Meet Mari Ledezma | Colorful Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mari Ledezma and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mari, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I decided to pursue the idea of a creative career as an artist because I have always been very passionate about art in general. I can honestly say it comes naturally for me and I have had a lot of encouragement from my peers over the years. Overall, making artwork makes me very happy and I have seen how much people like my work. It just encourages me to continue and to not give up. Plus if I am able to add more color into the world, then that is what I will do!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My artwork is heavily inspired by Japanese fashion or “kawaii” fashion. Every time I create something I make sure that it is different from others, whether it be the little details or the big picture. I tend to use a pastel color pallet sometimes mixed with bold colors but usually tend to stay on the bright , soft but colorful side. I started working towards making accessories back in 2013, I learned how to make jewelry through YouTube tutorials. At first it was very difficult but everything is trial and error and the more I practiced the easier it got for me to bring to life my creative visions. Even know when I start to doubt myself, I push myself. If there is one thing I have learned, is that you can be your biggest critic and even though you feel as if your artwork is not the best, there will always be supporters. My brand “Creepy Kitty” is all about colorful cuteness. I want people who wear my accessories and clothing to be able to feel different and cute. I started Creepy Kitty because I was always inspired by all types of j-fashion.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Living in Los Angeles there are a lot of hidden gems in the city. One place that I like to hangout a lot is in Little Tokyo. Little Tokyo is full of amazing people and fun stores to check out. They have really good ramen spots, my favorite ramen restaurant right now is called Rakkan ramen, I always take my friends there and it is always a hit. There are cute shops to check out as well such as Sanrio, anime stores and yummy cafes. There are always all types of individuals hanging out in Little Tokyo and you will always run into someone wearing an outfit that stands out whether bright or dark.

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?
When I started my career as an artist, everything I did was online, but in 2015 I was introduced to a local group known as “Harajuku Day” that was ran by Laarnie Barcelon, Monique Lea, John Woo and Marcus Chavez . This group is currently being organized by my really close friend Jasmine Rose aka SoySugoi. Harajuku Day was created as a way for Japanese fashion lovers to get together, do photoshoots and do many fun activities. Thanks to this group I have been able to not only expand my creative ideas, but I have also had the opportunity to be part of the creative process in terms of making art, such as stickers and accessories for the attendees. Jasmine has always been very encouraging in my endeavors and so have all the other attendees. A huge part of me is thankful for all the people I have met during my time attending Harajuku Day because I have had the opportunity to meet other cool local artists, make friends and expand my brand.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creepykitty___/

Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CreepyKittyShop

Image Credits
Karen Constine , Ivan Aburto and Marc Amba.