Episode #12: Post Whatever You Want with Puerto Rican Brand Designer & Lettering Artist Carlos Oliveras Colom

Episode Summary:

In this episode, I'm speaking with Puerto Rican brand designer, lettering artist, and illustrator Carlos Oliveras Colom. Carlos is a queer artist that was born on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico and brings to life letters and illustrations that are fuller than life. His expressive style is meant to be seen, but also felt. His work is rooted in equality, and the desire to represent for the underdogs while also exploring his passion for colors and shapes across different mediums.

Keep on listening to hear us talk about why he chose to leave the island, if art school is worth it after all, and how his personal projects fueled his freelance career

Episode Links

⚡️ Connect with the Community: Join the Discord or Patreon

🍊 Host Links: Follow Fabiola on Instagram, Youtube, & TikTok

🎨 Guest Links: Follow DonCarrrlos on Instagram

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  00:00:10:05 - 00:00:32:07

  Fabiola Lara

  Okay, friends, you're listening to [Draws in Spanish ]! I’m your host Fabiola Lara I'm an illustrator and podcaster based in Philadelphia on [Draws in Spanish] I chat with Latinx visual artists and designers to discuss everything from their identity and culture to their creative process and work. Today on the show, I have lettering artist, illustrator and designer Carlos Oliveras Colom.

  00:00:32:08 - 00:00:52:09

  Fabiola Lara

  Carlos is a queer artist that was born on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico and brings to life letters and illustrations that are just fuller than life. His expressive style is meant to be seen, but also sell. His work is rooted in equality and the desire to represent the underdogs, while also exploring his passion for colors and shapes across different mediums.

  00:00:52:21 - 00:01:19:24

  Fabiola Lara

  Before we get started, remember you can watch this episode over on YouTube. Just go to youtube.com slash probability drawers to watch this episode. Classroom where you can join the free draws in Spanish discord to connect with other Latin X artists. All of those things will be linked in the show notes so you can access them super quickly. Now keep on listening to hear us talk about why he chose to leave Puerto Rico if he thinks Art school is worth it and how his personal projects have fueled his freelance career.

  00:01:20:12 - 00:01:23:21

  Fabiola Lara

  Okay, let's get into today's show.

  00:01:29:10 - 00:01:33:24

  Fabiola Lara

  Welcome to the show, Carlos. How are you doing today? Are you ready?

  00:01:34:23 - 00:01:36:05

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I am ready for this.

  00:01:36:23 - 00:01:54:15

  Fabiola Lara

  Yes. Thanks for being here with me. I know you're based in Fort Worth, Texas. According to everything I read about you online right now. But you were born and raised in Puerto Rico, So right off the bat, how did you end up in Fort Worth, Texas? Give us a little bit of context.

  00:01:54:20 - 00:02:24:20

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah, it's been a long, wild ride from Puerto Rico. I was born and raised there. Then I moved to Florida to study. That's where I went to college. Then I moved to California to start my career as a designer. That's where everything got kicked off. And I spent many years there. In 2011, I wanted to be a little bit closer to my family and just being able to visit Puerto Rico more frequently.

  00:02:25:11 - 00:02:34:19

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  So my my family lives part of my family lives in Fort Worth, some of them. And I'm also closer to the people in Puerto Rico.

  00:02:35:03 - 00:02:54:10

  Fabiola Lara

  Oh, that makes so much sense. That makes so much sense. So what's it like for you being Puerto Rican in Texas? Give me give me a little bit there, because I know there's a lot of a huge Mexican population in Texas just by proximity. But what's it like with the Puerto Rican people in Texas? Are they're alive? How are you feeling about it?

  00:02:54:21 - 00:03:12:24

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I think I am still figuring that out. I know my family's here and I've seen some Puerto Ricans around, but I. I work from home, so I'm usually at home. So I am in contact with society. Very little.

  00:03:12:24 - 00:03:15:16

  Fabiola Lara

  Michelle. In that sense, I very much feel you.

  00:03:16:06 - 00:03:25:17

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I sometimes I would just rather stay working inside, just in my projects, my art and all that stuff. But I'm sure everyone's good around here.

  00:03:27:04 - 00:03:32:07

  Fabiola Lara

  How long have you been now in Fort Worth, Texas? Because you moved around a lot, so I'm just wondering how long you've been there.

  00:03:32:22 - 00:03:41:22

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I have been in Fort Worth. I moved at the end or at the beginning of 2022, so not that long. So maybe like a year.

  00:03:42:15 - 00:03:50:06

  Fabiola Lara

  Do you feel like you are building up a sense of community there, or do you still feel like a little work from home? Loner?

  00:03:50:13 - 00:04:02:09

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I am a loner, I think, in California. And here I was a loner and I don't know how to do how to get out of the states, out of that state of mind.

  00:04:02:13 - 00:04:20:12

  Fabiola Lara

  Do you want to get out of that state of mind? Because sometimes it's it's nice to say I'm just like, let's talk about it because I haven't had a chance really to talk to someone about that sensation of working. When you work from home and you just moved somewhere new. It's kind of a funny experience because you don't really know what's out there, so you're not really missing out on that much.

  00:04:20:23 - 00:04:25:16

  Fabiola Lara

  But it also like, makes you stay home more because you don't know anyone.

  00:04:25:23 - 00:04:43:10

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  You know, I try to go out as much as I can and I've been trying to get out there, but it's not that easy. I feel like making friends as adults is very complicated. It's tricky. So sometimes I just want to be in my comfort zone.

  00:04:43:14 - 00:05:03:07

  Fabiola Lara

  I actually have a question for you. That is kind of a silly question. Where did you come up with the name Dom Carlos? Because obviously I know what Don means and all of this, but my first association with Don Carlos is, you know, someone my your someone older, you know, kind of surprised me that you're kind of taking this term and putting your own spin on it.

  00:05:03:07 - 00:05:19:20

  Fabiola Lara

  And also, the only association I have, I think you may be is Don Francisco. So I'm like, wow, You know, like, wow, this is amazing. Like, where did he get this from? You know, that kind of thing. So. Can you expand on this on why you chose this name?

  00:05:19:21 - 00:05:52:10

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I think, you know, I wanted something that was Latin rooted, you know, because, like, if I wanted to do Carlos online, like, I'm never going to get Carlos online because there's thousands, millions of them out there. So I was like, I need something to bring my heritage to it. So I went with Don, but it actually all rooted from a project I did in college.

