is from Chilpancingo, Guerrero and my father from Mexico City, Mexico.

My best childhood memories were made in the south east of Houston. The art mural in my neighborhood park (port houston) is where my love for art grew.

I am a visual learner, therefore, copying what I liked in a blank piece of paper was a challenge that helped me find my style of art. I entertained my self drawing cartoon characters like the simpsons, spongebob and betty boop for my classmates in school.
By the age of 14, I moved to Chicago. Having an unstable home turned me into an outcast. Moving around Chicago neighborhoods every year allowed me to explore. I started off, riding the train downtown and admiring the graffiti art. This gave me a spark to brake some boundaries and try graffiti artwork.
Recreating my art in canvas gave me time to experiment on different types of paint. After high school I gained confidence to sell my artwork on facebook. I left many unfinished project after having children. I thought of putting my passion for art on hold for a while but realized that no matter what you do, a child is not an excuse to give up your dreams of the outcome you want to create.
So, I moved back to my hometownwhen I turned 22 and took some time to reconnect and find my kind of people again.
Now, I want to keep using my creativity for people to enjoy having a piece of my artwork; embracing my mexican heritage in the process.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
“Cantaritos with a splash of color.” I customize artwork in clay cups. My clay cups are made by artisan hands in Guerrero, Mexico. The type of clay cups I work with are called “cantaritos” also known as jarritos, tarros or tequila cups.
In Mexico, cantaritos are used for their famous drinks made with squirt, grapefruit, orange juice, limes, a pinch of salt and TEQUILA!!!! Many people use it to put their favorite drinks, while others use it as a plant base.
What sets me apart from others could be the way I recreate designs representing my mexican culture.
I started my small business back in march when I had my first popup shop at Social Beer Garden. Going to popup shops has helped me find amazing people who are willing to support me.
“Complete strangers are more inclined to help you succeed than people you’ve know for a very long time.”
I try to support other small businesses by recreating their logos in cantaritos to connect them a little with my mexican roots. I post them on my instagram and give them a shoutout share on my stories as well! SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES!!
As of today, I feel I have not completly reached the goals I have in mind. I am professionaly developing as i go!
A lesson I have learned is knowing that no one cares more about your business as you do. It takes a daily grind to achieve success and the hustle never ends!
I want to create a platform where people can get involved more with art not just through clay cups but I have other big projects coming soon!
I love painting and drawing, doing anything with paint that creates something unique! I dont do it to gain just money but because is something I enjoy doing from the bottom of my heart!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
“Houston is an hour away from Houston.” Start off by spending a night or two at “the Marriot Marquis downtown” and enjoy the view, while swimming in “the Texas Lazy River”. Take a tour at “Space Center Houston”. Visit “The Museum of Fine Arts” and for an adventure to Imperial China a place called “Lucky Land”. Next to this is “Sunny Flea Market” open on the weekends, you can shop and support small businesses. Enjoy a walk through “Hermann Park” or “Buffalo Bayou Park”. Explore montrose. Find fresh fruit and hispanic foods at “the Houston Farmers Market” on airline drive. Some of my favorite places to eat are at “La Esquina Food Truck” and “Tacos Cuhh”. Best birria tacos for me are at “Tacos El Bigotes”. Enjoy some of the best ceviche with “Captain Ceviche”. Find fresh aguas frescas with “Pekaditos” on the weekends. Watch a movie at “the Showboat Drive-in”.

Houston has a diversity amount of adventures but this are some of the many things I enjoy! Wish I could put all the small businesses in here but you can check them out on my instagram @artebynessa!!!!!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My children may not have everything they want in life, but they have a mom who loves them more than anything in the world. Therefore, I dedicate this shoutout to my children. I’m especially grateful to a few amazing people whose support is the reason I started this small business. Ya’ll know who ya are!!! Soon I will announce a project I am working on, to help people find their own talent in art!!

Website: linktr.ee/artenessa

Instagram: www.instagram.com/artebynessa

Facebook: www.facebook.com/artebynessa

Other: Email: artebynessa@gmail.com

Image Credits
@channel_purple @htownnessa