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

Hi Edgar, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
Since I was a teenager, I have firmly believed in the idea of not becoming stagnant. When I find myself feeling too comfortable (or uncomfortable) in one place, I make an effort to move and start over.

The thought of my work becoming stagnant terrifies me, and that fear has driven me to move to different cities multiple times. Starting from scratch is not easy. Not knowing anyone, having no contacts. While I can be certain of the love and support of my family and friends, they are often far away, and we all know there comes a specific point in life when you only have yourself to rely on.

Giving up. Every time you start over, there’s an undeniable certainty of difficult days ahead. Your savings begin to dwindle, and one day you realize there’s only enough left for this month’s rent, but not for food.

It’s precisely in those moments that you ask yourself how big your dreams truly are.

A great life mentor once told me, “First, do something that feeds your stomach, and then something that feeds your soul.”

And when there’s fire in your spirit, giving up is simply not an option.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I firmly believe that knowledge is available to everyone; what makes us unique is the way we feel.
As for me, I try to take everything I love, but especially everything that hurts and twists the soul, and sublimate it into art.

It hardly matters whether people believe there’s a differentiator when my work is at the service of my spirit, and I am particularly proud that this is the case.
It also fills me with joy that many of my clients end up becoming my friends. There’s a certain connection, and most of the times, they are wonderful people. Sometimes I truly cannot believe how fortunate I am. Pure gratitude.

However, no—it hasn’t been easy. In the “creative industry,” you must be financially stable, have connections, be extroverted, and you have to be a shark…
But few mention (or perhaps they mention it so often that we end up ignoring it) that you must be authentic. What they don’t tell you is how hard it is to be authentic with yourself. To look inward, to face the fire of your demons, and to return—whether in flames or ashes—but to return.

And there, I believe, is where people see your work, and it no longer matters whether they love it or hate it, but something resonates.

If there’s one lesson I’ve learned from this entire journey, it’s that nothing is permanent and that we must learn to be reborn.
At some point, I believed my life was destined for decay; however, I’ve learned that, every so often, one must empty oneself—make space for the new.

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.
First of all, I’d say it’s not about the spots but about the experience.
I’d grab my fixie, give you an electric bike (I was tired of people complaining about how exhausting it was) and a disposable camera, and take you on one of the worst routes for a beginner cyclist (maybe it was my fault)—but with the best views.
Los Feliz, Griffith Park, Mulholland Dr my love (Thank you, David Lynch), Franklin Canyon.
And then Korean BBQ at Jeon Yuk Jeon

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
To my family, who are undoubtedly my foundation; to my friends, those who have never left even though I did; to my clients, who sometimes don’t realize that they are not just hiring a service, but also nourishing the soul.

Website: https://tescum.myportfolio.com/

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tescums

Other: maybe

https://www.tiktok.com/@tescums

Image Credits
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