  00:05:52:16 - 00:06:21:15

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  So in college I was already interested in typography, but I didn't really take any course in typography or like hand lettering. So one of my senior projects, I decided I wanted to be to do some typography and I set myself like, Oh, for Valentine's Day, I want to create a series of posts that are typographic and lettered and whatnot.

  00:06:22:02 - 00:06:39:03

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  But I was shy to do it as myself because I didn't. It was my first time trying it for reals, so I wanted to create a persona where I could just blame it on them. If I've lost basically.

  00:06:39:12 - 00:06:40:20

  Fabiola Lara

  A little bit of a safety net.

  00:06:41:00 - 00:07:08:10

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah. Safety net. So back then I was called the Al, Don Carlos, the Latin Lover, because it was all around Valentine's Day and I wanted to be kind of lovey and naughty and all of those kind of stuff. And sexy. Yeah, very sexy. I remember I lettered the word state kinky or something like that, and my teacher was like, What is this?

  00:07:09:20 - 00:07:11:17

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  And I was like, I love it, though.

  00:07:11:19 - 00:07:12:13

  Fabiola Lara

  This is me.

  00:07:13:00 - 00:07:41:06

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  This is me and leave me alone. It was like a sticky tie, if I don't know. It was very sticky. And bondage. Black tights. I had fun. So, yeah, I think I wanted to keep that essence of the Latin flavor, the humor, and just and kind of just updating, I guess, the word don to mean something else, something different.

  00:07:41:22 - 00:07:59:11

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  And Don, I think also means like respect or like, you know, what you say to your elders. So I was like, I feel like Don Carlos and, you know, and it kind of stuck. And right now, my Instagram. So I have Don Carlos with three RS.

  00:08:00:04 - 00:08:00:18

  Fabiola Lara

  Yes.

  00:08:00:24 - 00:08:09:17

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Is very important because the three R's is how we roll our RS in Spanish. The Carlos was not available, so I had to include something else.

  00:08:10:02 - 00:08:29:07

  Fabiola Lara

  And you were like, okay, let's let's double down on these. RS Are triple down on these RS. I love it. And I know when we were emailing, that's how you signed your name. And I was like, Hold on, did I get his name wrong? Like, what is? You know, because I am very sensitive to that as, as someone who, you know, people get my name wrong all the time.

  00:08:29:13 - 00:08:53:24

  Fabiola Lara

  So I always want to be really mindful of this. And I was like, hold on. Does his father's name with three R's for real? You know, is like, okay, we're doing it, but I love it. I love that you're on it. And I really love that you're giving like the the word dawn, like a new, fresh life that doesn't have to be just for, like, the random grandpa that you see at the store.

  00:08:53:24 - 00:08:56:06

  Fabiola Lara

  You know whose name maybe you don't remember anymore?

  00:08:57:15 - 00:08:59:19

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Maybe I'll become one of those one someday.

  00:09:00:03 - 00:09:21:00

  Fabiola Lara

  Yeah, I could see it. I could see. I could see it in embroidered on your on your work coats and stuff like that. Do you think that going to a prestigious art school is and going for like a big name is worth it for the long term success of of your creative career? Like how how much do you think that weighs in nowadays?

  00:09:21:22 - 00:09:52:02

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I think nowadays it doesn't really matter. It hasn't gotten me anywhere. I think in the beginning maybe it helped me get started, get my foot in the door. Companies recruit at big schools where or their alumni. I studied art and whatnot. So like, that's how I got my first internship. It was through like alumni is coming to recruit at the school, and that's how I interview with a lot of big companies.

  00:09:52:17 - 00:10:02:13

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  So that that was a great advantage. I didn't have to, like, go out there and go into the unless deep of.

  00:10:03:14 - 00:10:06:01

  Fabiola Lara

  Into the abyss of. Yeah. By yourself.

  00:10:06:09 - 00:10:30:21

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah. So I'm grateful for that. That was good. But after that hasn't really been anything that crazy. It's cool to meet people from Ringling when I have gone into other companies, but it hasn't really brought me any other benefits. I had great teachers. They pushed me. I didn't really understand many things that were going going on at that time.

  00:10:31:09 - 00:10:37:09

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  By the time I was like, Oh, I kind of get what Edwin was saying. I get what Polly was saying.

  00:10:37:23 - 00:10:39:24

  Fabiola Lara

  Right. It hits you slowly.

  00:10:40:02 - 00:10:47:19

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah, slowly. When we're out in the world. I think the name hasn't really, like, brought much.

  00:10:48:05 - 00:10:50:08

  Fabiola Lara

  It's more so your own. Your own work.

  00:10:50:17 - 00:11:07:07

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I think it usually is all about your work. If you do great work, that's what's going to get you other places. But the school of where you studied, at some point, it won't even matter. It's just going to be very little interesting.

  00:11:08:07 - 00:11:09:22

  Fabiola Lara

  It's just another line on your resume.

  00:11:09:22 - 00:11:11:00

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  It's just another line.

  00:11:11:04 - 00:11:31:20

  Fabiola Lara

  So, you know, be mindful of how much you're willing to pay for it. Obviously, having a great education built an amazing foundation so that it matters. It's not like it doesn't matter. But, you know, you also have to consider the full story here, especially when it comes to what you're setting yourself up for long term. And I think that's what you're getting at here.

  00:11:31:20 - 00:11:58:24

  Fabiola Lara

  And I and I fully I fully agree with you. I mean, I went to University of Florida, which is a state school, and it's not cheap by any means. It's still expensive, but it's a state school. So it has different different things going on in terms of finances. And I know a lot of people went to that art school as opposed to some of the bigger art schools that are in Florida, like like Full Sail and Ringling and all of that.

  00:11:58:24 - 00:12:27:07

  Fabiola Lara

  So there's definitely lots of ways to pursue higher education in the arts. And I think it's a good thing. I think, like you're saying, it's a good thing to go get a formal education. I wanted to ask you, so you went from from Puerto Rico, the island to Florida to Sarasota, Florida, which is interesting. So can you tell me can you tell me, like any how the cultural change was for you, if there was any culture shock?

  00:12:27:13 - 00:12:34:05

  Fabiola Lara

  How did you feel about it? I mean, Florida's closed, but it's still, I imagine, a bit different than Puerto Rico.

  00:12:34:11 - 00:12:58:14

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  It is a lot different. When I went to Florida, my English was I knew English, but I didn't really practice it when I was back home, even though I went to a bilingual school. I so like there was a disconnect when I went. I had to speak English like there was a lag. I had to think about it and then target speak it.

