We had the good fortune of connecting with Jose Angel Vela and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jose Angel, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Back years ago, I restored an old pair of white Vans because I didn’t have any money to buy me a new pair. After that I designed a few more pairs for close family members, and that lasted about a year. I got caught up with life and I failed to keep up with the hobby. Fast forward several years, I got married, bought a home, and I was dealing with a lot of anxiety and depression, my wife advised maybe I should start painting shoes again to help keep my mind busy, and to have an outlet to help with my mental health. In full honesty, it really helped a lot, Plus I was growing closer with my relationship with God. One thing led to another and I received an email from Coca Cola with a big commission to design and paint some Topo Chico Vans for their company. A design that I had already painting many times before. I honestly don’t think there was a thought process behind my business, I was just consistent doing what I loved doing and God took care of the rest.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have a couple of different art outlets. One is my artwork on shoes! My canvas was never meant to stay on a flat surface, I chose shoes to be my canvas. So many different shoe models allows my artwork to be molded differently every time. Using the silhouette of the shoes, helps me come up with creative ways to bring the vision to life that a flat surface cannot provide. When I did the commission with Coca Cola, that really pushed me not only artistically, but mentally. Then seeing how I was recognized about it on TV and newspapers, I was dumfound.

My digital artwork comes from when I wanted to sticker bomb my paint desk but couldn’t find any stickers I liked. So I bought an iPad, learned to use a drawing app, and started drawing my own stickers. I started posting them on social media and people wanted to buy them, so kept going. Still sell my stickers today.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Ever since I showed some talent in art as a kid, my parents and my grandparents have always pushed me to pursue it fully. Any chance they got while I was growing up, they’d remind me of how great of an artist I was. All those words resonated with me throughout my life, and with an extra push by my wife, I went for it!

Website: www.candlecandoit.art

Instagram: @candlecandoit

Facebook: @candlecandoit

Youtube: @candlecandoit

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.