Today we’d like to introduce you to Bridgett Luevano.
Bridgett, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Bridgett D. Luevano, and ever since I was a little girl who picked up a crayon, I had always dreamed of becoming an artist. I was born and raised in our beautiful city of Houston, Texas. I am third generation American born and come from a colorful ancestry of Spanish, Mexican, and Aztec bloodline. I guess you could say art and entertainment run through my veins as the many ancestors who have lived before me.
Now, let me explain why I chose my artist’s name of Luna D. (Like my middle initial) Lobos. I felt that not only do I love the moon and feel that my spirit animal is the wolf, but also that I wanted to be a light in the darkness to shine for those who are considered lost or misfits, much like how I felt growing up. My artist name most literally translates in Spanish as the moon of the wolves and I wanted to be a beacon of hope for those who felt downtrodden or who had a hard time believing in themselves because we’ve all been there, so why not lift each other up instead of tear each other down as so many tend to do so as it is.
Naturally, I wanted my artwork to bring people joy and make them smile every time they saw it, so what other way to do that than to draw cartoons and caricatures? As luck would have it, my sister had convinced me that I would be great at it as she showed me a wanted ad on Backpage for a caricature artist or someone interested in learning the art of caricature at the Aquarium in Downtown Houston. I went to apply, and unfortunately, I didn’t have much of a portfolio but a mess of sketchbooks with colorful drawings of cartoons and anime characters, which I loved drawing at the time and still do. To my surprise, I got the job and was so excited to start drawing and making people smile. I started off nervous, as anyone does, because you have someone staring at you from the other side of your easel as you nervously sketch and then draw their exaggerated features in hopes of not offending them but making them laugh and smile.
After a little while, I started to get the hang of it, and I realized how much I really enjoyed drawing people along with their significant others and families. Their smiles would always make me smile because I felt that in that moment when I showed them their caricature, they were truly happy, and that is the most gratifying feeling in the world. All I ever aspire to do in this life is make people happy and smile so they can forget about their bad days or negative thoughts.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t making as much as I had hoped at the time, nor did I have reliable transportation, so I had to quit working at the Aquarium and was forced to look for a full-time job elsewhere. Luckily, I found one working in construction, but it only lasted so long before I got laid off like so many others as the job neared completion.
Although I was seeking employment elsewhere, my bills were still piling up as expected, so I took my last check and invested in getting a booth and supplies at a flea market so I could set up shop and draw caricatures there to make ends meet. This turned out to be the best decision of my life as it opened so many doors for me that I had never imagined to be possible. My little corner booth would get so packed with families, kids, and couples both young and old every weekend.
After a while, I started to go to birthday parties, graduations, weddings and vend at pop-up shops all over Houston. I started to market myself more on social media and as well as word of mouth from my repeat customers and their families. I’ve watched some kids grow up from each party that I was invited to year after year. These customers were more than just clients; they became family. Family that I still consider so near and dear to my heart because they have believed in me and stood by me since the beginning of it all, much like my own family and friends.
Eventually, I left the flea market and went to work other full-time jobs and would do parties, weddings and pop-ups on the weekends. I’m not going to lie, there are times that I miss the flea market and want to go back to where it all started, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that sometimes we have to take it easy on our bodies and not try to push ourselves to the point of exhaustion like that. When I worked at the flea market, I wouldn’t allow myself to take breaks, and I would push myself to draw all day sitting at my easel to the point that my wrist would hurt so much that I couldn’t pick up my purse, so I had to take it easy after a while.
Over the years, my creativity and hard work has opened the door to a whole new world for me. I learned how to paint just about on any and everything from cardboard, canvas, clothing, paper, purses and shoes, wood, windows, and so much more. I have done chalk art at festivals and events all over the city too. As well as teaching art classes to children and adults for a few different studios and paint party companies as well as my friend’s studio, Art in the Heart.
However, I really feel that teaching is my true calling because it is the most rewarding experience for me. I get to see how inspired and creative they are as well as the beautiful works of art they create. It reminds me of my kindergarten self-coming home after career day to tell my mom that one day I would have a job where I got to draw all day, and people would pay me. Little did I know then that I spoke it into existence and grew into the artist I had always aspired to be.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it hasn’t been an easy road, much like I had mentioned before about finding a delicate balance of financial stability and freedom, but it only made me work harder. I sought out different ways to utilize my talents to make money, and I never gave up on my dreams. I learned to market and advertise on social media as well as in person at markets and pop-ups. I wasn’t scared to try new things like making custom shoes or purses, chalk art, window painting, sculpting as well as teaching painting classes to kids.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an artist who specializes in caricatures as well as teaching art to children and adults. I mostly draw caricatures at parties, weddings, and special events all throughout Houston and its surrounding areas.
I’m mostly known for being one of the few female caricaturists in Houston, and I absolutely adore drawing people’s smiles. Being a female artist in general surprises some people, but I am happy to know some amazing local female artists as well. We inspire and motivate each other all the time.
I pride myself in putting my whole heart into everything that I create and do. Also, I am able to draw a caricature of someone in about three to five minutes. I love drawing cartoons and adding such vibrant colors to make my artwork come alive.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
My favorite apps are Procreate to draw on the iPad, CapCut and InShot for video editing, Canva for creating business and marketing materials as well as social media posts, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @luna.d.lobos
- Facebook: Caricatures by Luna
- Other: TikTok: @LunaDLobos
