Francisco Hernandez shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Francisco, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I believe I’m walking a path because I have a direction, I know where I want it to be and have realistic goals.
All choices I have made so far, the good and the bad ones, felt like huge steps towards something bigger. No matter how hard things can be, I have tried all my best to managed my artistic career the same way I have managed my engineering career. With the same work ethics, commitment and discipline.
I’m always working to be the best version of myself and be better at what I do. All of my actions past and future were and will be performed to get me closer and closer to my dreams.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Francisco Hernandez, artistically know as “Chesco”. I’m a Venezuelan-American artist based in the Houston, Texas area. My work falls within the realm of hard-edge geometric abstraction, drawing deep inspiration from Latin American masters—particularly Venezuelan artists Carlos Cruz-Diez and Jesús Soto. My paintings aim to create bold yet harmonious compositions that invite the viewer to expand their perception. Through carefully arranged geometric forms, I seek to generate a subtle sense of multidimensional motion—movement that becomes more apparent upon closer observation.
Though trained as an engineer, I often describes myself as an artist who was momentarily “distracted” by engineering. I truly believes this dual background has enriched and provided multiple benefits to my creative approach, offering a broader and more structured perspective that strongly influences my artistic process. Square and rectangular forms, varied lines and angles, and vivid color palettes are central to my work, contributing to a dynamic visual experience that evokes depth and fluidity.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
When I was studying engineering, I made a simple but life-changing discovery about myself: I learned that I absorbed knowledge far better by seeing than by hearing. For years I sat toward the back of the classroom, trying to follow long explanations by listening. But I noticed the details would blur, the concepts felt distant, and I often left class with gaps in my understanding.
One day I moved to the very front, where I could clearly see the professor’s notes, the diagrams, and every equation as it was written. That change revealed something essential — my memory and learning process were primarily visual. Once I aligned the way I studied with how my mind actually works, the difference was dramatic. I understood concepts faster, retained them longer, and felt much more engaged.
That moment became more than a study strategy; it was a turning point in my career. Engineering, after all, is built on patterns, designs, systems, and structures — things best understood visually. By leaning into that strength, I excelled academically, but more importantly, I developed a professional approach: to always identify how I learn, how I process information, and how I can position myself to succeed.
That small decision — moving from the back to the front of the class — became a key success factor that shaped the way I approached challenges in my career. It taught me that self-awareness is not optional, but essential. When you understand how you learn, you unlock how you grow, adapt, and ultimately succeed.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Everyone is different. Everyone learns, grows, and discovers their strengths in their own way. Comparing yourself to someone else only becomes dangerous when you use it as a weapon against your own confidence. If you let it make you feel less, you lose sight of who you are. But if you take it as energy — as proof that effort and persistence matter — then it can fuel you forward.
I would remind myself that there is no universal clock dictating when success must happen. Achievements don’t all line up neatly at the same age or stage. Some people run, some people walk, some take winding paths that eventually lead them to extraordinary places. And that’s okay. What matters is not when you get there, but that you are moving forward with authenticity and purpose.
I would tell myself: focus on your own pace, honor your own process, and don’t let comparison steal your joy or your potential. The key is not to beat others, but to become the best version of yourself. Trust that the moment you align with your own rhythm, everything else will follow in time.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
One of the strongest pillars in my life has been my Hispanic cultural values, especially the belief that hard work pays off. From an early age, I was taught that success is not something handed to you, but something earned through effort, discipline, and persistence. That value is not negotiable for me, because it is the foundation of how I measure integrity and achievement.
In my culture, we do not take things for granted. We understand the sacrifices made by those before us, and we recognize that every opportunity carries responsibility. Gratitude is shown not just in words, but in how we dedicate ourselves to making the most of what we’ve been given.
These values shaped my mindset as a student and carried me through my career. They kept me grounded when challenges felt overwhelming, and they pushed me to keep striving when others might have stopped. For me, hard work is not simply about personal success; it’s about honoring the effort, resilience, and hope that my family and community instilled in me.
What I have learned is that cultural values, when lived consistently, become a compass. They guide how you respond to setbacks, how you celebrate wins, and how you define success beyond titles or recognition. For me, the lesson is clear: hard work is not optional, gratitude is not negotiable, and nothing should ever be taken for granted.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
Sketching and painting have become far more than hobbies for me; they are a sanctuary. In the quiet of my studio, surrounded by blank canvases and brushes, I find a peace that daily life rarely offers. The act of choosing a color palette, of blending shades until they feel right, is almost meditative — a way of aligning my inner world with what I want to express outwardly.
Each stroke of the brush carries me into a state of stillness, where time slows down and distractions fade. In those moments, I am not thinking about deadlines, responsibilities, or comparisons. I am simply present — in dialogue with color, form, and feeling.
And when I step back to look at the finished work, I see more than just paint on canvas. I see fragments of my thoughts, emotions, and experiences, transformed into something tangible. That reflection, that act of turning the intangible into something real, has fulfilled me in ways I never anticipated.
Painting has given me balance. It reminds me that fulfillment isn’t only found in accomplishments or recognition, but also in the quiet, personal rituals that bring us peace. My studio is where I recharge, where I reconnect with myself, and where I find joy in the beauty of creating.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chescofineart.com
- Instagram: @piantingsbychesco
Image Credits
Betty & Luis Photo
