Meet Halia | Digital illustrator

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

Hi Halia, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Well in my life i only had 2 “office” jobs, the rest of them had been very random and fun, i knew i wanted a very flexible job. I didn’t find it so i created my own.

It keeps me very alive, not knowing what will happen tomorrow or what type of new problems I’ll have to fix, the freedom of taking my work wherever i am it’s priceless, i can travel, explore and keep working!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an digital illustrator and that title itself it’s very challenging jaja. People often confuses this with graphic design or traditional illustration, even animation. And i kinda can play with those other titles but something that i learn in these field is that the more you specialized in what you do its easier for the clients to reach you.

So i decided (for now) to work only proyects that are in the narrative field. Like illustrating books, poems, making comics for products, create my own stories and newspapers articles.

Of course i do some extra stuff, i create my own merch, i also do commissions. These are for those clients that like my work and they want to support but they don’t have any big stuff to illustrate, and they are as important as the other type of clients so i offer this “extra” for them.

But in the end everyone knows what i do, and thats the important thing. To make them remember me when someone says they want to make a book with drawings or do something special for a new product.

Thanks to that i am an author too, i made my own book in 2020, and now i had work in various books and poems, even international!

I also create this character named Kiu, who i didn’t expect to be as lovable as it is. People just looove to see what he’s up to, he’s kinda funny, clumsy and cute, Kiu has like 4 years old and his followers really love to take care of him, play and explore. This guy really makes me laugh because i had never expected that he will be the face of my brand instead of…well…me. In the end this worked out perfectly for my brand and i just love it how he can gain the harts of children and adults.

Of course there’s been a lot of challenging stuff.

When they ask me what’s the “secret” for making your own brand or being a freelancer i can only say ENDURE, you literally have to survive not just the money problems, this is very mental challenging, most of the time i feel like trash just working and working, because there is no one else who’s gonna do my work, and if i don’t do it there’s no money and then there is no food and those basic stuff to live aaand you get in these loop of frustration and tiredness.

I had these problem, I was terrible at charging for my work and the money was not even enough for the basics, especially after the pandemic so i had to endure, i felt like this wasn’t my place, that i was done for sure. But then i knew i had to fix these problem. I learn to charge for real and not be shy to ask for what i deserve for my work, that has been the most difficult stuff to learn (for me) and I’m still learning.

So yeah, you must be really up to these game, being open to feel like trash, cry that feeling out and then find a new way to achieve what you look for. It all resumes to that: endure, feel, adapt and fix.

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.
Tijuana has a lot of types of food, really good food but for me asian food is the best! Well the second best, mexican food its really a delicacy.

But for these trip i for sure recommend the best ramen in TJ. “Takunoya”, just to be clear this is my opinion, but i haven’t seen another ramen shop that sticks to their traditions as much as they can. It’s very yummy, the place is super clean and comfy.

After eating i recommend explore the craft beer, one of my favorite place is “Teorema” a very famous bar with tasty beer, there’s also “insurgente” this two are a must if you like beer. And i suggest to try out the coffee flavored beers.

Speaking of coffee they are a lots of coffee stores, some of them have monthly artist exhibitions like “Brewja”, some have small stages like “Claroscuro” and of course in these too the coffee is delicious. Or if you like to take your coffee with an amazing view they are some in “Playas” where you can sit and enjoy your cup watching the ocean.

For closing the night in TJ. This is the ultimate MUST try…the tacos. We are known in all México for our tacos. But you know they are the comercial ones, and the tasty ones. So don’t look for literally a restaurant you should go to those street tacos carts, and try the salsas thats the good stuff!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Definitely my family and friends, on words this work sounds amazing and easy. But it’s really a very rough path, create something from scratch it would never be a smooth thing, you must endure problems, all kind of problems. And like 70% of those problems you’ll have no idea how to fix them that’s when these lovely people comes in.

Because that 70% of not knowing can drown you, it makes you feel that this is not what are you meant to be but If they keep believing in your work, your vision, how can you just give up…

those who stick around you in this exhausting task really deserve credit.

Website: www.byhalia.mx

Instagram: @byhalia.art

Facebook: @byhalia.art