  00:12:58:20 - 00:13:25:08

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  So it was it was tricky. When I first researched Ringling, I was like, I need to find something that people speak and speak Spanish here so I can convince my parents that I can go. And I found this recruitment video of like someone that spoke Spanish. I was like, Look, you can see it. They speak Spanish, I think language is definitely one of the first things that it was a culture shock.

  00:13:25:17 - 00:13:51:20

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I think after it was like, you know, I'm alone here. I need to like, make my way by myself and just figure things out. So like that. That is hard, considering that no, I used to have help from my mom, my parents, for. For everything. Now it's like I'm living on my own. I need to get groceries, like cook and all this stuff.

  00:13:53:04 - 00:14:09:07

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  So that was that was tricky. I had a school meal plan at some point. And, you know, I didn't eat any of the of the things that they served. It was very, very hard for me to eat. I was like, Yeah.

  00:14:09:16 - 00:14:12:21

  Fabiola Lara

  I could have told you that. I could have told you that we only have.

  00:14:13:16 - 00:14:26:18

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  This is like another day of eating a burger because I don't want to eat whatever they're serving. So then I started gaining weight. I think now I have a better palate.

  00:14:27:09 - 00:14:36:23

  Fabiola Lara

  What was the food that you were used to that you were expecting? Because there's listeners that don't know, you know, Puerto Rican food. So give, give, be specific.

  00:14:37:06 - 00:14:56:24

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Puerto Rican food is flavorful. It has many levels. When I eat it, it's like it's warm, it's like crunchy. It's like, you know, it's good. There's a lot of food that I had at my school that were just like, this is like a little bit sloppy or like, flavorless.

  00:14:57:03 - 00:15:04:14

  Fabiola Lara

  Was that your first exposure to, like, American food? Because it just sounds like American. I mean, it's American food, but then at a school, so it's like a little bit less good.

  00:15:04:15 - 00:15:30:03

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah. So I feel like, you know, in Puerto Rico, we're pretty Americanized in a way. But but our food is our food. Like, it's like, you know, our food is our food. Yeah. There's all kinds of food there, but our food as well. I think when I got to college, it was the first time that I was like, Oh, I have to like, accustomed to food as well.

  00:15:30:11 - 00:15:38:24

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  And I didn't have a great time. I ate a lot of cookies, though. I was like, I like good food today. Well, either cookie.

  00:15:40:09 - 00:15:47:04

  Fabiola Lara

  Yeah. I see what you're saying here. And was there anything else about being in Sarasota that was a culture shock for you?

  00:15:47:13 - 00:16:17:04

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I think I was in a very specific situation cause Ringling attracts a lot of international students, so I was surrounded by like, something I had never been surrounded by. I was like, I am getting cultures left and right from everywhere. And I was just like, This is beautiful because I'm getting to experience and learn from people from everywhere.

  00:16:17:17 - 00:16:41:19

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  So that experience, I would not change at all like that. I love that. Just, just, you know, I, I met people from everywhere and being from a little island, I was just like, I was so surprised and, like, just wonder that I was like, just amazed by, like, all the people and like, the talent that they brought with them.

  00:16:42:10 - 00:17:06:02

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  So it was really cool. I think, you know, other things in Florida, I was like, You have to drive everywhere that you go. I didn't have a car, so it was very hard to get around. I barely got out or like left the school unless it was like a field trip from the school or like I got a friend to, like, drive me around.

  00:17:06:07 - 00:17:19:17

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  If not, I would be doing groceries on my longboard or on my bike. I would just tack on with like I would pack my bag, my backpack full of groceries, and then head back to school.

  00:17:20:18 - 00:17:26:19

  Fabiola Lara

  Do you feel like you always wanted to move to the U.S.? Like what was the appeal for you instead of staying in Puerto Rico?

  00:17:28:07 - 00:17:35:11

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  This may be a little bit that's selfish or just, you know, maybe it's just the.

  00:17:35:11 - 00:17:35:24

  Fabiola Lara

  Reality.

  00:17:36:15 - 00:18:10:05

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Or reality or a dream. But I really wanted to become, you know, a great designer and I wanted to be respected. So maybe that's like why I was like, striving to, like, go to Ringling because it has this prestige. So it's like, Oh, I'm a designer. I came from really low level, but at the end of the day, I don't even mention the school anymore just because, like, it's more about what you have in you and what you are or like where you're willing to go with your creative side.

  00:18:10:14 - 00:18:41:04

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I think when you're in high school, it may be hard to like arrive to these conclusions, but I think through time you'll know, like just trust yourself, do whatever feels good for you. And also just don't stop exploring. Don't stop like trying new things out. I still watch it. L'oreal's like I was main story. I was like on how to do things just because, like, you know, I don't go to school for it because expensive.

  00:18:41:22 - 00:18:45:04

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I'll leave you to it. So, yeah, I'm still learning.

  00:18:45:13 - 00:19:05:05

  Fabiola Lara

  Yeah. You wanted to leave Puerto Rico for something a little bit bigger. A dream. A little bit bigger, which I think is a totally acceptable answer and makes a lot of sense. Since your time at Ringling, though, you've done a lot of work as a designer. And I know now you're a does a lead brand designer over at plenty, which is a really fun brand.

  00:19:05:05 - 00:19:25:02

  Fabiola Lara

  And they've been really I've seen them a lot in the kind of design world. So tell me about how you ended up there, about your professional design experience, because that is a bit different than your personal creative projects. And I like to talk about it because I think a lot of people think it's one or the other and you can do both.

  00:19:25:17 - 00:19:32:09

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  You can totally do both or three things, different things, whatever you want. Save time, just manage yourself, which is art.

  00:19:33:12 - 00:19:38:11

  Fabiola Lara

  Yeah, just be like we said, we're both work from home. Loaners. That's, you know, that's how you do it.

  00:19:39:03 - 00:20:04:14

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  That's how you do it. Anything else? I don't have a life. I am satisfied because, like, I've learned that I have. I just have a drive, something that drives me that I can't stop. Like, I need to try this. I need to do this. I want to try this other thing. I want to, like, do something else. I am satisfied that I get to do the things I want for myself, not for anyone, anyone else.

  00:20:05:07 - 00:20:13:02

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  But yeah, my professional life. So I can go down my history. So I started working in California. That's when I moved.

  00:20:13:17 - 00:20:17:13

  Fabiola Lara

  And I wanted to point out that that was your dream, was to be a designer.

  00:20:17:13 - 00:20:19:06

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  And that was my dream.

  00:20:19:20 - 00:20:20:13

  Fabiola Lara

  Yes.

