We recently connected with Alyssia Aguilar and have shared our conversation below.
Alyssia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?
I am happiest when I am creating. Being an artist is not just what I do, it is how I process life, how I heal, how I provide for my kids, and how I make sense of the world. Creating gives me purpose in a way nothing else ever has. When I am sketching, designing, or building something from an idea, I feel aligned. Even on hard days, I feel like I am walking in what I am meant to do.
That said, yes, I absolutely have moments where I think about what it would be like to have a regular job. The last time I really felt that pull was during a stretch where everything felt heavy all at once. Bills were stacking up, deadlines were tight, my kids needed more from me emotionally, and I was running on very little rest. I remember sitting at my kitchen table late at night, surrounded by sketches, my laptop open, emails unanswered, and thinking how easy it would be to clock in somewhere, get a steady paycheck, and clock out without carrying the weight home with me.
I imagined a life where finances were predictable, where health insurance was automatic, where I was not constantly pitching, following up, or proving my value. It was not about wanting to stop being creative. It was about wanting relief. Safety. A pause from the mental load that comes with building something on your own.
My faith is what steadies me in those moments. When I start to spiral or question my path, prayer becomes a reset. It reminds me that I am not carrying everything alone, even when it feels that way. I believe God placed creativity in me for a reason, and that my work is not separate from my faith. It is an extension of it. My art is where obedience, trust, and purpose meet.
Even in those moments of doubt, I am reminded that God has already carried me through loss, grief, and seasons where I did not know how I would make it. If He was faithful then, I trust He will continue to make a way now. That perspective does not erase the fear, but it gives me peace inside of it.
Every time I imagine myself in a traditional job long term, I feel smaller. I feel boxed in. I feel like I would still come home needing to create, because creativity is not optional for me. It is how I survive and how I serve. The instability is hard, but the fulfillment is real. The freedom to tell my story, to represent my culture, and to show my daughters what it looks like to walk by faith, that matters more to me than comfort alone.
The conclusion I came to was not that the thought of a regular job was wrong. It was honest. It showed me what I need more of as an artist. Better systems, stronger boundaries, more support, and more rest. It reminded me that wanting stability does not mean I chose the wrong path. It just means I am human.
At the end of the day, I choose being an artist because even when it is hard, it feels true. My faith reminds me that I am called to this, not because it is easy, but because it is meaningful. And that calling is worth trusting, even when the road feels uncertain.
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 am a Houston based Latina artist, designer, and creative entrepreneur best known as The Lofty Mom. I am a self taught artist, a single mother, and someone who uses creativity as both a business and a form of healing. Art has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, but it became my lifeline and my profession after walking through some of the hardest seasons of my life.
In 2017, I experienced the loss of my son at just 16 days old. That grief changed everything. In the middle of heartbreak, art became the place where I could breathe again. Sketching, creating, and telling stories visually helped me process loss, find hope, and slowly rebuild. What started as a personal outlet eventually grew into something bigger. I realized that my story, my voice, and my perspective could connect with others who were also navigating pain, motherhood, identity, and faith.
Over time, my creative work evolved into a full business. Today, I provide illustration, live sketching, custom artwork, branded experiences, and creative consulting for brands, organizations, and events. My work spans digital illustration, fashion style sketches, murals, installations, live event art, and storytelling driven visuals. I often collaborate with sports teams, major brands, community organizations, and nonprofits to create experiences that feel personal, inclusive, and emotionally resonant.
At the core of what I do is connection. I help brands humanize their message. I help events feel memorable instead of transactional. I help people feel seen. Whether I am sketching guests live at an event, creating a branded illustration campaign, or designing a piece rooted in culture and storytelling, my goal is always the same. To create something that people feel, not just see.
What sets me apart is that I do not separate my art from my life. My work is deeply rooted in my story as a Latina woman, a mother, a woman of faith, and someone who has walked through loss and rebuilding. I bring emotion, culture, and authenticity into spaces that are often very polished or corporate. Clients come to me not just for illustration, but for perspective. They trust me to tell stories in a way that feels warm, honest, and real.
I am especially known for my work with the Houston Texans, where I create custom helmet designs, social media illustrations, content creation, and large scale art installations. Through these projects, I use illustration and storytelling to capture fan culture, community pride, and the emotional energy surrounding the team. My work is designed to live both digitally and physically, creating moments that fans can connect with and share.
