Meet Denisse Beltrán | Illustrator and Graphic Designer

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

Hi Denisse, the decisions we make often shape our story in profound ways. What was one of the most difficult decisions you’ve had to make?

In my creative practice, one of the most difficult decisions has been coming to the US to study for an MFA. It was clear to me that I wanted to study an MFA in illustration since a long time ago. But when the time to do it came I realized that it would also imply leaving home for the first time and moving away from my family and friends. Another important part of my life aside from my professional development.

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.
I’ve always been a visual person. Like most image-makers I used to enjoy drawing more than anything as a kid, so I kept doing it when I grew up. This doesn’t mean I was the most skillful at it, but it certainly gave me a hint about what would later become my professional path. I’m a graphic designer and illustrator, my professional interests involve cultural and artistic dissemination and my artwork contains themes such like, womanhood, introspection, and nostalgia, with the constant use of natural elements as a metaphor for human emotion.
While I was working as a graphic designer, I also started finding my visual voice in illustration, which led me to later pursue a master’s in that field. Right now, after graduating, I’m trying to find a balance between my illustration and graphic design practices. Exploring the possibilities between both,  I came to the conclusion that they always will inform each other.
I would say that coming on with a sense of confidence in graphic design evolved almost naturally with practice, being my full-time job the constant involvement in that area gave insights into my interests and abilities. In contraposition, for illustration, I started finding the tools by myself, gaining confidence, and defining my voice as an artist took me a little more time.

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 in Baltimore are mostly related to food. I’m from Mexico and I’ve been missing food so much since I came, Clavel is always delicious and is probably the best Mexican restaurant I’ve been to in the US, another great one is Bmore Taquería, they have great Al Pastor. George Peabody Library is one of the first places I visited when I got here and fell in love, walking around Mt. Vernon is always very inspiring. Probably my favorite place here in Baltimore is Cafe Dear Leon, their pastries are amazing and they have seasonal beverages that never fail. And speaking of coffee, Baltimore also has great coffee shops, such as Good Neighbor and Café Los Sueños.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have so many people to thank and recognize, aside from my family, my mentors from the MFA in Illustration Practice at MICA, Whitney Sherman, and Mai Ly Degnan, my mentors from México, Ina Hristova and Joan X. Vázquez, all my illustrator friends that always inspire me to keep creating, my ILP 24′ fam, of course.

Website: https://www.behance.net/denissebeltran

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

Image Credits
Denisse Beltran