  00:20:20:23 - 00:20:47:16

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah. So I interviewed with a couple of people that I was like wanting to go with. But fate just brought me to California at that point. I was just I was working on a very big project, but I didn't have enough time to like, interview with companies like as many other people were doing in my class. I was actually doing a recruitment book for Ringling, the one that brought me initially to the school.

  00:20:47:17 - 00:21:27:22

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  So I was making my own version of my books. So it was a really big project. Anyways, so I was recruited by JibJab JibJab studios there. So studio in California. And I was like, Oh my God, this is my chance to go to California. So my little dream was becoming reality, and it was really hard. I think that month after graduating was a moment in time where I learned so much about myself and so much about like life in general.

  00:21:27:22 - 00:21:31:01

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I was like, I am actually starting life right now.

  00:21:31:01 - 00:21:35:19

  Fabiola Lara

  Yeah, it's like you're coming out of the nest, right? Because college is like the designed nest.

  00:21:36:02 - 00:22:02:08

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  It was really hard. I had like $4,000 in savings. I was like, I need to make this happen. When I moved to California, I couldn't find an apartment because they wouldn't rent someone who didn't have credit. I didn't have credit because I was a student. And then I have a credit card. Oh, no, I and I ended up, like, trying to find an apartment for so long.

  00:22:02:13 - 00:22:17:10

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  And I was just blowing my savings in hotels because I was like very, very cheap for was because I couldn't find somewhere to rent. I ended up living in the weirdest places they would rent me.

  00:22:17:20 - 00:22:42:15

  Fabiola Lara

  This is a little PSA that if you're 18, you should start building your credit. Even when you're 16, you can start building your credit with your parents credit. They can help you start building your credit. So because it's really important once you try and be more independent with that, I've I've been there myself and that's why I'm like, man, well, you wouldn't know if if you didn't use it in Puerto Rico, you know.

  00:22:43:00 - 00:23:03:00

  Fabiola Lara

  Time for a quick little break to remind you that you can listen or watch it extra long version of this exact episode with Carlos by joining Pedro Spanish Patriot on The Patron, I share monthly personal podcast episodes where I share about my own personal career, but I also share extended podcast episodes of all the episodes in Season two.

  00:23:03:06 - 00:23:30:06

  Fabiola Lara

  So if you've been craving a little bit more detail from the guest, maybe some juicy bits, some things that just, you know, we talk about more conversationally in a little more of a relaxed live because it's a bit less edited, so you get a real feel for the conversation. Then head on over to our Patreon. So go to patriarchal ancestries in Spanish to become a patron and check out all those extra Patreon perks like extended podcast episodes.

  00:23:30:15 - 00:23:33:08

  Fabiola Lara

  Thanks again. And now let's get back to today's show.

  00:23:33:18 - 00:24:01:00

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah, so it was very hard for me to like find a place to live, to like, start my life in California. But once that happened, you know, I worked that job, I worked for Radio Disney, Then I moved to advertising agency Call me TBWA Media Arts Lab, where they do work for Apple. I was there for three years and then I worked Snapchat and all these companies.

  00:24:01:00 - 00:24:15:11

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I did really cool stuff so that I had never like could imagine that I would get to do it. They taught me a lot. They stressed me a lot. I cried a lot internally or externally.

  00:24:15:11 - 00:24:15:18

  Fabiola Lara

  No.

  00:24:17:07 - 00:24:42:20

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I've been working on plenty for three and a half years now. A lot of people don't plan to buy the work. That was helped us too. But I've been there before that, so I saw and helped the brand from like what it used to be and what it is now. I have been a key part of the design part of like over 20 years now.

  00:24:43:03 - 00:25:13:23

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  So I'm very grateful that I have been able to to work there with our creative director. Right. And and, you know, it's it's been a wild ride. It's not what I expected when I arrived to California is not what I dreamed of. But I am glad I'm here. It's been a better journey for me. And I started doing entertainment and then advertising and now I'm at a startup.

  00:25:14:11 - 00:25:42:14

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  So it's been a it's just a succession to like my career was meant to happen. When I moved to California, I was like, I want to work for like a surfing company or a, like skateboarding company because, like, I love that culture and like what that culture entails. And I feel like when I was young, I was I had all these surfing and skateboarding brands, so I was like, I want to be part of that.

  00:25:42:14 - 00:25:57:18

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Like, I want to be like, I want to design for Volcom or Quiksilver, Hurley, or like all that stuff. So that was a dream that happened. But I am okay with that because I got it. Took on this other stuff.

  00:25:57:24 - 00:26:16:04

  Fabiola Lara

  Yeah, it took you on a different path. What do you think are the benefits of working on a design team? Because you work as a full time designer, like you were saying, over at plenty, but you also create your own work and you've done a ton of other work on your own. So what are the benefits of working on a design team versus being a freelancer.

  00:26:16:14 - 00:26:37:18

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  In a design team? It varies. Depends. Your team depends on the type, the type of company, the size of your team. I worked in companies where I have I am like one of 30 or like 30 designers or like I am one of two designers.

  00:26:38:14 - 00:26:45:09

  Fabiola Lara

  Yeah, that's why I wanted to ask you this question, because I know you have experience in different industries, which I am assuming is different sized teams and all of that.

  00:26:45:23 - 00:27:13:04

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Right now I plan to become a lead because I've been there for a long time. And also just because we're very, very small team. So it's been interesting. It gives you perspective. The more you do it, the more you kind of start understanding how things work. I think having a team is good just because you can bounce off stuff, ideas and just kind of better yourself better.

  00:27:13:07 - 00:27:46:05

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  The project that you're working on, a team of some sort is always helpful. As a freelancer, I think I'm not the typical freelancer because it's been more like I get reached out for a project that someone likes my work, they reach out to me, so I'm kind of working in their team, so I become part of their team in a way, but I still get it, my personal space and I get to do my own thing, which is has been beneficial and just kind of a blessing, to be honest.

  00:27:46:11 - 00:27:58:21

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I get to do what I want to do. I get to do fun work and I am not super involved in like all the drama that you should. Something sometimes happens in a team.

  00:27:59:01 - 00:28:01:07

  Fabiola Lara

  Yes. And the politics of a company.

  00:28:01:13 - 00:28:26:13

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah. So I think I enjoy that just because I, I just get to do what I want to do and sort of like what I'm tasked to do and which is usually fun stuff though. So it's kind of fun to have some variety in your day just because I get to do really fun work and some other work that it's a little bit more technical.

  00:28:26:16 - 00:28:47:15

  Fabiola Lara

  Would you recommend for a new grad to go into a company or go be a freelancer, like go work for others, whether it's an agency or a brand or go be a freelancer? Because I think the dream for people is to always be a freelancer. But I think there's a lot of power in going to work at a brand.

