We had the good fortune of connecting with Desiree Sanchez, aka DesiBoo Creations, and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Desiree, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
My business as a muralist and community art instructor impacts the world from the roots. This line of work is essential to the well being of us all. In our neighborhoods, backyards, and cities. People of all ages thrive on encouragement and love and inspiration; and my style as an artist is to showcase all of that! To spread it! To teach it! – In color! <3 As artists, our artwork and teachings have the power to spread an energy, to share a message, to uplift a space -to uplift people!!
No matter what environment one finds themself in, art has the power of giving it certain life thus making it one of the most impactful lines of work one can find themself in.
Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
My whole motive is to – Spread Sunshine!!! A few years back I wondered how I would feel if I knew today was my last day… & I’d ask myself:
Did you love yourself and others today? Yes.
Did you leave behind more love in your environment than how you found it? Yes.
Do your loved ones know that you love them? Yes. – Ok. <3
All I want to do is create domino effects of kindness. Love is very important to me. As an artist I’ve given myself the platform to share things with the world. The greatest message I have to offer is Love.
Because of my parents and step-parents and my natural obsession to create, my art has been with me my whole life. My art and I have come into our own, together through the years. We’ve grown to stand for something.
In December of 2013 my whole world opened up. A beautiful soul I was crushing on, Eric C., invited me to the 3rd anniversary of “Flava of The Year”. A Hip Hop event held every year in the San Fernando Valley by The Gr818ers (Great-one-eight-ers), an organization founded by my crush, his brothers, and best friends back in high school (so impressive and inspiring!). That year the event was held in the neighborhood Eric and I grew up in, Pacoima. I’ve lived here all my life and before I walked through those doors, never had I experienced anything like this here… or anywhere actually.
Once I saw that creative expression like this was alive here in Pacoima, I was hooked. I went to every Gr818er event I could after that and got to know my crush more and more. His brain was so beautiful and magical, so passionate. I fell in love of course and he became my life partner in the summer of 2014.
Eric discovered my hidden gifts as well. My love of all things art. He learned this by receiving drawings I’ve gifted him here and there as tokens of my affection. He began taking me to all kinds of art shows and galleries, subconsciously planting seeds of possibilities in my brain. These moments were really inspiring. Eric would often say things like, “just as inspired as they make you feel, that is how your art makes me feel and you need to share that with everyone. Imagine who else you’d inspire like they inspire you…” It wasn’t until the winter of 2015 when I let go of any fear and decided to go public with my art.
At that time I was working for an after school program at an elementary school, I loved it so much! I worked there for eight years! It was the greatest “job” ever! That “job” taught me almost everything I needed to know about life. Soon I started getting accepted for some of my first murals and gallery showings. I got a lot of support from my family and friends. Eventually, I figured out how to combine my love for the classroom and my passion for art and started teaching paint-along workshops to encourage others to get in there! -The paint, that is! I realized, I can really do this. I took all of the years of my school yard experience and started putting programming together, summer curriculums, mural projects, and so much more. In 2019, after turning down certain art opportunities because of my “work” schedule, I decided to “retire” from the after school program and became an artist full time.
Watching Eric and his team grow with their organization has been the most inspiring and motivating experience that could have blessed my life. Accomplishing dreams in life seem more possible when you see someone close to you actually doing it. I wouldn’t have grown into what I am today without him, without the community that was built from all of that inspiration! – and I want to pass it on! <3
It’s been seven years since I’ve discovered my passion and I’ve nurtured it a lot since then. There has been growth in all areas I sought out to explore. I have so many more dreams now that turn into goals, that I’ve turned into action plans.
This path I’ve taken might seem as if it was effortless, but the journey from where I started to where I am today was not an easy one. I had to fight, myself, to get here. Going into my second year of finally gathering the courage to take my art public, their were lessons brewing under the surface that hit me like an atomic bomb. My life was turned upside down with a great loss in my family. I call it, “The Great Depression of 2016”. The life I’ve known and lived up until then was forever changed. It almost felt as if this new me had to learn to walk, talk, and eat again (metaphorically). I had to learn to love life again, to love ART again; which are both one in the same if you ask me. I had to get comfortable all over again with sharing myself (my art) with the world. After rescuing myself from living death, with the help of loved ones, nature, and a persistent mindset that continued to fight to seek light at the end of the tunnel, …the answer was obvious.
Yes, one day our time will come and we’ll be gone, but every other day we’ll be living! Enjoying this gift of Earth and living beauty and wonder <3 This realization changed everything about my world and my art and the messages I wanted share. A new me, with new eyes to see. My destiny starts with me.
