Meet Christian Leon Guerrero | Freelance Illustrator and Printmaking Assistant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christian Leon Guerrero and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christian, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I find my workflow to be reasonably intuitive, at least during the process of creating. It caused me to work in spurts throughout the day. Ideas would come and go, and I would be excited to execute the best I could. Though sometimes during obnoxious hours into the night. As the years went by, I found the importance of calculating my day-to-day schedule and creating my boundaries. Everything came down to being punctual, and when I started working through that lens, it gave me a better understanding of the importance of resting in many forms and taking a step back.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I came into art with little to no insight into what types of jobs or opportunities lie there. Despite the intense debate about whether art school is needed to become a successful artist, I found school quintessential to my artistic growth. My peers guided me into pursuing illustration, something I was completely unaware of but quickly found the path quite fitting.

From a low-income family, being the first in my immediate family to start and finish college, and last but not least being the oldest sibling out of three others. A lot of this subconsciously carried with me into my career and daily life. Something that I’m proud of that grounds me. Regardless of my family’s background and drawbacks, it was all made up for with the eclectic experiences they shared with me. The art that I share with my audience is the essence of my family and friends. Creating work in different mediums or styles is a reflection of that. It’s what makes it fun and exciting.

My work usually consists of bright and muted palettes with an array of playful imagery. I’m interested in creating intimate, quiet moments throughout my work to evoke nostalgia. It’s a characteristic that I’ve found to be the most natural for me. Working this way has brought me into an in-between space between fine art and Illustration. Something that I’ve recently learned to love.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d say to first have them over to my place to catch up! I love to host and cook for friends and family, so I’d most likely start with that. For the other days, we’d go thrifting. Perhaps get some good food in K-Town or Little Tokyo and hang out and different shops. What I enjoy the most with my best friends is that we always leave room for spontaneity. When we all lived in the Bay Area, we would always start with a designated food spot, followed by aimlessly walking in circles around town. Eventually, find a nice park or hiking spot to rest. Who knows how we’d spend our time together in the future? I know it’ll be a good time.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Those who know me have heard me say my good friend, Morgan Delorenzo. Truly a diamond in the rough. The amount of knowledge and experience he has shared with me is too many to count. I met him through an art program while in high school. We connected pretty quickly, and the next thing you know, I started picking up the many art practices he exposed me to. From murals to print-making, gallery work to zines, it was all the essential things that I still like to do. I learned the importance of having a healthy “art community” through his generosity and teachings. I love to share, help, and uplift other fellow artists best I can because of him.

Website: http://christianleonguerrero.com/

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