  00:28:47:15 - 00:28:51:06

  Fabiola Lara

  So where do you stand on it? As someone who's done both.

  00:28:51:14 - 00:28:54:15

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I would totally have someone go to a company.

  00:28:55:02 - 00:28:57:04

  Fabiola Lara

  That's the advice I was I was hoping for.

  00:28:58:03 - 00:29:31:14

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  In a company, you build a structure, a base of like how you actually work with a team. You need to be good about deadlines and about working with a team. I think it is essential that every designer works at a company, at least, I mean, not for the whole career. They don't want to buy. Like there's so many things that are learned in the back end when you're at a company, especially from production or like where they're actually coming out with with ideas, I think.

  00:29:32:04 - 00:29:33:17

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah, I think it's essential.

  00:29:34:02 - 00:29:53:19

  Fabiola Lara

  Yeah, I think there's a lot to be learned for fresh grads to go to, to brands or to companies. I think some of that's often overlooked because the dream is to be like an independent designer, that people just hit you up for your work and you don't work for anybody. You know, That's kind of like the the dream everyone's going for, I think, especially now with social media.

  00:29:53:19 - 00:30:19:02

  Fabiola Lara

  But there's so much to be learned going into a corporate structure, being a part of a team, knowing your place, even soft skills, like emailing, file organization, knowing how to, how to act in a meeting and, you know, there's a lot of little nuances there. Especially, I feel like when you're Latino going into these work environments, like knowing how to handle yourself.

  00:30:19:08 - 00:30:37:23

  Fabiola Lara

  There's a lot of things that you have to learn. And I think sometimes if your parents, let's say, or somebody else in your family, if you're the first generation to be kind of doing this white collar work, you don't know how to do it. You don't know how to navigate these spaces. And there's a lot to be learned there, which I think sometimes people just assume you're going to be good at it.

  00:30:37:23 - 00:30:40:11

  Fabiola Lara

  And there's a lot there's a lot to learn.

  00:30:41:06 - 00:31:10:08

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah. Also touching on something you mentioned, you'll account like you need to learn how to behave in a company and kind of how to like navigate with other people. I feel like sometimes people think it's okay that the way you live your life at home, it's okay to have it at work. And that's solely not it. Like you need to be respectful or you need to follow certain rules.

  00:31:10:21 - 00:31:22:14

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  So like, I think it just gives you a total structure and base of like that will set you up for success. They will definitely polish. You go to a company first.

  00:31:23:00 - 00:31:26:06

  Fabiola Lara

  Go, go work at a company, have a boss for a little bit.

  00:31:27:09 - 00:31:55:05

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Not all of them are fun, but, you know, I've I've met great people. I've met great leaders and people that, like, have changed my life and are also part of my life. I there is people like that. I have become really essential core friends that I have met at a company, designers and just creative and in general. So, you know, you'll you'll be surprised.

  00:31:55:05 - 00:31:57:07

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  All the things you'll learn and find at a company.

  00:31:57:22 - 00:32:15:03

  Fabiola Lara

  Yeah. Building your network too, because those are the people who might hide. Those are the people who might hire you as a freelancer or, like you said, pass you on a good job. So these are things that I think sometimes get overlooked when people think like, oh, you know, you're going to go work in house. There's a lot of benefits to working in house.

  00:32:15:20 - 00:32:30:21

  Fabiola Lara

  Now. I want to talk more about your own creative practice. Aside from your amazing design career, what made you start your 36 days of type project? Because I feel like that was kind of fundamental for you. And I want to I want to get into it.

  00:32:31:02 - 00:32:58:02

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah, let's get into it. I had this craving for being creative. I felt that I was not expressing all that I could do or like showing all that I could do. So yeah, I at that moment in time, I was working on an iPad project at Apple, so I got to play with the iPad Pro. I was like, Oh my God, I have an iPhone pro, but it's not really my it is not really mine.

  00:32:58:02 - 00:33:21:08

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  What I my. And so at that point I was like, you know, I'm getting the hang of this. I kind of like this. At some point I got my own and doodling here and there. It got me to sign letters more and more and I started seeing the work of other people. So I was trying to fit into a mold.

  00:33:21:16 - 00:33:49:20

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I think I was trying to do stereotypical, pretty type that is flirty and it's like their lines very perfect, very polished. And I was like, You know, I love this. I love seeing it more than I love doing it, but I appreciate it. It was painful to have to do all the work they had to do and that way.

  00:33:50:02 - 00:34:15:14

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  And I think, you know, the basics are essential and important to learn, but it is not what I wanted to do because it was very painful for me. So I was you know, I think at that point I was just starting to kind of develop a style and kind of falling into where I wanted to go. And I think social media gave me the confidence of being like, you know, this is cool.

  00:34:15:21 - 00:34:42:09

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  As people started liking my stuff, I kind of kept diving into it deeper and I was like, Oh my God, I'm getting confidence. Like I feel good about my work. If you scroll all the way down to my page, there is some line or type. But it was it was very thick typed, big, bold type. It was very similar to stuff that I did when I was when I painted that mural in high school.

  00:34:42:21 - 00:35:04:18

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  So I was like, I'm going back to my roots. I had seen people do 36 days of tie, but I was like, I'm never going to do that. Like, I'm not going to have time or like, I'm not going to like, devote all this time to this because it's not part of my work, it's not part of my job.

  00:35:05:20 - 00:35:41:14

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  But at some point I was like, you know, if I want to keep developing this lettering artist or worldwide lifestyle, for me, I should practice and I should just explore what I want. So I think in this point, I was like, I'm going to do this. And the pandemic hit. So I was like, I have some sort of time and, you know, I'm going to do this for myself and if if you see the first letter of my first 36 days of time, it's pretty basic.

  00:35:41:14 - 00:36:07:19

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  It's pretty like it's not super blended. It's not like super crafted. But I like this as the the major vibe of the letter. So that kind of was like, you know, I think I'm getting into something and as you see the rest of the letters, the black and white letters, you kind of see that my style changes. And I was like doing different things here and there.

  00:36:07:23 - 00:36:16:02

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  But I was like, You know what? I'm having fun. This is like really cool for me because I'm doing something that I feel proud of. Yeah.

  00:36:16:09 - 00:36:18:06

  Fabiola Lara

  Outside of your full time work.

  00:36:18:09 - 00:36:31:17

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Outside of my full time work. So I was like, you know, I'm getting the hang of this. I really like this. Two days. They like, highlighted me on their page. So I was like, Oh my God, I think I'm doing something right.

