Meet Maria Carrero | Designer & Muralist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maria Carrero and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maria, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I believe everyone has their own design aesthetics, even if they do not consider themselves artistic. My thought process behind starting my own business was to bring customizable designs to any space and use my talent/artistic skills to design someone else’ vision for their space. I wanted potential clients to feel their voice being heard by working together, so I created M. Carré Designs. Using my graphic and UX design skills, I enjoy talking with the client and creating their mural in real time digitally. We then work together to change the design to their liking, ultimately allowing the client to see their vision prior to painting.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is a bit different than your regular artist in a few ways. It is divided into two parts of myself: my personal collection (my right brain) and my custom murals (my left brain). I love working with different mediums and types of paint, but what I love the most is being able to be the tool for others to create their own visions especially those who label themselves “not artistic.” I am proud of my understanding and listening skills to capture their ideas in the physical world. I love them seeing the renderings as we discuss what style, which wall, and which space is being transformed and why. Bringing new life to an area of a home, business, school, etc. is what I am most proud of. I am excited that I will be bringing 3D elements into my designs using plaster influenced by artists like Ken Wildes and Jesus Rafael Soto. If someone were to ask me 10 years ago if I saw myself painting walls, I would have laughed. It has not been an easy road through both personal and professional hurdles. I got here through a lot of random events which I felt the need to speak up. I have worked for several museums in the area, surrounding myself with culture and artifacts. When someone would ask if anyone was capable of creating something, I did not hesitate to raise my hand. I created my first company wanting to transform spaces into STEAM labs for education, then realized the part I most enjoyed was painting and designing. It has not always been easy, especially when the client struggles to define their needs or expectations. I always remind them to trust the process and that their satisfaction is always my goal. Another challenge for me that I am overcoming is not being able to dedicate time to establishing my own collection. Time seems to go quickly and its been difficult for me to do everything. I wish I could clone myself at times. I overcome these challenges by understanding my own limitations (giving myself some grace) and reminding myself that cloning is not an option.
I would like the world to know that my brand is about the idea of transformation within a space. I would like the world to know that my art will continue to grow as I dedicate myself to it, some may be unexpected pieces but they will all show my observations, feelings, and beliefs through life as I continue to learn lessons.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If someone was visiting Dallas, I would take them to the first place I worked at, The Perot Museum of Nature and Science. I would also take them to the second place I worked, The Frontiers of Flight Museum. I also worked at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, so that would be another stop on the list. I would take them to Bishops Arts and the Arts Plaza (they always have things going on), although I am a home body and require home to recharge. Bishop Arts is lively and filled with creatives. Dallas has so many amazing places to eat and try. I enjoy finding new restaurants. Recently I found a delicious Venezuelan restaurant called Todo Pasapalos or another more established one called Zaguan. Dallas is filled with local celebrations and events that I would see what is going on in order to not miss out on anything memorable.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Where I am in life is thanks to the support of an amazing family and a product of my parent’s love, dedication, and understanding of me. My father is someone that has supported me throughout my unorthodox journey. Through his love and support throughout difficult times including my BRCA2 diagnosis, my double mastectomy, divorce, and recently the pandemic. He has been there to mentor me through single parenthood, something he knows a lot about being a widower when my mom passed at the age of 44 from a 10 year battle with metastatic breast cancer, leaving him alone with three children and no family in the States. He has instilled my roots as a Venezuelan first generation American and encouraged me to broaden my horizons calling me a Renaissance woman. My siblings and their spouses, for trusting me with everything including their business brand development to murals for their nurseries and art for their homes. My loving partner and his kids, who have shown me that my talent is worth showcasing and continues to mentor, love, and support me in every way possible. My best friend who started the company with me and encouraged me to continue when times felt tough always reminding me of my worth. She was my very first mural client. Of course my son, who reminds me every day why I work so hard to continue creating and providing. Those and more are the people I choose to surround myself with because life is short and I feel at home with them.

Website: www.mcarredesigns.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcarredesigns/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mariacarrero8

Twitter: COMING SOON

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcarredesigns

Youtube: COMING SOON