There’s this quote that took a huge part in my healing and I’d like to share it with you all: “Nothing in the world can bother you as much as your own mind, I tell you. In fact, others seem to be bothering you, but it is not others, it is your own mind.” -Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
How will our days go? How do we want to be remembered? What do we want to focus on? What will we create? What effects will our reactions and choices ripple out into the world? How can we make the most of it? The best of it? End everyday grateful and at peace with ourselves..(?)
Shining your love-light can change someone’s world, therefore changing THE World. <3
It takes a lot from me to mention my hardships but after coming out on the other side there is no denying that it has forever molded me. It’s a permanent part of my herstory, therefore a large part of what my artistry is today.
Closing quote: “I can do nothing for you but work on myself. You can do nothing for me but work on yourself.” -Ram Dass
I’m forever a student, learning and applying new lessons everyday. It’s been a grand journey learning to turn my passions into a career that I’m proud of and it’s a responsibility that I take seriously. A platform has revealed itself and my art has something to share. Through all that has happened, it always comes back to this: Gratitude, appreciation, mindfulness, knowledge of self, …Love. And if there’s anything I want to be remembered for as a soul and through my art, it’s that, I love you! Yes you, all of you! & you can live a life of love -that you love, with whatever it is that you have to offer.
That message is my mission.
– Each one teach one. Each one reach one. Love above all! –
I’m grateful to be here spreading my sunshine, hoping it lights you up. Between you and me and all of us, we can light up the world.
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?
If my best friend came to visit me, we would have so many options to choose from here in the San Fernando Valley! I’d take them to food places like, Myke’s Cafe, for breakfast on Van Nuys Blvd in Pacoima. For lunch we’d go to, El Cocinero Restaurant, a valley favorite! A Mexican resturant that’s fully vegan! (Only open Tues.-Sunday) Located on Sepulveda Blvd in Van Nuys. For dinner, my best friend would have no choice but to try my #1 most favorite fried chicken in the world which is found surprisingly at our long standing Wendill’s Thai food restaurant on San Fernando Rd and Goleta St. All fried chicken orders must be ordered 30min in advance, so I’d make sure to call and order ahead. We’ll never run out of different dining options here in the valley, but we’d start there. I’d hope they came into town when there is a festival happening, here in the SFV, we’ve grown to be big fans of street festivals and showcasing our local talent. I’d most definitely bring them to the latest Gr818er event so they can experience their magic for themselves. I’d also take them to see the mural mile in Pacoima, as well as seeing more beautiful murals in LA and echo park. We’d go to all the beaches which most are about 30min from the valley and many, many hiking trails. I’m a nature girl and for the most part, my best friends are nature people also. Stoney Point Park located on Topanga Canyon Blvd, just off the 118fwy is one of my favorite places to take guests, it’s a rock climbers play ground. Veterans Park in Sylmar will give you an intense work out, while Eaton Canyon in Pasadena is a long stroll that rewards you with a waterfall at the end of the trail, best to go here right at sunrise to beat the crowds because this place has become almost too popular. Here in the valley we’re lucky to have the Santa Monica Mountains in the West Valley and the Angeles Forest backing us in the North. Both sides have beautiful spots to camp out for a night or two. Our area is full of gems, we can go back to Topanga Canyon Blvd and drive it all the way through to the ocean, this road is full of eclectic surprises once you get into the canyons.
If they were feeling for a local night out on the town, I’d take them to the Echoplex in Echo park, which is my favorite because the nights they have in store at this place are always stacked with great music! If they wanna drink, we’d go to Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood, maybe start at, The Federal, and bar hop from there. We can also drive along Ventura Blvd which also has plenty of fun bars. Unless their trying to rock out at a show, then I’d take them to the newly renovated Midnight Hour, a record shop in San Fernando that also hosts wild punk shows. I’m not much of a drinker but I do love any reason to get dressed up. I’d prefer to take them for a good laugh at a comedy club, which is when we’d most likely meet up with my best friend Adam, he’s a social butterfly and it’s fun to have him tag along because he naturally takes over as the host of the crowd. The next day, I imagine Adam would invite everyone over to hang out and maybe go swimming at his house, we’ve known each other since we were kids and his house is my home away from home, so any best friend of mine in town visiting must experience hanging out in my second home.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t be impacting the world as I am today without my partner, Eric Chapman aka Roxswift, aka DJ Roxswift, Co-Founder of The Gr818ers, an organization dedicated to promoting arts, athletics and activism through Hip Hop in the San Fernando Valley and beyond. He showed me that it was possible to turn my passion into my career. -Infinite gratitude!!
Website: www.desiboocreations.com
Instagram: @desiboocreations