  00:36:32:18 - 00:36:34:08

  Fabiola Lara

  Right. I'm on to something.

  00:36:34:08 - 00:36:46:04

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I'm on to something and you are looking at it. So I was like, you know, that was definitely a big boost of confidence, especially for me, like starting out back then. You know, the rest is history.

  00:36:46:07 - 00:37:04:00

  Fabiola Lara

  Would you say that before the 36 days of type project type was an interest, but maybe not a strength? And then once you did the project, it was more of a confidence, like strength of having your own style in it. Or do you feel like you were always great at it? I mean, you were in a sense, because you did the project right?

  00:37:04:02 - 00:37:41:16

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I think when I started, I knew I like type, but I knew I also liked illustrations, but more type just because I didn't really know how to draw, like, realistically or like proportionally and whatnot. So I would rather just like the start everything just so it works out. So I think I did a little bit here and there, but I think when I did 36 Days of Tie, if it made me feel like I found my style or like necessarily a style, as I don't want to call that style, I found my vibe, my groove, like this is what I like doing.

  00:37:41:17 - 00:37:42:23

  Fabiola Lara

  And you found your I.

  00:37:42:24 - 00:37:44:05

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I found my eyes.

  00:37:44:14 - 00:37:46:23

  Fabiola Lara

  Right? Like your taste for it? Yeah.

  00:37:46:24 - 00:38:01:05

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I was like, I like this vibe that I'm going into and I think I'm very proud of my first set of letters because it was just an awakening for me.

  00:38:02:05 - 00:38:20:05

  Fabiola Lara

  Exactly. And that's the amazing thing, is that you went to school, you worked in design for, you know, still you had this long career, but it wasn't until you did this project that you kind of got your own vision and vibe for typography in a way that, that you wanted outside of like the corporate structure and what you have to do.

  00:38:20:10 - 00:38:21:02

  Fabiola Lara

  Yeah, like.

  00:38:21:02 - 00:38:31:01

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I was doing stuff that I wanted and like I did it for myself. I didn't do it for anyone else. So I was like, You know what? I am happy and.

  00:38:31:01 - 00:38:42:21

  Fabiola Lara

  Pushing your skills for yourself because before, maybe before this project, you were pushing your skills for your work, for the brands that you worked for, that kind of thing. It's a different exploration than when you do it for yourself.

  00:38:42:21 - 00:39:06:03

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah, I felt that a lot of things, you know, when you work at a company, they're projects that live on and go out into the world. But there's also many other projects that don't go out into the world that are like, especially when you're working at an agency. There are things that you pour your heart and soul into it and it may not ever come out.

  00:39:06:12 - 00:39:08:00

  Fabiola Lara

  And they never see the light of day.

  00:39:08:03 - 00:39:30:24

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  They never see the light of day. And that was getting on me. I was like, I am spending so many hours. I'm giving my life for this company and all this work. And it died and I can never show it to the world. And then then it became like, what am I showing in my portfolio? Like, I am wasting my days here.

  00:39:30:24 - 00:39:43:07

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  So then I was like, you know, I need to do something for myself. Like I need. That's when that itch of doing something for myself was like, I was like, I need to.

  00:39:43:15 - 00:39:45:00

  Fabiola Lara

  It was overcoming you.

  00:39:45:00 - 00:39:50:16

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah, it was. It was like all getting, it was all clashing together and. Yeah.

  00:39:50:16 - 00:40:04:20

  Fabiola Lara

  And it came to this perfect moment where you did this project. So what would you say came out of that project? Because I feel like, aside from creative confidence, you must have it must have led to other things. So what do you think that was?

  00:40:05:06 - 00:40:44:01

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I think that first set of letters that I did, it didn't really maybe get me anywhere, to be honest. It just maybe got me some followers, which I spent and just for my confidence and whatnot and my ego I think once I did my second one, my second round of letters, that's when I started getting people to contact me, when I added color to them or like when I created this new set, which it's similar, but I think it's very I love this second set of letters.

  00:40:44:07 - 00:40:45:16

  Fabiola Lara

  It's more refined maybe.

  00:40:45:17 - 00:41:17:08

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah, it's more refined. I wanted them to be feel like or sort of like my first initial thought for them was like, Oh, I want them to feel like ceramic or like I want them to feel like organic or like something that you would find in some civilization a long time ago. And it just kind of evolved into what it is also kind of colorblind, which people wouldn't expect.

  00:41:17:18 - 00:41:22:09

  Fabiola Lara

  You to put that in your bio. Colorblind letter lettering Artist.

  00:41:22:18 - 00:41:37:01

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I didn't want for it to become a thing as a designer, and people would not want to hire me for it. So I never really speak about it. But I think it's also part of me and also just what it is.

  00:41:37:11 - 00:41:42:24

  Fabiola Lara

  I think it's a strength. I definitely think it makes your the way you look at things more unique.

  00:41:43:01 - 00:42:10:20

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah, I think so. That's why I usually work with very bright colors and very bold colors because the moment they're bright and bold, I can differentiate them and that's easier for me to understand. Once I started getting into muddier nudes, they're like earthy tones and all that stuff. I'm like, I don't know what it is. I don't know what color it is.

  00:42:11:24 - 00:42:37:13

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  So it would be like very hard for me to like, start matching and whatnot. So that's why my first series wasn't black and white, because I was afraid of going any color. Once I was like feeling more confident. I was like, you know, I feel I can do color, but let me go with my colors. I'm not going to try to go with very pretty colors.

  00:42:37:14 - 00:42:57:14

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I'm just going to go with what colors I feel comfortable with. And that's what I went with very bright colors, which I love. And yeah, it just kind of all came together and it was the most fun and most stressed out event, but it was really fun to work on down.

  00:42:57:19 - 00:43:15:07

  Fabiola Lara

  And they look amazing. They look great. And you know, obviously you can't tell that you're color, but I mean, you never can, right? Who knows? But I think it's a strength because it made you use stronger colors that kind of put your own stamp on it and your own literal vision onto it. So I think that's really cool.

  00:43:15:07 - 00:43:21:22

  Fabiola Lara

  And and what ended up coming coming of that project because I think a lot of things did we've been building on each set.

  00:43:22:05 - 00:43:40:08

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah. Something I also wanted to mention is that you know color blind doesn't mean that it can't do things. It's just means that you're going to do them differently and that's okay. And that is valid. I think at some point I was unsure about myself or unsure about what I was going to put out there and if it was going to be light.

  00:43:40:17 - 00:43:55:16

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  But I was like, you know what? It's going to be me like matte or it doesn't matter. It's like, whatever, I'm going to do it. Okay? It's been working out so far. I think the first project that came out of that one came over.

