11: 11 with Genaro "El Barbacoa" Candelaria

Bringing the fun back into design.

Star sign: Scorpio // Dogs over cats // Fav food: Mums Chalupas // Fav song: My old man by Mac de Marco.

We had the pleasure of catching up with artist, graphic designer, surfboard shaper, co-founder of Ceviche Surf and all round top guy Genaro.

Since a little kid Genaro has loved everything about visual creations, from cartoons, art, brands, and logos, and if you have ever been to Puerto Escondido, you would have for sure seen his designs.

Genaro has a very distinct design style; simple, effortlessly cool and fun and these designs perfectly embody the chilled and fun vibes of Puerto Escondido and its surf culture.

Genaro’s designs are synonymous with Puerto Escondido, largely because every other person is rocking either his brand’s T-shirts, surfboards or stickers, (Shout out to Ceviche Surf co!)

And also, because we are proud to say, he designed all of our logos.

Read on for Genaro's quick speed 11:11

1) What do you love most about graphic design?

I love that you can create virtually anything you can imagine.

2) What do you do to get into your creative zone? 

I clear my head, I take some deep breaths, I put on my headphones, and I just get in de Design/working Zone.

3) How would you describe your design style?

I draw inspiration from being free to do whatever I want which is surf, work, play guitar and spend time with my love. 

4) WE LOVE CEVICHE SURF. love love love. Can you tell us how ‘Ceviche Surf’ was born?

Ceviche was born by the need of expressing my love to surf and making something creative for the surf community.

5) You’ve recently done a t-shirt collaboration with Bodeguita, what made you want to collaborate with Bodeguita?

I just love Bodeguita Stuff Store since day one. Its been one of our main supporters and I just wanted to make something fun with them :)

(T-shirts available to buy on the website)

6) Have you got any other exciting projects in the pipeline?

Many projects to come!

7) What's your secret talent?

Its a secret ;)

8) Your friends get a call you’ve been arrested. What will they assume you’ve done? Probably something I cant say in public.

9) Where is the most beautiful place you’ve ever been?

The Red sea in Israel 

10) What's the funniest thing thats happened to you recently?

I was in a business meeting, I had flip flops on (usually trusty flip flops) and I don't know what I did but one of my flip flops broke.

(If you've even tried to subtly fix a flipflop under the table, unless you have fingers for toes, you know this is an impossible feat. What you're left with is simply a piece of foam with a mind of its own and a stretched, feeble foot / ankle strap to contend with. I had to resolve this). Racking my brains, I decided the only way, was to press my foot into the sole of my flipflop for the rest of the meeting, in hope that maybe I would create a sweaty suction between foot and foam that would enable me to stride out the office door.

What actually happened was I got a leg cramp, and in my panic, I jumped up, knocked a glass of water over mine and her laptop, and the excess water very precisely landed in my broken flip flop.... you can imagine where there is normally the security strap between my big and second toe, there was nothing...no toe wedgie to save me. I may as well have stepped on a banana skin. Amidst the commotion of saving our laptops and papers, I quite literally slipped through my flip flop, like some sort of trap door, and ended up pulling my chair on top of me as I landed on my ass. We kind of awkwardly laughed it off, and of course she pretended not to notice when I limped out that I had a flipflop half way up my leg...

11) What's your favourite quote?

You can do it!

Muchas gracias Genero!

Follow Genaro on instagram @Cevichesurfco