Meet Margaret Alvarez | Artist & Creativity Coach

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

Hi Margaret, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
There is a shift happening in our world today. There is a need for relief from stress and anxiety. A need for people to be more mindful and take a break from all the craziness. I personally use gratitude and creativity to relieve my own stress and anxiety. So I thought, “Why not share this idea?” It has helped me out tremendously and being a creative guide is so rewarding.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an art teacher. I have been teaching in private schools for over 14 years. As cheesy as it sounds, art is truly my passion. At a young age I took an interest in all things creative, so I’ve known for a very long time what I wanted to do with my life.

When I started My Artsy Coach, I had this idea to share what I thought would help people during the pandemic. I have carried an art journal since high school and I have always used art and writing in my journal to keep myself aligned and to relieve stress and anxiety. So when the pandemic happened and it was helping me so much to combine art journaling with my gratitude practice, the idea came to me to teach this to others. Actually, I had been combining creativity with gratitude for years. I just didn’t make the connection till the pandemic started and I saw the need for this type of mindfulness practice. People were connecting in all sorts of ways because we were all so freaked out.

Being a teacher during a pandemic, I was also learning so much about teaching online. So it was easy to connect all the pieces and start doing online workshops.

I immediately became overwhelmed by all the platforms and work that goes into running My Artsy Coach, but I have found ways to manage it all. Sometimes that means I just have to take a break.

Fortunately, this work comes very naturally to me, so I have never really felt resistance or challenged when I am teaching. I think that is what is so exciting about it. Now I just want the world to see all of the benefits of gratitude and creativity combined in an art journal. I feel like I could possibly be starting an art movement of my own.

The biggest thing that I have learned is to go ahead and do what feels right to you. Art is second nature to me, and it brings me so much joy. I am confident in my work and I know that art journaling and gratitude works for me personally, so I am speaking my truth and people feel that. There isn’t anything quite like having someone come to me and thanking me for what I have taught them. That is what makes this such an amazing job.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Food: Empire Cafe-Great Coffee and Great Food
Harry’s-Wonderful Breakfast
House of Pies-Yummy Food for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner
Hughie’s- Vietnamese and Beer!
Cedar Creek- Great Patio and Food
Alma Latina-Great Tex-Mex
Double Trouble-Coffee Shop

Places I Love:
Museum of Fine Arts Houston
Contemporary Arts Museum
Houston Zoo
Orange Show

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband is my biggest supporter. When I came to him with the idea of My Artsy Coach, we were sitting on our patio. It was during the pandemic and we were in a lockdown. I had just started sharing my ideas on Instagram and I was ready to do more. He was the one who said, “Go for it!”. I remember that very day I bought my domain name, which started it all for me.

I often share my ideas with him before I do something new with my business. I trust his opinion and perspective. He is honest with me and tells me when I might need to work an idea a little more. He gets just as excited when I fill a workshop or get featured on websites, podcasts or magazines. He often tells me how proud he is and honestly his enthusiasm is what helps me to keep going.

So much has happened for me and my business in the past year and I don’t think I would have come this far if it wasn’t for him. Not to mention, we have a 7 year old and when “Mommy is teaching” he is there to take care of things. He is an amazing husband.

Website: https://myartsycoach.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-alvarez-a58a19224/

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

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/my-artsy-coach-houston

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6r3Z4i7ofhVCVUVuYQJzGw

Other: TikTok@myartsycoach