What makes this work impactful is that it goes beyond traditional sports branding. It blends art, culture, and storytelling in a way that feels personal and expressive, allowing the team to engage fans through creativity rather than just promotion. Those collaborations have helped define my style and position me as an artist who can translate identity and emotion into visual experiences at scale.
The problem I often solve for clients is engagement. Many brands want to connect with audiences in a more human way but struggle to do so authentically. I help bridge that gap through art that is story driven and people centered. I also help brands reach multicultural audiences in a way that feels respectful and genuine, not performative.
What I am most proud of is building a creative career that supports my family while staying true to who I am. I am proud that my daughters get to see me create, take risks, and walk in faith. I am proud that my work has opened doors to speak to students, represent my culture, and partner with brands I once admired from afar. I am proud that I turned pain into purpose and built something meaningful from it.
What I want people to know about me and my brand is that everything I create comes from a place of intention. I care deeply about the stories being told and the impact they have. I believe art can heal, connect, and shift perspective. I believe representation matters. I believe creativity can coexist with business, faith, and motherhood.
At the end of the day, The Lofty Mom is not just a brand. It is a reflection of resilience, creativity, and hope. And my work is an invitation for others to see themselves in it too.
Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)
NFTs played a major role in my career at a very pivotal time. When they first entered the mainstream, especially on Twitter during the height of Web3 conversations, it opened doors I never could have imagined. Suddenly, my work was being seen, collected, and discussed by people all over the world. It was one of the first times I experienced the internet not just as a place to share art, but as a place to truly connect, collaborate, and build community across borders.
Through NFTs, I had the privilege of selling work to major projects and individuals within the space, including Randi Zuckerberg, Eva Longoria, and Chef Spike Mendelsohn, among many others. Those moments were incredibly affirming as an artist, not just financially, but creatively. It showed me that my voice and perspective resonated far beyond my immediate circle.
One of the things I am most proud of from that era was my relationship with Twitter, back when it was still Twitter, and being trusted to help build community in the space. I was given the opportunity to launch and lead the first ever Twitter Community centered around NFTs for women. That mattered deeply to me. The Web3 space was moving fast, and representation was not always present. Creating a space where women could learn, ask questions, share wins, and support each other felt necessary and meaningful.
I also had the opportunity to host and participate in conversations that bridged art, tech, and culture, including a panel alongside iJustine and Laura DIY, moderated by Melissa Yang from Refinery29. Those conversations reinforced for me that NFTs were never just about the token itself. They were about access, dialogue, and giving artists new seats at tables they were often excluded from.
Today, my relationship with NFTs is quieter. I still hold my work in that space and value what it represented, but I am not as actively engaged in the Web3 community as I once was. Part of that is natural evolution. My career has expanded into physical installations, brand collaborations, and storytelling in more tactile, in person ways. I do not see that as stepping away, but rather integrating what I learned.
NFTs taught me how to move early, build community, think globally, and advocate for myself as an artist in emerging spaces. Even if the conversation around Web3 has shifted, the impact it had on my confidence, my network, and my understanding of digital ownership and creativity is something I carry forward into everything I do now.
For me, NFTs were not a trend. They were a chapter. And that chapter helped shape the artist and creative entrepreneur I am today.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist for me is being given opportunities like this, moments where I get to share more of who I am and where I come from. My art opens doors to conversations that might not happen otherwise. It allows people to see the person behind the work, not just the finished piece.
It is also deeply meaningful to experience first time moments alongside my girls. Whether it is their first time walking into a space where my work is displayed, seeing my name attached to a project, or watching them realize that creativity can be a real and powerful path, those moments stay with me. Being able to build memories together while showing them what it looks like to pursue purpose, faith, and creativity is something I do not take lightly.
That is the part that makes it all worth it. Not just creating art, but creating a life where my children are present for the journey, the growth, and the milestones. Those shared firsts are a reminder of why I chose this path in the first place.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.loftymom.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloftymomart/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theloftymom/
- Twitter: https://x.com/TheLoftyMom
Image Credits
SHEIN
Texans Photographer-Zach Tarrant