Meet Kristen Diaz | Graphic Designer & Illustrator

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

Hi Kristen, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I come from a hard-working family that encouraged my creativity. My mom had been a retail manager for multiple venues including toy stores such as Imaginarium when I was growing up. So, I was surrounded by a fun environment where there was music and tools to help nurture my imagination. My dad is one of those guys that can fix just about anything. He was a plumber but also worked in different areas of construction. There were a couple of times when I would go with him to a job and get my hands dirty, it didn’t matter that I was a girl. He didn’t want me to be afraid of manual labor and to experience what a long day’s work really was like. I do appreciate him doing that because that type of work is challenging, however, it also can be humbling. You can look at your hands and see the blisters from digging a trench or the dirt stains on your pants from being on the ground or floor as you are helping fix a sink. These are tangible things that you can observe and acknowledge that you truly did something taxing that day.

My parents taught my sister and me that you should always push yourself to do better. They wanted me to do things that they couldn’t do like go to college and support myself with whatever I wanted to do. What if I don’t know how to do something and then learn how to do it? My family has taught me to always be there when I can for people who need my help, even when that person might not know it yet. Our home was always open to friends who were truly like extended family if they were needing a place to stay for a bit. These folks felt the warmth that came from being around us and perhaps some of our quirkiness rubbed off on them.

When interacting with people I try to be the person I would want to talk to. The person I would like to be friends with at the end of the day. I find that just showing some common courtesy when picking up my cup of coffee, like saying thank you I hope you have a good to the person ringing me might actually brighten their day. To just acknowledge them and let them know it’s ok that there is a longer wait time than usual, I appreciate that they are nice to me and doing their best. I think we need more of that in the world right now and I do my best to reciprocate the respect that I receive from others.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

My work is a combination of several different styles where I try to capture that timeless mid-century aesthetic while giving it a modern twist. I am inspired by amazing artists such as Dan DeCarlo, Bruce Timm, and Hanna-Barabara. There are many more but I find myself drawn to these individuals in particular because of how they use simplicity, lines, and fun to make something unique.

When I rediscovered my passion for drawing during the pandemic, I found that my style had started to undergo a transformation as I was studying more of DeCarlo’s pinup comics, Archie Comics, and rewatching Batman: The Animated Series to better develop the look that distinguishes me in the grand scheme of things. People are able to distinguish my work by the use of color, the curves, and the attitude or “sassiness” that my characters display. Knowing that I have a style that is recognizable is amazing, however, there is always a little bit of doubt. I believe most artists have that feeling and I do struggle with it sometimes but I try to use it as motivation to improve my creativity.

Social Media, especially Instagram, helped me share my illustrations with a wider audience. I had started a separate account to post my graphic design work in hopes that it could help attract potential clients and also have a creative outlet since I was working full-time as a graphic designer on several projects that I wouldn’t post publicly about. I really focused on growing my account during the pandemic and I switched the subject matter to my pin-up sketches and illustrations. From there I was able to grow my following and acquire work to create unique art pieces for people, logos, and apparel art for pinup models. What was even better was getting to know other artists that focused on the retro/ pinup genre. I was able to ask them questions about their process and see how I could improve or how they handled vending at different events.

My brand is ever-changing. I think of it that way because I am constantly learning and finding out things about myself as an artist. But the heart of my brand would be to help others by creating their vision to the best of my ability and all the while making sure that I offer them the best customer service that I can give. I like to make my clients feel that they are a part of the process and we are working together to make something beautiful to ensure their business’s success.

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.

I live in Los Angeles, so we are blessed to have a variety of activities to do here and places to explore. I would definitely say a trip to the Academy Award museum is a must! I just recently went and found it fascinating to see all the props, costumes, and actual scripts from some of my favorite films there. If museums aren’t your thing, then catching a movie on the lawn of Hollywood Forever Cemetery is great, you can have a picnic and take a snazzy picture at a photo booth that is set up like a scene from the movie that is being shown that evening and just have a good time.

For an evening of dancing and live music, La Descarga, is one of my favorites. It is a Cuban Speakeasy-themed night club that has burlesque shows, a cigar lounge, and amazing rum cocktails!

Taking a trip down to the beach seems like a mandatory thing to do when visiting L.A. Along with having a great burger! So, we would be taking a trip down to Venice a small spot called Hinano Cafe, where they have been open since 1969 making burgers that might just be one of the best I have ever tasted! Even though it is called a cafe, the place is more like a community dive bar that is not your average tourist attraction and is right by the beach.

A lonely drive to Santa Barbara to check out the Danish Village of Solvang, where they have some yummy pastries, wine tasting, and a variety of museums to visit. This place looks like you have stepped into Disney’s Fantasyland without having to pay for a ticket! A perfect place to enjoy a low-key day and the ambiance.

Being a fan of tiki bars, I would say my favorite would be the TikiNo, in North Hollywood. This is a tiki-themed dive bar that has a delicious Pina Colada on tap! The venue has fun decor, karaoke, and plays old movies on retro-style TVs behind the bar. The best part is that they are within walking distance from a small Italian restaurant called Little Toni’s where you can get a hand-tossed pizza to take back with you to snack on with your tiki cocktail.

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?
My amazing husband! He has been there with me through my ups and downs of self-doubt. And has always encouraged me to always keep reaching for the stars.

Website: https://www.kristenywatkins.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenywatkins/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KristenWatkinsGraphicDesign

Other: This is the link to my Threadless shop where I have some of my art available for purchase on a variety of items. https://TheDesignerKristen.threadless.com/