Vibrant Living with Maria Calcaneo
In this interview series, we sat down with the radiant Maria Calcaneo, a creative, Mexico native, and founder of Studio Maria: a lifestyle brand + web design studio based in LA. We had the pleasure to work with her last year and bring Coventina’s branding to life.
Carly met up with Maria at her go-to neighborhood coffee shop, Obet & Del’s with her pup Blue, for a conversation on: navigating life as a creative founder, finding vibrancy in everyday living, and her travel plans.
Tell us your story of how you ended up in LA?
I was born in Mexico and lived there until I was 19 and then moved to France for a year by myself… that was terrifying. It was to learn French, but I was an irresponsible adolescent [laughs]. Then, I moved to San Francisco for school and I was there for six years. San Francisco is where I went to school for advertising, but I hated it, so I moved onto graphic design. I took all the graphic design classes and said, YES, this is what I am going to do.
I got my first job and it was in branding at Sephora. I was so excited and it validated everything I had been doing. And then I could not afford San Francisco anymore [laughs], so I moved to LA and I went to work for this company called Girlboss Media. That was fun too. At that point I was already having freelance clients, so it just naturally happened… I don't even know how, I keep wondering how did I land where I am? How did I end up with a business? But that is how it naturally just happened, and I decided to go full-on during the pandemic.
I have done nothing else apart from that. Like I became kind of obsessed with it. Now it has been almost four years, which is kind of crazy.
Suddenly I find that I am good at something I never thought I would be good at. Honestly, I am not great at some things, and I am really good at other things, but you know you wear 17,000 hats a day. It is interesting to learn that from yourself. I tell myself that we are here now and we are going all in. I am lucky enough to work with people like you, which I enjoy so much.
You are a creative and work in a creative field. Do you do any type of art apart from “work”?
I have done art my whole life. Usually I will draw on my iPad. I do miss doing artistic things for just fun, because whenever I do something, my mind goes to that it could be something for work, but I try to pause and bring it back.
The other day I went to a ceramics class and I was really good at it! Now I have a little dish at home that I made and I’m so proud of it. I try to do stuff like that. I’ve also been to a macrame classes by myself. I love doing all of those things. At home I have paints and things, but I’d like to be better at making the time.
What do you look for in people to collaborate with and clients to take on at Studio Maria?
I feel like the minute we have the first interaction on a discovery call, I can kind of already tell if they show interest and understand the value of what I do. I can see their interest, if they value what I do, how much they need it and the urgency of it, and mostly I can tell if they are respectful. That is what I am looking for.
What is your favorite part of the creative process?
I love two things. The first part of it when I am looking at the immense possibility we have and playing with the different concepts and vibes something could have. I love that part and could spend endless hours doing it. And then I love when it is almost done, and I show the client and get reassured that we are getting somewhere. I can see the light at the end and know this is working.
What does vibrant living mean for you?
I feel like first of all, vibrant living for me is being aware of the privilege it is to be alive. Sometimes you are just living because you are here. So, first of all that: having the notion of being alive. It is also having that mindset that I should have a good life, so thinking of things that I can be doing to help myself be here with purpose and happiness.
So some of the things I try to do daily is going outside for at least an hour in the morning or I get the worst anxiety. Something I love about LA is the mountain is right here a few minutes away from me, so I just drive in the morning with him (her dog) and we go for an hour and can see the ocean. Then, I go back home and I can work for the day. I cannot just wake up and go to work. I can’t do it.
What are the hikes like here in LA?
Some are difficult but most are super friendly and good for people of all ages. If you go to the Griffith one, that is the daily one. Going to the observatory for sunset is nice, but there are coyotes! So if you are going to go at night, I recommend Ubering on the way back [laughs]. They look like dogs and they are just out there. I see them face to face in the morning too.
Do you have any other daily rituals other than starting your day outdoors?
Yes, it kind of changes by the day because I like variety. On Mondays and Thursdays I do Kundalini yoga in the mornings and it is like my therapy. The other days I do a hike or go to the reservoir, which is really nice.
I also go to bed at around 9:30 pm. I have even been to bed at 8:30 pm. It is wonderful.
How do you spend your weekends?
I usually try to schedule things with friends, and stay away from touching my computer. I always go outside, and sometimes to the beach.
Is there something that you have changed or added into your life lately that has elevated your daily experience or quality of life?
I stopped drinking coffee because it was making me crazy. I love coffee, but I think my body was freaking out a little [laughs]. It has been a month now. It is hard because when I am in Mexico I always want to drink coffee because it is so good! I would have coffee in the morning, another one after lunch, so now I am trying to slow it down.
I have seen a lot about minimizing stimulants in your life, and if I am already overstimulated so coffee doesn't help me. I have been swapping it with tea and adaptogenic drinks…there’s so many out there. It does come in waves for me, six months without it and then I’ll be like oooooo it’s over.
Do you have any sources of inspiration - people or places that fuel you?
I take pieces of inspo all around me. One big thing I find inspiring is the lifestyle of people that go in their RV like once a year traveling. I would love to do that. I have certain life milestones that I would like to do.
I find inspiration on social media, but I feel like we consume so much. I see a lot of things that I like, but really try to filter a lot out.
Do you have a mantra or life philosophy you live by?
I have a bunch, but right now in my mind there is a lot of “nobody cares, don’t worry too much” floating around in my mind during the last month.
What is your favorite place in nature?
Tulum. It is my family place and I am a beach person. Tulum was were I spent probably 50% of my childhood. And we still go back there. It is where I dream off to.
When you travel do you go somewhere on a regular basis or different destinations?
It is tricky because since my family is in Mexico, I am always going back there, but I love going to new places, so a little of both.
For anyone visiting LA where you currently live, what are your go-to spots?
Honestly this coffee shop here I love (Obet & Dale’s). In the summer here in LA, I love to catch a movie in the cemetery. It is the best, THE BEST. They have a giant screen and you can bring a picnic. They show old and new movies. It is fun.
But back home in Mérida, I recommend you go visit the city overall. It is close to the beach, but not a beach town, about 20 mins away. It is so beautiful, I tell everybody to go explore and the people are super nice.
What are you most excited about now or looking forward to?
I am looking forward to structuring and organizing my work life a little bit more, so I will be able to take a month off this summer to go to Morocco and Porto. Apparently I have 26% Portuguese in me according to ancestry…but I don’t know [laughs]. I am the type of person that needs something to look forward to or I get sad. Even if it is simple coffee dates. It keeps me going, but mostly traveling gets me excited. Even if I am going somewhere in two or three months.
Where to find Maria:
You can contact Maria at www.studiomaria.com to inquire about holistically building a brand, planning launches, and website design. She is truly a pleasure to collaborate with!