Today we’d like to introduce you to Tatiana Centeno.
Hi Tatiana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I was one of those kids growing up who always had a sketchbook andor novel with them at all times. My parents would even say that I had three favorite things as a little kid; the VCR, a box of crayons, and whatever Disney books we had on hand. I was obsessed with cartoons and their stories, and I would even try to draw my favorite characters and imagine alternate storylines to the ones I had watched on tv.
As I got older, I aspired to have some kind of art career that would allow me to combine my love of story and art together. Whether that was comics, animation, video games- anything that would get me to make a living off of what I love. Life, however, decided to challenge those dreams. It took a few sharp turns to where I even considered leaving those ambitions behind and focusing on more “practical” paths. Despite my best effort to pack away my drawing supplies and close that chapter of who I was – I just couldn’t. No matter what I did, or what I tried to do, I always went back to drawing. I always went back to those stories that inspired me to put pencil to paper and create something that brought others joy as much as it brought me joy.
And then I became a mother. One might think, motherhood is the end of the road for a story like mine. However, I believe it fueled the beginning. It was my children who ultimately motivated me to continue with my art. And with the support of my husband and close loved ones, I gained the courage to go outside my comfort zone and share my art more openly with everyone.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would definitely say I’ve had my share of bumps along the way- especially with the struggle I had back then to do something more practical and less creative. Right now, I’d say my biggest challenges are balance and time management. Being a mom and wife, holding a day job, and drawing whenever I can is a lot to juggle.
However, it’s taught me to be flexible and to be kind to myself when I can’t get everything done. I focus on doing my best and making as many lists as I can. Understanding that balance is a dynamic state has also taught me to be present. To be present and engaged with what my family needs, and also be present to what I need to be the best I can be for them. It’s not always perfect, but I try to focus on that progress is better than perfection.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a digital artist, and I love illustrating some kind of story or moment in my works. I focus a lot on characters but have been recently experimenting and challenging myself with larger illustrations and comic pages. One of my favorite things to do is to illustrate scenes from favorite parts of fiction that I’ve recently read. Not only is it a great way for me to express my love for the story and appreciation for the writer; but a great way to challenge myself to go outside of my comfort zone, teach myself fundamentals, and implement what I have learned into the piece.
As for what sets me apart from others- that’s a tough question for me to answer because I’ve always just focused on doing what I loved. I enjoy gestural and expressive drawings, color, and story driven connections. Which one of my best friends have shared with me that these aspects comes across through my pieces in a way that is uniquely my own. Ive also had some tell me that my style comes across as a mix of Archie comics, Disney animation, and Japanese anime- which are all things I’ve loved growing up and still do to this day.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
When networking, I always aim to be present. This is much easier for me to do in person and when I’m children free vs with social media or when my attention is split on my kids. What has helped me to network digitally, and i think this can help others too, is to stay genuine. Being genuine to myself and sharing what I love to create has helped me make those connections to others who enjoy what I’ve created and those who share the same love for the different fandoms.
With mentors, however, I’ve never sought one out in the traditional sense so I don’t know what that would be like. Yet, I do have some amazing people in my life that do act as mentors. It’s my trusted circle of close friends and family, who I can go to when I need advice or support. We trust one another to be open and honest cause we all have each other’s best interests at heart. Seriously, these are the best people and I don’t know where, or who, I would be today without them.
Contact Info:
- Website: Tatic.art.blog
- Instagram: Instagram.com/arti.tati
- Facebook: Facebook.com/artsycoqui
- Twitter: Twitter.com/arti_tati
- Other: Ko-fi.com/artitati
