Today we’d like to introduce you to Lesley Resendiz.
Lesley, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Well, to start, I am originally from New York City, The South Bronx to be exact. Growing up, I was always interested in the arts and found myself very in tune with my creative side from a young age. My parents are originally from Mexico, but being here in the U.S, their main goal was for my brother and I to strive for more. . My father is actually an artist and for as long as I can remember he was always drawing or painting in our little apartment in NYC. He used to spraypaint shirts for the local soccer teams/enter art competitions. But unfortunately, having a family to provide for did not leave much time for him to keep pursuing his dream and goals creatively. But that did not stop me from feeling like I couldn’t pursue my dreams and make sure that making art and connecting with people who have the same values was going to be impossible. But how did I end up in Houston? Due to my father’s job, we relocated to the Northwest side when I was about 16 (I am 23 now) and I can honestly say that even though it is very different from my hometown, I am inspired by what is around me and the people that I have met along the way. Out of all the cities we could have moved to, Houston was definitely a blessing.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
It is very odd to put what I do in one category. To start off, when I was 18, I used to run a blog under “DaPaisleyQueen”, which showcased local artists from across the country and it was my way of connecting them to people who follow me and just putting them out there because I believe that sometimes we miss out on really great talented people just because they do not have a big social media following. In the midst of all that, in 2014, Goldskin Kinfok (a hip hop music group based out of the NorthWest Side s/o Twigg & Position7) became really good friends of mine and I decided to start helping them market themselves. Being surrounded by people who really wanted to break boundaries and did not care about trends but just being authentic led us to launch a clothing brand, GSKF. Some people know me for my involvement with GSKF, and some know me for my paintings. What I want people to know is that, however you choose to put yourself out there first and foremost, it needs to be something you do whether people are looking or not. Don’t do things to please other people because eventually, you may find yourself in a place you probably don’t want to be. Stay true to yourself and know that anything you go through, make it a stepping stool for yourself to get closer to a better and authentic YOU. My art is for my own sanity, but also my art and my words are for those who are regular people trying to get it how they live!
We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
Any advice? Be real. Be genuine. Be humble. I can’t stress it enough how many times I have run into some really talented people, people that I am not afraid to stay “Hey! I am a fan of your work” and they just really suck as a person and it kills it for me.
The only lesson I wished I would’ve learned earlier would probably be to give more time to myself and know that it is okay to miss out on things, because if people understand that you are working on perfecting your craft, what are you really missing out on? Those same people should be around to support you anyway.
ALSO, TAKE ALL THE RISKS! RISK IT ALL.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gskf.world/blog
- Email: lesley.gskf@gmail.com
- Instagram: @lesleyresendiz
- Twitter: @lesleyresendiz_
- Other: instagram.com/gskf.world
Image Credit:
Marco De Santiago
Lesley Resendiz
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