  00:43:56:13 - 00:43:57:18

  Fabiola Lara

  Or what of the biggest one?

  00:43:58:01 - 00:44:26:06

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  The biggest one so far I think has been the Amazon project. I got to work with Amazon for their 2022 campaign. It was an international campaign where we were celebrating queer lives and just being a little daring and being a little bit more just out there. And it was probably like one of the most fun I've worked on.

  00:44:26:19 - 00:44:49:20

  Fabiola Lara

  I just love hearing this because it's like this personal project of yours, the 36 days of tape, and you did the second round putting refining even further the first set, and then this huge client campaign comes from it. Not that that's everyone's dream because, you know, everyone has different dreams, but that just goes to show the power of a personal project and of honing in your own vision.

  00:44:49:23 - 00:45:07:10

  Fabiola Lara

  And that's kind of what I was getting at here was like this this story of just like personal development, personal project, and then boom, this huge international campaign. And how did it feel seeing your work out in times Square? Because I know it was it was up there.

  00:45:07:24 - 00:45:36:11

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I kind of cried when I first saw it. I got emotional. It was like, you know, I am from this little island. And I go and I get emotional and I'm from this little island and, you know, the power of a dream, the power of wanting to better yourself, the power of like believing in yourself, even if you're the only one who believes in that.

  00:45:37:05 - 00:45:59:08

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  And, you know, sometimes you just have to do things and surprise yourself. And then you don't know what may come out of it. Out of this project, a lot of things came out of it. A lot of people have reached out just because they like my work. I felt validating when I did these letters. I didn't even know like that was going to come out of it.

  00:45:59:15 - 00:46:25:11

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I think that project taught me to, you know, because whatever you want, pose whatever feels you up, because out of that people are going to gravitate to you for some reason or another and you don't know may come, may come out of it. I think, you know, I, I've done things and there are things coming up so I am excited for where things are going.

  00:46:25:20 - 00:46:31:10

  Fabiola Lara

  I just love hearing this. I'm I my heart is warmed hearing, hearing this. So I'm just so happy we're talking about it.

  00:46:31:21 - 00:46:55:18

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah, it's of hard trying to manage your work and trying to manage another load of work on top of that. Sometimes my life, my social life and my personal life are non-existent just as I'm working, but I still, like, proud because I'm like doing stuff I want to do.

  00:46:56:01 - 00:47:15:18

  Fabiola Lara

  Now I get that. I mean, it comes at a cost, but you are willing to put it in and you think it's worth it. So then that means it's worth it for you until the point where maybe you switch it up and who knows. Something I wanted to ask you about your tape and the tape that you did for the last set of the 36 Days of Tape project and you did for Amazon.

  00:47:16:12 - 00:47:34:04

  Fabiola Lara

  Kind of similar. How are you creating this tape? Because it looks really 3D and dimensional. So I'm wondering if you're using any sort of modeling software or if you are drawing them yourself because there is this curiosity behind it just because it's so it's so pretty and so voluminous.

  00:47:35:10 - 00:47:54:21

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I don't think they look 3-D enough, to be honest. Oh, like, I mean, like, I know they look kind of 3-D, but I didn't expect very people to think that I was like doing it with like a software. I was like, I'm just doing this appropriate, this just the brush. This is just basic highlight and shadows.

  00:47:55:13 - 00:48:18:22

  Fabiola Lara

  I just love that so much because I think people assume because you can do it. I'm sure that way if you wanted to, if somebody wanted to. And I just loved that you just went with what you knew. I don't know how familiar you are with modeling software or something like that, but I'm so impressed that you were able to do this in procreate or using whatever other apps because it looks it looks so like slick, you know.

  00:48:19:14 - 00:48:35:22

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Thank. Yeah. I mean, like, it takes time. I've seen people trying to copy what I've done and I can see that they spend enough time because it's not it takes time to get it to look smooth.

  00:48:36:06 - 00:48:38:17

  Fabiola Lara

  But smooth and also texture eyes at the same.

  00:48:38:17 - 00:48:56:01

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah, smooth texture is kind of tricky because once you like shrink the brush, it kind of gives it different texture. So in it, there's a lot of balance there. There's a lot of things that you need to balance. But yeah, I've tried. I've seen people do things that are not that great.

  00:48:58:02 - 00:49:18:17

  Fabiola Lara

  That's for all copycats out there. You know, that's what the cool thing about about having copycats is that they don't know what you have next. And they don't have your your taste. They can't copy that. They're copying the last thing you did. They don't know the next move and they don't know how to do it. As good as you.

  00:49:18:17 - 00:49:39:11

  Fabiola Lara

  So who cares about them? But I just love that you're doing it like handmade. It feels very handmade. And speaking of handmade, you've also been exploring more tactile lettering like outside of digital period. So what do you think is calling you to make this tape physically? Because that's a whole other level. It's a whole other experience. So why do you want to go there?

  00:49:39:12 - 00:50:10:06

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  You know, I love art. I think it's great and I want to be surrounded by it. I think it's shame that we make so many great things, but they just stay digitally. I love seeing word that it's in your face and like just big and taking up space. So I think I want to be that. I want to take space, not be ashamed of me and myself.

  00:50:10:06 - 00:50:39:17

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I don't know. I someday at least I would I would love to be in a museum or just galleries and whatnot. I want my work to not just be seen, but also felt. So I that's why why I have been working on more physical stuff. Also, like, you know, your computer is not always going to be on, so like you can't see the work always so I just wanted to bring it to life in a way.

  00:50:40:02 - 00:50:57:19

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  And there's there's a lot of things that I want to explore that I've been exploring and that I want to keep exploring. Illustration in and type. And I kind of want to keep marrying those two worlds together. So I've been working hard on like trying to kind of build this little don't Kahlo's world.

  00:50:58:06 - 00:51:23:02

  Fabiola Lara

  Definitely. And I can see it too. On your Instagram, you've been posting more characters and stuff like that. So I know that there's a whole world that's going to be coming soon. I'm sure you're working on it. Speaking about taking up space, you're a queer Afro-Latina artist and I think that's amazing and so special. And I know you worked on this LGBTQ plus themed sticker pack that you made in collaboration with a bunch of other illustrators.

  00:51:23:21 - 00:51:30:13

  Fabiola Lara

  So how do you feel about making art about your identity as a queer artist? Is it important to your work? Is it an undertone?

