Meet Maria “Nak” Mejica | Graphic Designer, Illustrator & Animator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maria “Nak” Mejica and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maria “Nak”, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Even from a young age, I never imagined myself doing anything else. There is something about creating something where there once was nothing that really lights me up inside. I also really enjoy collaborating with individuals that would like to communicate artistically but just need a bit of help.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is heavily inspired by my love of comics, graphics and illustration. I like to draw things that I hope sparks people’s imagination or a way of feeling.

I personally think I’m not that different from my other fellow creatives other than the fact I like to draw my cat, Gizmo, a lot. People like to tell me that I have a style that is unique to me. I am super proud of inspiring my niece and nephew to start drawing when I showed them my sketchbooks and I am very excited about building my website this year to showcase my body of work. This year I also am proud I pitched my first comic and got to work with one of my favorite designers in the city!

I started doing artists markets when I was 16. For a while I was signed up with an art gallery, Currently I am spending the year studying more about graphic design and animation and building a portfolio. It hasn’t been easy. There has been so much self doubt that was crippling and I feel like financially I have had to be more resourceful about where to get educated. Taking the self-taught route is super hard mode, Along the way I have learned so much about self-discipline, independence, and how incredibly lucky I am to live in a city full of talent that inspires. Most of the time when I am scared to take the next step in challenges, I find it very relaxing to step back and go for a skate and hang out with friends and family to get back into a more optimistic and positive mindset.

I’d love for the world to know through my story that most people are more capable of achieving their goals than they think. I don’t know if I’ll ever be free of the doubts that I hear in my head ever, but I hope the sight of me pursuing what I love anyway is enough for at least one person to realize that they are more than strong enough to set a goal and go for it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d stick my friend on a scooter, I’d grab my skates and we would shoot up and down the belt line sight-seeing the different neighborhoods and murals in the city.

We’d hang out at Estoria, go see bands play at Boggs, spend some days at Fernbank and the High Museum and walk through some of my favorite events like Inman Park Festival, the Lantern Parade, Pride, Chomp & Stomp, or EAV strut.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shout out to the ATL skate community for getting me to start skating. I’ve never been very good at feelings and emotions. Through skating and connecting with strangers on skates that later became my friends, I was able to do so much emotional healing and learned about what I want in life. Skating showed me anything is possible and that the world is a beautiful place filled with good people.

My friends I skated with really believed in me when I was thinking about if I should just give up and lean into my day job. They gave me opportunities that inspired me to be strong enough to pivot careers and I’ll always be so thankful for that.

Website: https://www.deviantart.com/nak

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