Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Melissa Torres. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Melissa, thanks for joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I moved to San Antonio, TX in 1997 from Newburgh, NY after graduating college with a BS in Nursing. I have always loved art whether it be drawing, painting, or working with clay. I grew up as an only child and art was my way of entertaining myself, but I never showed my work to anyone. In high school, one of my art teachers suggested to my mother that I pursue a degree in it. I was a young mother, having had my son my Senior year. Mom felt art was a hobby, I needed a steady income to support myself and my son. I took a few art classes in college. Once I began working full time, I stopped. My life was sleep and work, mostly because I worked 12-hour shifts at night..

In 2010, I made the move to day shift. Feeling a bit more normal, I began crafting then drawing and painting again and took a class in acrylic painting. I painted a portrait in acrylics for a friend of her dog and daughter as a gift. It was the first portrait I had ever painted. I happened to show the photo to a coworker. Word got around and before you knew it, I began to have requests. In 2012 decided to make my art a legit business. I created Melissa A. Torres Art, LLC. I started out by making a Facebook page, then selling on Etsy, then created my website.

I think I started my creative career at the right time. I do not think I could have given it the time or attention it needs had I started it sooner. Even now I still find that it is difficult to work on my art regularly. I do not have a set scheduled time that I work on it and sometimes between work and life, I may be too tired or just not into it. I continue to work as an ER nurse on a part time basis. I am glad art it is not something I do as a main source of income. It is more a creative outlet, but if it sells, even better. I always am honored when someone wants a work of mine in their home.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I moved to San Antonio, TX in 1997 from Newburgh, NY after graduating college with a BS in Nursing. I have always loved art whether it be drawing, painting, or working with clay. I grew up as an only child and art was my way of entertaining myself, but I never showed my work to anyone. In high school, one of my art teachers suggested to my mother that I pursue a degree in it. I was a young mother, having had my son my Senior year. Mom felt art was a hobby, I needed a steady income to support myself and my son. I took a few art classes in college. Once I began working full time, I stopped. My life was sleep and work, mostly because I worked 12-hour shifts at night.

In 2010, I made the move to day shift. Feeling a bit more normal, I began crafting then drawing and painting again and took a class in acrylic painting. I painted a portrait in acrylics for a friend of her dog and daughter as a gift. It was the first portrait I had ever painted. I happened to show the photo to a coworker. Word got around and before you knew it, I began to have requests. In 2012 decided to make my art a legit business. I created Melissa A. Torres Art, LLC. I started out by making a Facebook page, then selling on Etsy, then created my website.

The majority of my creations are on canvas with oil and acrylics but I also dye silk scarves, and use paperclay to create various items. This past year, I did pretty well selling Puerto Rican themed items from my Etsy shop. My most sales come from pet portraits.

I am primarily a self-taught artist and continually love to learn from others and by experimenting myself. One of my biggest loves is plein air painting. I have several I have done here in Texas.

I would say I am most proud of overcoming my fears. It can be terrifying to show a part of yourself to the world and I believe art is just that, a part of oneself. I would like to say I specialize in canvas paintings but I create different things. I am most popular and for mini pet portraits. I paint them on 3×3 in canvases. Those have become popular due to word of mouth. I pride myself on how people admire my work and know that I will do my best to capture their loved ones on canvas, whether it be a human or animal. I have very loyal clients. I think what makes me stand apart from others is having to think differently meaning, separating my creative side from my professional side. The transition from thinking as an RN to an artist and vice versa. There are times I find myself at work thinking about what I will be creating next. I think my profession gives me a greater passion to create more art.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I would say just being able to create something that is in my mind and putting it on canvas or making it into a tangible object in clay and making it into something someone wants for themselves even when I think it is not my best work. I am always amazed when I create something I don’t think is that great and it sells within several minutes of me posting on social media or in my website.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

One of my goals is to one day be able to support myself financially as a full time artist. More importantly, I want to continue to learn and improve as an artist. I don’t feel I have reached my full potential yet.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.melissaatorresart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissa_a.torresart
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/MelissaA.TorresArt