Meet Andrea Cañizares-Fernandez | Artist, Actress, Writer, and Climate Justice Organizer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrea Cañizares-Fernandez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I take issue with the phrase “giving up” in the context of choosing to no longer pursue a creative career. Unless you come from wealth, it is extremely difficult to sustain a livelihood as an artist. I have had many friends and peers in my life who were previously pursuing a career in the entertainment industry, or trying to prioritize their pursuits as an artist, who then at some point decided to take a different path. For some, the required lifestyle didn’t bring them joy in the way they thought it would, for others, they realized that they had a different dream they wanted to follow. And I think it is quite courageous to decide to pivot your career goals, especially after you’ve been pursuing that said career for a period of time. It’s okay to change your mind. It’s okay to decide that there are other things you’d rather have in life. That doesn’t mean you’re giving up. With that in mind, I believe that as long as the goal is something you still want, and parts of the journey bring you joy, it’s worth it to keep going, even when the pursuit can often feel like a struggle. As a child of immigrants, the mantra “do whatever it takes” is seared into my brain (for better or worse). Working hard is necessary for most things, and especially for an artistic career, and often it takes years and years for that hard work to pay off. But I like to think about the work like I’m planting seeds in my garden- I’ll keep planting seeds knowing that in their own time, the flowers will grow.
How do *I* decide to keep going? Whenever I ask myself “is it worth it?” the answer is always “absolutely, yes.”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Creativity has always been a consistency in my life: my Mami is a multimedia artist and growing up I partook in many crafting, painting, drawing, sewing, beading, and collage sessions in her glorious studio. Thanks to her modeling, I broke from the “child-of-immigrant-must-be-a-doctor-or-lawyer” stereotype and was supported to pursue my creativity.

Ever since I played Dorothy in a 3rd grade play, my love for acting became a frontrunner, and thus I studied Acting (as well as Psychology and Environmental Policy & Culture) at Northwestern University and stayed in Chicago post graduation to begin my professional acting career. 3 years ago I moved to Los Angeles to hone in on acting and television pursuits. What a joy (and practice of patience) the journey has been so far!

At the same time, writing and making art was always a “hobby” I returned to. I always loved typography work (with my favorite Micron pens), and during college, inspired by Mari Andrews, I found a style of art that combined pen with watercolor. I started making doodles regularly on my Instagram account, @byandreacf, and eventually my own style coalesced, as did my desire to pursue writing and illustration more seriously. In addition to acting, I am now a freelance artist and writer: my work has been published by The Los Angeles Times, HipLatina, LatinaMedia.Co, and Veggie Mijas. Through Veggie Mijas I wrote and translated my first children’s book, titled What Do You Need, Que Necesitas?, which aims to bring age-old abolitionist concepts like community care and mutual aid into bilingual households. I am additionally grateful to say that, with the help of my literary agent, I recently landed a book deal to publish my first graphic novel! Themes that often come up in my work are cultural identity, generational trauma, body image, perfectionism, and social justice.

My life goal is now figuring out how to intersect my love of art and call to activism in as many ways as possible. In addition to my creative goals, I am a climate justice organizer with Sunrise Movement, and I feel so lucky to have a passion outside of my career goals that grounds me on a day to day and fuels me with larger purpose.

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.
My favorite places/spots in LA that I frequent most: Runyon Canyon (Griffith Park and Fryman Canyon both get honorable mentions), pickleball at Plummer Park in West Hollywood, All Power Books in Mid City, Upright Citizens Brigade in Franklin Village, and various thrift shops on Melrose. I’m a vegan, and the restaurants I frequent most are: Pura Vita, Summer Buffalo, Millie’s Cafe, Swingers Diner, Sightglass Coffee, Cafecito Organico, and Otus Thai (RIP to Nics on Beverly and Flore Vegan)
Also, I get all my best plans from The Nudge LA!!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to the community that I’ve been lucky to build here in Los Angeles. Whether it be through my acting studio (John Rosenfeld Studios), the UCB improv community, fellow organizers in the Sunrise Los Angeles Chapter, college friends, or other Latin creatives in the industry, I have felt so supported and inspired to continue pursuing my dreams and fighting the good fight. Also, shoutout to Kate Bera, who introduced me to Shoutout LA!

Website: www.andreacf.com

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