By day, a full-time college student, and by night, a creator, with some cat cuddling in between. Although the combination can open the doors to dear, old procrastination, Heidy Colón stands strong with her mindset “to be full of productivity and cat cuddles simultaneously.” Though she isn’t just talking about academia: she’s an artisan and an entrepreneur.
Growing up in the art world was how it all started for Heidy Colón. Her father, a mixed media artist and her mother, owner of a local food establishment, cultivated the need to create in Colón. As early as middle school, she was making jewelry to “sell in school just for fun,” while later throwing photography into the mix. “I feel that what ignited that special ‘spark’ into creating art was definitely seeing over and over again how ideas can evolve into magnificent pieces that one can identify with like no other.” She discovered how she learned more about herself during her process of art creation, as well as being able to connect and influence other people in unimaginable ways.
She admits that living off one’s artistic creation is “a tough, but brave decision” that has provided her with “infinite life and wisdom.” By turning her hobbies into her job, Colón has journeyed into an artistic exploration that has exposed her to different mediums, and events which have all helped her grow as a person and as an artist.
Just as her own creations have caused an effect on her, she wants to do that for other people. “My main goal is to be able to provoke any type of transcendental sentiment to whoever it appeals to, and to always be versatile on evolving from that idea onwards.” Colón explains how it’s more than aesthetics, because handmade products have artistic and emotional essence and thus jewelry, photography, or other crafts have the ability to impact others. “I could say I feel the same way about life too,” Colón continues, “especially in the notion of always doing things while letting passion be my guide and never falling in a boring routine.”
However, in order to impact people, one has to get out there and gain recognition. Making a splash is something Colón enjoys doing, both in social media and in face-to-face experiences. She can be reached on Facebook and on her Instagram. On both social media accounts, you can find her creations as well as the upcoming locations where she will be selling her (art)work! When it comes to social interaction, Colón frequently attends bazaars, art events, and art expos. Thanks to these events, she enjoys getting to know actual or future customers, while supporting local bands and artists, and interacting with other artists with fresh perspectives. She attributes her worthwhile interactions with other artists as one of her definitions of success. At the core of Colón’s philosophy, staying true to herself is far more significant than any amount of money. She places a lot of weight on her peace of mind and spirituality.
The Rick and Morty and Game of Thrones lover holds nature guilty for her artistic inspiration: “Nature in itself is saturated with infinitely unique patterns, colors, formations, plants, and creatures that make it a wholesome experience founded in diversity.” After comparing two quartz stones she has used in her jewelry as seemingly similar but truly different, she concludes that the same applies to everyday life: “The diversity in nature could teach us a thing or two about how to love all the different aspects of ourselves and the world!”
Upon contemplating the positive aspects of being her own boss, Colón reflects on how she’s able to work at her own rhythm, it’s more flexible. “Through hard work and passion, this just turns into your lifestyle and has the potential to take you to places you’d never even dreamed of reaching, meet, and network with amazing people and, most importantly, learn immensely about yourself during all the different adventures.” Nevertheless, every moon has a dark side and while having a realistic moment, Colón explains how her business and the entire process might be harder than any other job because for some, it demands a lot of versatility. “Being your own boss also means that all the responsibilities and success depend highly on how you carry it all out.” Colón concludes that current Puerto Rican economical models and laws make it difficult for local businesses to flourish and rise, due to all the paperwork and permit costs it entails. But when she puts it all on a scale, the warmth and passion she feels doing this is definitely worth it all.
A firm believer that art “could stand on it own,” Colón explains how it “has the power to provoke and shake people’s conceptions and beliefs” and in Puerto Rico, with its socio-economic crisis, “art could serve as one of the most powerful social forces that people still have as a source of hope.”
To anyone currently flirting with entrepreneurship, Heidy Colón, artisan and creator, advises you to not “be afraid to be yourself and don’t compare your success with others!” She believes that everyone is unique like a “walking universe” and that there’s “only one you” that is capable of greatness and impacting people: “View your uniqueness as a strength and let your customer base always be familiar with what makes you and your craft special. It might feel tempting to follow trends and mold your perspective to the appeal of many others, but there’s already too much of that going on already. Instead, always try to take the ordinary and make it into the most extraordinary by giving it your own special twist.”
*Pictures from HB Art’s Facebook page.