Today we’d like to introduce you to Natasha Colon Ortiz

Hi Natasha, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

My story is one of defining choices. I bagan my life as a young athlete playing basketball all the way through college. While being a student athlete my outlet to decompress and destress was art. Art became my coping mechanism. From drawing to painting and learning other mediums throughout my educational journey and still accomplishing my duties as a student athlete.
After college and graduating with a Neuroscience BA degree I was in the workforce trying to redefine myself as I no longer was a student or an athlete. I jumped around from job to job for several years still creating art when I had a free time.
I was unhappy with the workforce and wanted to focus on my art. I needed to still make an income so I decided to paint as much as I could and sell my art online and at vendor craft shows while working a full time job.
While working and selling my art I finally came to the decision to pursue my dreams of being an artist and owning my own art business. In 2016 I joined an entrepreneur program called Spark now known as EforAll. From there I started my business of Paper City Art Kids a multi art service business. Since 2017 Paper City Art Kids, my business, has allowed me to continue my passion in creating art and working with my community and most importantly with the youth and elderly.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

The road has been a bumpy one as an entrepreneur/business owner and artist. The learning curve with a business was one that I had to overcome by asking for a lot of help and getting assistance. As a business owner there has been times where the revenue fluctuated which came with financial difficulties. As a creative person I found myself not only burnt out from creating at times but wanting more out of art. Going from only creating art to also being an art educator came with its own difficulties. I am currently still learning, growing, and succeeding in my goals though the ride has not been smooth and obstacles may come my way, I know I will overcome the difficulties.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

What I do as an artist is draw and paint. As an art educator I focus on teaching the youth the importance of art as an individual and as a community. I teach the basics of art like the elements and principles of art/design. I am also a cultural art educator and advocate for teaching multicultural art enrichments in the schools. Most of my education when it comes to culture is about the Taino indigenous culture of Puerto Rico. I also am a freelance artist creating murals in surrounding communities. As a business owner and art instructor for my business I entertain people with a fun and paint session. The fun and paint sessions are with kids of all ages, adults, and the elderly. I specialize in painting with acrylics. I mainly focus on nature, landscapes, and florals. My work has a whimsical yet realistic feel to it. I have created mini works from 2”x2” canvases to large building walls of 1600sq ft to a quarter mile long sidewalk murals.
I’d say I am most known for in the city of Holyoke as a star basketball player and as a business owning artist. I am most proud of being an art business owner who is bringing art to the community (schools, retirement homes, business organizations, & nonprofits).

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?

I honestly think that if I were to have been sat down a fully explained how being an entrepreneur/ business owner would be a 24/7 responsibility, I would of prepared myself with more knowledge on finances. Finances is the most daunting part of being a business owner/ entrepreneur for me. I advise to set yourself up with financial success by having a financial advisor and knowing more about business finances.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/papercityartkids?igsh=MTVrNGlxeWhmN2t5cQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19aSLRxCes/?mibextid=LQQJ4d