Meet Francisco Crow | Graphic Designer / Musician
We had the good fortune of connecting with Francisco Crow and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Francisco, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
Good question. The most important lesson I’ve learned is really a two-parter.
1. Mistakes are lessons on the road to success.
2. You must make things fun or else it becomes a burden.
I’ve learned if I frame most of my tasks as a game in the pursuit of fun, it becomes an easier to deal with the mistakes. It’s very much like a Video game theory. In the beginning of learning a skill or completing a task you’re not familiar with, you just mash the buttons together hoping to defeat the sub-bosses. Then you realize that there’s a pattern or there’s a work around. “OH, I have to block here and jump there then use the flaming sword of death.” Sooner or later, you defeat that boss until you get to the next level, where you learn more skills.
It’s really a wonderfully freeing way to look at life. I only wish I used this technique earlier in life, rather than just button mashing may way through it.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been an artist; I believe most of my adult life. I’ve was acting at the 14 years of age. At the Young Actors guild of Los Angeles, I was introduced to musicals like Little Shop of Horrors and serious plays like Marat De Sade. So much of my art manifests from different disciplines.
I eventually stumbled into music where I was singing and playing percussion. At Jr. college I played in choirs, and orchestras enhancing my skills, all the while performing in college plays, and musicals. One of my proudest and most challenging moments was when I was cast as Bernardo in a community theatre rendition of West Side Story. I had not done much dancing in my performance career, but I worked at day and night to become Bernardo. By chance, I met and performed for Oscar winner, George Chakiris. He was a friend of the production company and gave me some incredible insights and stories from his tenure as Bernardo. The performance itself was marked with director changes, and cast swaps but as they say, the show must go on and it did and it was so rewarding.
I also pursued my musical career at Berklee School of Music focusing on Latin percussion and Music Business. When I returned to Los Angeles, I played in several local music groups such as the Cabana Boys, Sonsoles, and Roots of Mine. I was blessed to have been played on the Playboy Channel RadioXM, KTLA, and The Crypto Center (formally Staples Center) for the El Reventón, organized by Super Estrella 107.1FM of Los Angeles where I opened for such artists as Juanés, Café Tecuba, and Jarabé Del Palo.
I toured the world as a musician for nearly 4 years on the Holland American cruise lines. Coincidentally, I was able to meet the late Chita Rivera one early morning as we ported into New York. We traded stories of George Chakiris and her performances as the sun rose over the Hudson at pier 92.
Finally, after years of touring, I decided to complete my bachelor’s at SNHU in graphic design / web-design where I was able to hone my musical experiences from grass-roots marketing and focus my visual concepts into a cohesive design. During my schooling, I suffered a many physical ailments, but I pursued my goal and didn’t stop until I finished. Presently, I’m working as a Freelance Graphic Designer and Webmaster.
Many may call me a “Jack of all trades and a master of none.” That may be true, but most people don’t know the entire statement.
It reads,
“Jack of all trades master of none is often better than a master of one!”
That’s what art is, really. Pulling from one’s experiences -adding, subtracting, stirring, kneading, pulling, and blending. Deciding when it’s the right to take out of the oven and serve or leave the dish in a bit more to simmer.
Everything is hard, until it isn’t anymore.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Easy choices.
Lucky Boys- Breakfast Burritos
Dante’s Peak-Griffith Park Observatory
Tommy’s Burgers on Pico and Rampart.
Rainbow Room-Pizza and hopefully we see Cory Feldman
Walk the strip down to West Hollywood for some incredible Margaritas at La Cabana
Finally Call an uber to Cypress Park to end the night with Al Pastor burritos from El Tacor on Figueroa.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My fiancé, Kimberly Jones, for always reminding me to breathe in and out. “Smell the flowers and Cool the Soup”.
My sister, Claudia, who never judged me for my meandering nature and never faltered in her unwavering support.
To my father, Pepe, who instilled the love for art and courage to pursue your passion no matter what people say.
To my Sisters Gabriela and Laura for showing me what tenacity and perseverance looks like.
To my uncles and aunts for instilling the joy of life and not to sweat the small stuff.
To my best-friend Bryan for teaching me that being weird can be a wonderful way to live.
To my mother, Irma, who hammered in my hard-working ethic and the realistic life lesson that no one really cares how you make the gravy, it just has to pair well with the turkey, so stop crying and get to cooking!
I’m so very grateful.
Website: https://www.franciscocrowdesigns.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/f_c_designs/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franciscocrow/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FranciscoCrowDesigns
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FRANCISCOCROWMUSIC
Other: www.fc-images.net
www.franciscocrow.com
Image Credits
All graphics by FranciscocrowDesigns
*Animal Drawings for Chocolates by British Libray https://www.flickr.com/
All Images by FCImages
*Cover HeadShot-Image by Kimberly Jones
The “In it to Win It” Graphic-
*Man Leaping: Unknown Model
*Photo by Los Muertos Crew from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSoCal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
