Coming off of the first ever release for our collection "Dejalos que Hablen," I've hit a bit of writer's block. Sometimes, it feels like the pressure to outdo my last project stifles my creativity. It’s important to be consistent, but I’ve realized it’s equally important to step back and live life to gain inspiration for future work.
As a huge comedy fan, I’m reminded of a story about comedian Leslie Jones. She was struggling to come up with a new stand-up set and reached out to her mentor, Jamie Foxx, for advice. She was shocked when his advice was to simply do nothing but “go out and live life. Break a heart, get your heart broken, work a job you hate, get fired, get into a fight.” Jamie Foxx’s point was that Leslie hadn’t experienced enough of life to have anything substantial to talk about in her stand-up. This resonated deeply with me. I don't want to create anything that lacks substance.
My approach mirrors Jamie Foxx's advice to Leslie Jones. I’ve taken a step back to experience life and allow myself to be a fan. Since childhood, I’ve always loved anything art or design-related, especially cartoons, rap, music journalism, pop culture, film, street art, and comic books. Lately, I’ve been immersing myself in others' work as a fan.
I’ve listened to Kids Take Over’s new interviews with artists like Dave Blunts and Pink Pantheress, which led me to become a fan of their music. I’ve also discovered some incredible artists based out of Texas and have been showing love towards their craft. On top of that, I’ve been watching YouTube videos on typography and graphic design principles. This interest probably stems from my childhood love for comic books.
These activities might not seem directly related to my work at Mercado Goods, but I bet they will inspire my future creations in unexpected ways. The point I’m trying to make is that sometimes, you need to take a step back, experience life, and be a fan of other people's work. Inspiration is as crucial, if not more so, than output.
By embracing life and appreciating others' art, I’m filling my creative well. I encourage everyone to do the same. Step back, live life, and let the world inspire you. You never know what might spark your next great idea.
