Andrea Campos, Illustrator & Photographer
If you’ve been on Instagram recently, there is a 99.9% chance you’ve come across Andrea Campos’s feel-good, timely content over at @dreasdoodles, where the Mexican-American artist shares original illustrations, most of which are inspired by current events and her Latinx heritage.
The success of @dreasdoodles surprised Andrea, who went from working a 9-5 to going full-time freelance as a photographer and illustrator. The overwhelming support as well as the professional opportunities she’s garnered during the pandemic (Editor’s note: She most recently illustrated a children’s book!) have been the culmination of hard work, grit, and patience. It’s what still keeps her going over a year in — and what I hope everyone takes away from our chat.
“… Despite all of the ups and downs, and unexpected curveballs I’m still standing and I’ve realized that I am capable of so much more than I’ve ever given myself credit for,” Andrea tells me. “I started a business and made a major career change — all during a global pandemic. That for me is less of a flex, and more of a reminder of what we are all capable of when we really set our minds to it.”
Keep scrolling to learn more about this mujer de magia.
Grace Gavilanes: Stability seems to be the ultimate goal in Latinx families. Was yours supportive when you told them you wanted to pursue a job in the creative field?
Andrea Campos: I don’t think I ever told them, I showed them. I started my photography business when I still had a full time 9-5 job, and over time, that started to grow and grow and they saw for themselves just how possible a career as a creative is.
GG: And now you’re officially full-time freelance! What has that transition been like? What have you learned about yourself?
AC: Bumpy. I made the decision to go full-time freelance in January 2020, weeks before the pandemic hit, so as you can imagine, things did not go 100% as planned — not even close. But, despite all of the ups and downs, and unexpected curveballs I’m still standing and I’ve realized that I am capable of so much more than I’ve ever given myself credit for. I started a business and made a major career change — all during a global pandemic. That for me is less of a flex, and more of a reminder of what we are all capable of when we really set our minds to it.
GG: What would you say has been your biggest obstacle? How did you overcome it?
AC: Myself. My self-doubt, my self-confidence. You see somewhere along the way, people started telling me that “being an artist wasn’t a real job,” or that “you’ll never make money doing what you love” and I started to believe them. I started to believe that just because they thought I couldn’t — I shouldn’t. That was a mistake.
If I’m being honest, I don’t think I’ve fully overcome it yet. My relationship with my self-doubt, my fear, is a work in progress. It still creeps its ugly little head into almost everything I do, but the difference is that now, I acknowledge it but don’t let it take control.
GG: Imposter syndrome is a very real thing in our community. How do you combat those feelings?
AC: As a recovering perfectionist, I am all too familiar with imposter syndrome and the way it can wreak havoc in your life. One of the things that helped me was reframing my thoughts when it came to imposter syndrome. Similar to fear, I acknowledge them, but no longer let them control my actions. Easier said than done, I know, but it gets easier over time I promise.
Another thing that was huge for me in my “overcoming imposter syndrome” journey was vocalizing not only what I want, but also who I am. It may sound silly but for the past 10 months or so I have looked in the mirror every day and said to myself out loud, “Good Morning Artist” and you know what, over time, I’ve started to believe it. Which has been HUGE for me.
GG: What would you say is your proudest accomplishment?
AC: That I live my life the way I want to: brightly, boldly, and on my own terms. Well, that and @dreasdoodles. My illustration work feels like the culmination of all of the work I have been doing on myself over the years: unlearning perfectionism, overcoming imposter syndrome, reclaiming my voice. I feel so lucky to have reconnected with this part of myself and that I am now confident enough to share it with others.
GG: Your Instagram, @dreasdoodles, really blew up during the pandemic! Can you share what inspired you to create it and the reaction you’ve gotten so far?
AC: Those early days of the pandemic were tough. Like many others I was feeling so much: I felt isolated, confused, overwhelmed, scared — so I decided to create @dreasdoodles as a way to make sense of it all. It was art therapy, and it was intended to be my little pocket of the internet where it was always sunny. Turns out a lot of other folks were feeling similar things about the world around them, and it’s really taken off. To date, the response has been overwhelmingly positive — with complete strangers DMing me telling me keep up the good work and keep following my dream.
GG: What does being Latina mean to you?
AC: It’s everything — my family, my heritage, my roots. It’s the way I think. The color of my skin, the texture of my hair. It’s the way I show up for people, and what I bring to the table. It’s a little chispa inside of me that burns bright and is a part of every single thing that I do.
GG: What are you currently working on that you’d like to plug?
AC: My first children’s board book is officially out. It’s A Little Book About Culture and it’s the perfect thing for kiddos ages 0 - 4 to get a colorful introduction to the different things that go into culture — from traditions to food, and everything in between. I created the book in partnership with the incredible people at A Kids Co — who are all about tackling real word issues in bite-sized ways to help bring kids along in the conversation of things like racism, activism, culture, and more. My hope is that this book will act like a little seed that sparks the curiosity of young readers and opens their eyes to all the different things that go into culture; from our traditions to food, and everything in between.
GG: How do you stay connected to your culture and community?
AC: I am lucky to live in California, where I see members of my community and culture on a regular basis. But besides that, I make an effort to read, listen to, watch and support other latinos. I listen to NPR Latino regularly and am always browsing websites like R29Somos, bese, and We All Grow to see what my fellow Latinas are up to!
GG: Which Latinx content creators are you currently obsessed with?
AC: I love Isabel Humphrey’s work. Her illustrations have so much vibrance and life. She’s a master of color and I love the way she represents women in her work.
