Meet Shay Guerrero | Artist & Owner of heART Dog Art Studios

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

Hi Shay, why did you pursue a creative career?
Art has been my safe place, a thing of peace and sanctuary since I was as young as I can remember. It is as essential to me as food or sleep. I cannot remember a time in my life when I was not creating or did not consider myself an artist. I was lucky enough to have a family that completely embraced my creativity and celebrated it. One of my earliest art memories was being so little I could hardly reach the movie shelf and grabbing Disney VHS tapes and trying to copy the artwork that graced the covers. I love art so much that I like to tell this story to help “pain the picture” 😉 for others to understand… when I was in high school, I had enough credits to graduate a year early but instead I stayed and took a full-time load of nothing but art classes. I then went on to get a degree in Graphic Design. Later going back to school again majoring in Photography minoring in Ceramics and getting an Art Education degree. However, my mediums of choice have always been pencil/charcoal drawings and acrylic paintings, I took different mediums in college because I wanted to know more about the things, I didn’t feel proficient in yet. My art themes have always had a heavy focus celebrating my Mexican culture specifically surrounding the Día De Los Muertos holiday. I now also have a great new love of digital art!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Over the years I have traditionally stayed a freelance artist and photographer trying many mediums and generally doing gallery showings or art across the city however I did start a business called “heART Dog Art Studio”

I feel like the heART dog business idea started purely as something I needed for myself. I will have to introduce you to my boy… my heart dog “Willy” in order to understand the reason for the birth of my business you will have to learn it grew first from death and the deepest grief and heart break I have ever known.
I always say he was my heart on earth wrapped in fur, he was my shadow dog, at a whopping 198 pounds he was truly what you would call a gentle giant and his presence was larger than life. He knew me entirely, what made me happy, when I was sad and just about every emotion in between. He provided an unconditional love, and our connection is one not even death could sever. I had him for only seven, seven short, beautiful years. When I lost him, I fell so deep into grief and loss, all the color left my world and I needed so desperately to see him full of life and color in a way that would change my last memory of him. I can still feel him with me but in a new way Thus, my company heART dog art studio was born where I started to transform lost heart dogs into their spirit form as a beautiful colorful Alebrije starting with of course Willy. I didn’t realize how many people out there also so desperately needed this too and how many meaningful connections I would make on this journey.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would say at heart I am a complete homebody I love being home and reading a good book, making art or watching a good movie/series! However, living here in Denver my entire life I LOVE seeing the how the city changes and grows, there is so much to do and see! I like having so many options. I love the new Meow Wolf Denver-Convergence Station, all the interactive art exhibits and the Stanley Hanger is an entire experience on its own! My favorite restaurant like literally had every birthday there since I was 3 until it closed and even had our Wedding Rehearsal dinner there! CASA BONITA! I cannot wait until it opens again! I also love Postino LoHi it’s a great environment with amazing Bruschetta and probably the best staff in Denver! A place that also has a huge chunk of my heart is where I devote my weekends as an animal care assistant “Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary” I am an animal care assistant there and work events. It is a great place where you can meet the coolest people and animals you won’t soon forget!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to give a shoutout to my whole family and my best friend! They have all played a significant role in the freedom I feel to be who I am. They have always embraced my crazy new ideas and watched me make messes, try new materials and make messes again! I cannot think of a single art show my entire family has not showed up for. Their love, support and encouragement mean more than I can ever find the words to adequately express. My grandpa pulling out his power tools to help me with new ideas or even asking me to help with his crazy ideas! My Grandma for having an entire wall in her house dedicated to my art and never missing a single event in my life! My mom for being my greatest assistant, helping me hang shows run receptions and her willingness to always help! My husband and kids for putting up with having an artist constantly changing things in the house my “collection” of endless things and then watching me starting new projects I never finish! I can’t tell you how many times my kids were in the background of photoshoots or helping in the craziest ways! I truly have the best support system in the whole world.

Website: https://www.instagram.com/shay.guerrero

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shay.guerrero

Image Credits
All photos are owned by me/taken by me.