Meet Cynthia | Illustrator

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

Hi Cynthia, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
As an artist, I wanted to find a way to share my art and create things that would bring joy to people in my community.
Stationery has always been a passion of mine, but I rarely (if at all) saw representations of my culture in those types of items. I wanted to solve that problem and loved the idea of making stickers, notebooks, washi tape, and other stationery with designs that I wish I had growing up. However, something was always holding me back. I would grow doubtful sometimes and think, “What if no one likes my design? or What if people aren’t interested in buying what I want to make?”
This cycle continued until the pandemic hit in 2020. Being stuck at home and facing the world’s new reality made me realize that I needed to take risks and do the things I have always wanted to accomplish before it’s too late.
It felt very existential, but it was true. If I didn’t do it now, I was never going to do it. So I decided to buy a cutting machine to make my own stickers and invest in digital prints of some of my illustrations. I drew a lot of inspiration from all of the artists I love to support at anime of comic book conventions, but adding my own twist. Instead of making anime/comic book stationery, I wanted to create stationery for the Latinx and Los Angeles community and celebrate what makes us unique.
Now my business continues to grow thanks to that risk I took when times were so uncertain.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business is my art and I love all things stationery! When I decided to start my business I wanted to create items that celebrated my cultural background and the city I have always called my home.
I am a first-generation child of Mexican immigrants and I am from the neighborhood of Watts in South Central LA.
All of the stationery I create is a celebration of the shared experiences we have through food, cultural traditions, and the places we call home. From notepads of our favorite pan dulce, to stickers showing off the different neighborhoods in LA.

My journey as a small business has been steady, but is a major investment in all aspects – phyiscal, emotional, mental, and financial. All these types of investments can be intimidating at times, but I owe a lot to my friend and family who have supported me along the way. A lot of it is believing in yourself and taking a risk on yourself, but also making educated decisions that are right for you.
I have learned to be patient and stay true to vision when I create new things to share with my audience. I’ve also learned that success can manifest itself in many different ways and embrace challenges as learning opportunities.

Images influence how we perceive ourselves and others in the world so my mission is to create illustrations and stationery that make my community proud of their roots and excited to express that.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I think not enough people have acquainted themselves with all the things South LA, Southeast LA, and the South Bay have to offer.
I would recommend visiting Gardena and Norwalk for some of the best Asian food.
Visiting San Pedro to see the coastal cliffs, Korean peace bell, and have some of the best sandwiches at Busy Bee Deli.
Visiting El Dorado Nature Preserve in Long Beach.
The best hole-in-the-wall burgers LA has to offer are in South LA at any Tam’s or Tom’s Jr locations.
The best soul food in South LA is at Dulan’s Soul Food in Westmont/Inglewood.
There’s so many more, but I had to shout these places out!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my sister who has always been my biggest fan and supporter. Without her words of encouragement during all of my moments of doubt, I don’t think I would be where I am today.
I would also like to dedicate my shoutout to my partner who is also a great supporter of my art and small business. He has helped me grow my business by helping make all my pop-up events successful.

Website: https://cnavarroillustration.com

Instagram: @cnavarroillustration

Image Credits
Credit: Cynthia Navarro