We were lucky to catch up with Stephanie Aguilar recently and have shared our conversation below.

Stephanie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

A few years back, I had a friend suggest that I make art for mental health, because she thought it would be something I would be passionate about. Around that same time, I was getting the most compliments about my flower paintings. That’s when I realized I could use my floral paintings to represent mental health as well as other health conditions.

For the past decade or so, I worked in emergency medicine. My healthcare background exposed me to the variety of ways that people lived their lives, and how they either struggled with or overcame their health issues. I found working as an EMT and ER tech very rewarding, and was excited that I could find that same fulfillment in my artwork.

My first painting as part of this project was an acrylic painting titled “Busy Bee Napping,” for ADHD. I used an orange rose because the awareness ribbon color for ADHD is orange. I added a bee because people with ADHD may seem like they are aimlessly flitting about, but in reality they help bring beauty to our world by pollinating flowers. Roses are the perfect flower to represent ADHD, because roses are beautiful and loved by many people. People with ADHD often have an expansive capacity for creativity and empathy! However, just like roses have thorns, having ADHD can be tricky due to the issues with executive functioning and self regulation.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have loved creating art since my childhood, but struggled with figuring out how to get started in making a business. Then, the owners of Chico’s Coffee Shack in downtown San Antonio contacted me about displaying my art in their coffee shop. Their sweet support and fun conversations made me not only a loyal Chico’s fan, but helped me figure out how to network with the art community in San Antonio.

Next, I started showing my art at local pop ups thanks to the support from Erica from 4 Goodness Project Inc, a non- profit in San Antonio that helps aspiring small businesses. I finally found some new motivation from talking to customers and making sales at the pop ups that she coordinated.

What finally made me feel official was getting my art on display in a gallery, thanks to Jacqueline from Brushworks Studio and Art Gallery. She supports fresh new artists on the Northeast side of San Antonio, and I am now a mentor for other artists for her studio.

Thanks to all of the support I’ve received, I am able to continue to produce meaningful handmade drawings and paintings, and write my art stories so that others can feel that their experiences are seen and validated. As a side project, I’ve started creating stationery to continue to spread awareness of the conditions I symbolically paint, and give people the tools to strengthen their relationships with others by sending a card or postcard.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I love to hear stories from people that either visit my table at pop ups or share their stories with me online. When they tell me how much they loved something I painted, or give me ideas for more conditions they want me to cover, I feel like I’m doing my job. Its not always about making a sale.

I remember working an event at Bella on the Vine, and someone that follows me on Facebook stopped by and talked to me for an hour about her life. She had purchased some of my artwork online previously- an orange tiger lily acrylic painting for kidney disease, and a crepe myrtle watercolor painting for autoimmune hemolytic disease. She had autoimmune hemolytic disease, which in turn destroyed her kidneys. She told me what it was like spending her childhood getting treatment for her rare autoimmune disease, and what she was up to as an adult. I was so touched that she shared her struggles with me, and she told me how amazing it was that I was creating art to make these conditions beautiful. Ever time I work an event, I hope she will come see me again.

Another time, I was working the 4th of July parade in Windcrest, and a couple stopped by my booth. They didn’t seem interested in the meaning of my work, they just wanted to purchase some of my portrait paintings. Honestly, that made my day! They saw my post on Facebook and went to find me. It really made me feel like the quality of my art can stand on its own, with or without having a deeper meaning.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I think my Facebook following is primarily people local to San Antonio, and many of them are people I know in real life. I have many more followers on Instagram, but I mainly use Instagram for networking and inspiration. Honestly, I have no idea how I have the followers I have on Instagram.

My biggest advice to creatives is to remember that social media is not real life. I used to post several times a day, but when my life got busier, I started posting maybe once every couple of weeks. My mental health improved once I stopped caring about whether or not I was pleasing the algorithm. I’ve found that I feel better, and make more sales, but just going out into the real world!

I realize that many people cannot go out with in the community with their product, and need to rely on social media. In that case, remember that the algorithm will always change. For example, my Instagram reels used to get over 1000 plays, but now they get maybe 200. You will always need to adapt. Just be sure to post in a style that is recognizable as you. For example, I follow The French Marigold on Instagram, and always recognize his posts by the way he photographs his stationery. I follow Bekay Candle Company on Facebook and they often use memes for their posts. I recognize both of their posts before I read who posted it because I recognize their style.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ko-fi.com/expressions
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/expressions.by.stephanie
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Expressions.by.Stephanie
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/FPR19vnk32E?feature=shared