Today we’d like to introduce you to Malisa Cruz.
Malisa, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I grew up in a creative home, but I never thought I was a creative. Anything that had to do with aesthetics, my family was good at. Therefore, I appreciated the arts; I just didn’t have my own way of showcasing it.
Pursuing art wasn’t a pathway for me because all my brothers were doing it. I would think to myself, “Who needs another artist in the family?” Being the youngest and only girl, I honestly thought the juices ran out by the time I was born. But throughout my journey of knowing myself, through my relationship with God, I realized being creative was something I couldn’t escape. It’s not that I wasn’t creative, it’s just that I was created differently.
Four years ago, I had this vision to share my heart through writing. But because of my fears, I was very reluctant to start since I never considered myself a writer. I was afraid of what people would think; afraid of showing my authentic self to the world.
With a supportive husband who constantly speaks truth and the dread of living a life full of regret, I buckled down and wrote my first blog post. I have, actually, been a committed blogger for 5 months now. Within that short period of time, it’s been very cool to be featured in a few magazines and, now, Boston Voyager.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I am a blogger. I often write about two very important things in my life: my relationship with God and my admiration for fashion. #faithandfashion I write about my life experiences, mostly revolving around my marriage and the pursuit of my dreams. I am honest about my struggles and the victories, in hopes that it will inspire others to pursue their dreams.
Whether your dream is to be a painter, a business owner, or a stylist, fear and anxiety prevents you from doing a lot of things you really want to pursue. I hope my blogs can show people that when you push through it, you can live a life of freedom and pure joy.
How can artists connect with other artists?
It’s hard. It seems like everyone out here wants to do something creative. And with the bombardment of visuals throughout social media, it’s so easy to compare. In turn, your work seems insignificant (which is far from the truth). When I first had the idea to blog, I started to do some research on what it would take. What I found was very discouraging. It seemed as though everyone and their mother was a blogger! I would ask myself, “What makes me different? How in the world am I going to stand out from everyone else?”
You have to be very careful with how you influence your own being. You may talk yourself out of the very THING you were created to do. I have to remind myself why I wanted to do this in the first place. If it impacts at least one person, I accomplished something.
Stop looking at everyone as a competitor. Ask for advice from your favorite artists. Ask about their story, what inspires them, how long they’ve been doing what they do. Ask how you can collaborate with other artists and work together to showcase your art. As you do these things, it will add perspective to your dreams. Your community will start to develop, and you will feel empowered to share more or your work.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
To get updates on my latest posts, you can subscribe to my website at www.malisacruz.com. Also, follow me on Instagram! My IG handle is @malmcruz.
If you know someone who is looking for a brand rep, a stylist, or a word of encouragement, email me at mcruz@malisacruz.com. I would LOVE to connect!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.malisacruz.com
- Email: mcruz@malisacruz.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/malmcruz
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malmcruz/
Image Credit:
Katie Jann Photography
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
