Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristina Casellas.
Hi Cristina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am Cristina Casellas, 30, originally from Hollywood, FL. I am a Jewish Cuban-American crafter, painter, and geek culture enthusiast. Growing up in the height of the ’90-’00s TV generation shaped me into the eccentric yet anxious, creative yet stuck, positive yet critical individual I am today. I always knew I’d do something with art; I didn’t know where I’d land, and to be quite honest, I still don’t. Painting is my life and my ultimate career goal despite my extensive background in hospitality, retail, and other odd jobs. (Who else can say they spent a few months working at a turtle rehab center gift shop and attempted to make wax hands at Ripley’s?). I started doing my signature artistic work as a pet portrait artist for Chewy.com, the portraits of which I still do now, just not contracted. I still don’t quite have a style, but I have a passion for things that bring me joy, like things from my past or nostalgia, to sum it into one word. I realized the joy of nostalgia was a great tool to relate to an audience, so I started painting portraits of my favorite cartoon characters like Courage the Cowardly Dog and tried bridging my way from pet portraits to something similar but not rooted in reality and not commissions. After seeing my new series of bright, bold, and colorful paintings, my mom thought it’d be a great idea to go through her collection of my childhood toys she’s kept for the past 30 years in the same home I grew up in in South Florida and revive them into something I could repurpose. After hours of searching through Publix bags of fast food toys and small plushies, sanitizing and brainstorming ideas, I began turning the trinkets into keychains and earrings, simple accessories I knew would reach a group of fellow geeks and grown 90s kids who find simple joys in memories of the past. With money acquired by selling ‘vintage’ video games I also searched through during my trip down memory lane, I was able to invest in finally beginning my art business, Central Coastal Craft, in August, where I can sell and display my crochet and toy accessories, my paintings, and anything I feel like creating at local markets and pop-ups throughout Orlando. Slowly but surely, I have begun to build a little business where I proudly sell only locally and in-person, where I can build connections with people in my community and share the love of art.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road is still so new! It is freshly paved, and the paint is still wet. The biggest roadblocks are myself and my financial stability. I can control myself 100%, but worrying about how I’m going to pay rent or bills piling up will even itself out if I set my mind to the goals I have since my goals are to live a creative life and make a stable income through my creativity, and helping others achieve the same. I attended a TableTalk at UnitedArts a few weeks ago. I met their President and CEO, Jennifer Evins, who gave me the most simple but powerful advice: “Have courage” [with my art and endeavors]. I can create and do and be someone grand, and it’s all a matter of doing whatever it is because that one step is more than most do. Get out of your brain and into a canvas! I had the courage at the beginning of the year to finally say enough is enough to be depressed and bored and make drastic changes to my lifestyle, mentality, and work ethic, and it has paid off; however slow the progress, it’s there. Courage is an ongoing theme this year; I hope next year’s theme will evolve and help me thrive.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an artist, crafter, and crochet hobbyist; I have recently begun to show at pop-up markets as Central Coastal Craft, where I like to consider my bright green tent a traveling gallery of art and vintage for sale. I sell childhood toy accessories sourced from my personal childhood (until it’s all gone, then I will be sourcing from thrift finds and secondhand.), paintings, and custom on-the-spot paintings (depending on the market). My paintings are bright, bold, and familiar with subjects of American pop culture phenomena, colorful free-association abstractions, local Floridian themes, or pet portraits. My crochet accessories are usually quick and useful projects like scrunchies or can cozies with neckstraps so you don’t have to carry your drink (Or can carry 3 at once;’ D). Pet portraits are my absolute specialty, but I would like to be known for being someone with variety. I consider my tent at local pop-ups to be a traveling gallery because at the end of the day, even if I don’t make a sale, I’ve sent all who step into the bright green tent back to the 90s for a few moments, where they can quiz their kids “Who is this? Do you know who that is?” on their favorite childhood characters, or talk to me about learning to crochet, or ask me about making a painting of their cousin’s cat.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Please follow me on Instagram to see which local markets I will visit next. I could use all the support I can get right now as I am going through many tough financial burdens. I am working hard to overcome them and achieve my goal of making art full-time for myself and the community. If you’re interested in a painting and mention this article, I can whip up a deal for you!
Pricing:
- Pet Portraits -Acrylic on Canvas – $30- 125
- Pet Portraits – Acrylic on Bristol – $15 – 50
- Vintage toy accessories – $5- 15
- Crochet accessories – $5-15
- Paintings vary on size and detail – $5-150
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/centralcoastalcraft
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristina-casellas-842490149/
Image Credits
Profile photo credit to Mike Huet of Lime Digital Agency