  00:51:30:13 - 00:51:57:15

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I think, you know, I don't want that to be the only thing people know about me or see about me, but I think it is important to put it out there. I grew up in a Christian school. Like that was like what I grew up in all my life. All my life. I heard that I was just going to have I heard that what I was was not necessarily correct.

  00:51:58:12 - 00:52:26:16

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  And all all of these things I kept bottled inside myself for a long time. So I, I think it is very important for me to be some sort of representation that it is okay, it is valid, it's powerful to be yourself, and it is very important to be okay with yourself inside because if not, it will eat you up.

  00:52:27:16 - 00:53:00:07

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  So I think for me as important to be some sort of representation for all those out there that maybe are afraid, that don't see this representation often. You know, I think when you follow people online or like the people you follow online, it's a very niche space of who you want to see. I may be bright and loud or whatever, but doesn't mean that always everyone's going to see it.

  00:53:01:03 - 00:53:06:21

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  So I think it's just important to to be out there because you don't know where you may impact.

  00:53:07:02 - 00:53:28:19

  Fabiola Lara

  Yeah. And I mean, you have this one Instagram post, which is also art, but it says Woke up gay again, I think. And I just love it because I hope that there is, you know, maybe someone who really needed to hear that message and really needed to be empowered. And so I really like that you're putting that into your work, you're putting that into your type.

  00:53:28:24 - 00:53:37:01

  Fabiola Lara

  I'm sure you're putting that into your illustrations. And like you said, it can reach people and you never know who needs to hear that message that day.

  00:53:37:11 - 00:53:53:07

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah, for sure. Like, you know, I want to appeal to everyone, but I also wanted to do what I want to do, but I also want to make sure all of those people out there are living that through authentic place.

  00:53:54:09 - 00:54:25:08

  Fabiola Lara

  Yeah, and I think it's really cool to that that your work has these influences, right, Because it's you. But it's amazing too, that like you worked with Amazon for a pride campaign, not just like, let's say, a Christmas campaign or a summer campaign, something more like whatever it was for this. And I just think it's really goes to show that like putting your own stamp on thing, speaking what you have to say, being your authentic self like it can get you places beyond just self-satisfaction, right?

  00:54:25:08 - 00:54:32:04

  Fabiola Lara

  Like, obviously it comes with that, but now you're representing it on a bigger scale and that's just cool.

  00:54:32:10 - 00:54:51:23

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah. And you know, sometimes people like deny like their culture, they just want to be something else. So I think just embracing my Puerto Rican culture and my own culture also just being queer, I think it's it's empowering. It's cool, It's cool.

  00:54:51:23 - 00:55:11:16

  Fabiola Lara

  I couldn't agree more. It's cool. Reduce it down to that. My last, final questions for you now, Carlos. Don, Carlos, are these are quick ones, quick ones here. Do you have a favorite Puerto Rican phrase or saying that you want to share with us today?

  00:55:11:19 - 00:55:27:08

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  That can be said aloud, and I like the words in that one. So it's kind of taken me places. It's helped me be like seen by one side and do whatever it was. I actually got it. I even got it tattooed.

  00:55:27:15 - 00:55:32:11

  Fabiola Lara

  Oh my gosh. So you can think of it and it was right there literally on you.

  00:55:32:18 - 00:55:32:23

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah.

  00:55:33:03 - 00:55:47:11

  Fabiola Lara

  So sick. Yeah. I think people could associate that with like a negative connotation. And you're just being like, Mm hmm. Yeah, I'm shameless. I'm going to do what I. Whatever I want. That's beautiful, for sure. And then your favorite Puerto Rican food.

  00:55:48:06 - 00:56:15:09

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Oh, my God. A song for sure. My fangirl. If you haven't had it, it's like massive sentence. And it's built in like a little dome. I usually get a B folder, which means I has savory plantains and also sweet potatoes. And it has like a little jitteriness sometimes, and it's kind of garlicky and like savory. And since it has a C, Clinton is a little bit soft too.

  00:56:16:10 - 00:56:26:13

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  So it's like so and it be with any topping, it could be chicken, shrimp, pork, whatever I know is always going to be.

  00:56:26:24 - 00:56:28:11

  Fabiola Lara

  Your salivating right now.

  00:56:28:15 - 00:56:30:10

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  That that is my favorite food.

  00:56:32:07 - 00:56:40:08

  Fabiola Lara

  Is there anything about Puerto Rican culture or like a tradition that you wish was more well known in the U.S. or we did here?

  00:56:40:16 - 00:57:07:09

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  I think people should hug and kiss more. I think I miss, you know, when I'm back home. I hug when I when I meet someone, I want to hug them. I want to kiss them. And we can get on with our day. And it feels like we're a little bit warm. I feel like sometimes here in the US when I meet someone, it's like very awkward because sometimes they don't even handshake.

  00:57:07:17 - 00:57:26:07

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  So it's like what I do. I guess I'll just say hi and continue. So it's just very awkward for me. I, I feel like if I'm with someone and I like, enjoy their presence, like, why not? So yeah, I think so.

  00:57:26:09 - 00:57:49:23

  Fabiola Lara

  Right. You are so right. No one has said that on the show so far and that is a big one because those intros and outros are really important and there's so much more warm. Oh, yeah, you're right. Well, Carlos, that's all I have for you. Thank you so much for giving me your time, for sharing about your career, about your personal projects, about being colorblind.

  00:57:49:23 - 00:57:54:15

  Fabiola Lara

  Thank you so much for sharing all of this on the show. And nothing. Thank you.

  00:57:55:15 - 00:57:58:17

  Carlos Oliveras Colom

  Yeah, thank you. Is great talking to you.

  00:57:59:13 - 00:58:21:18

  Fabiola Lara

  Okay, everyone, that's all I have for you today. I hope you enjoyed my conversation with lettering artist and designer Carlos Oliveras Colom. Be sure to follow his work on Instagram at @DonCarrrlos. That's Don Carlos was three RS, but I'll also leave a link in the show notes so you can just click that before you go. Remember to hit, subscribe or share this episode with a friend.

  00:58:22:01 - 00:58:45:15

  Fabiola Lara

  Those are two very free things you can do to support the show, Help the podcast grow. Help me continue making it for you. It's super easy now. If you want to listen to a personal podcast for me about what I'm up to in my career or listen to extended episodes of the show that are like an extra 30 minutes long with all the juicy little details, Go ahead and check out the patron at Patreon.com/drawsinspanish

  00:58:45:24 - 00:58:59:21

  Fabiola Lara

  Lastly, remember to join the Discord. If you want to connect with other listeners, just go to drawsinspanish.com/chat to join. That's all I have for you. Hasta la proxima amigos!