We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amy Maestas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Amy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

While I love my work in the salon industry, my education and dream while in school was to become a working artist, or art educator. While trying to build a solid clientele, I lost sight of that over the years, but in 2020 when Covid shut our shop down, I had time to create again while I was home. Today, many of my clients have returned, and I have created a schedule at the salon that allows me the freedom to have time to create art and teach classes in addition to my work there.

Post-Covid, as I found time to start pushing my art forward, I had made some small sales here and there to different friends and family members. While I was trying to figure out where I wanted to go with my arts business, I took on my first and largest commission to date. I created 300 hand printed tea towels to be added in a thank you gift for a national company. I designed a theme related to our state, got it approved and went to work, where I printed every single towel using a literal tortilla press myself. It was about a month’s worth of work, and was exhausting but extremely rewarding. I was so overwhelmed with excitement, and also terrified that the final product wasn’t going to be what they wanted, but the client was so grateful and happy with the work.

Through this commission I was able to purchase a brand new Takach etching press and it basically funded the beginning of my at home print studio. Without this I would not be where I currently am, as this was the catalyst that pushed me to follow my dreams of having my own print studio. I currently work out of my set up at my home where I’m able to work in many different techniques now that I own my press.

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 got into printmaking while in high school, and focused my work in college in the same medium. I graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2016 with a Bachelor’s of Studio Art, focusing in printmaking. Much of my collegiate work was in Lithography and Serigraphy, but after graduating I began working more in relief print techniques I could do from home easily.

While I was in college I began working at Lorenco’s Salon, as a receptionist. After finishing my degree I ended up going to beauty school and acquired three different industry licenses before returning to my art.
I currently hold a full clientele at the salon offering esthetics, permanent cosmetics, and nail services. In addition, I also teach art classes and sell my personal works throughout Albuquerque.

My artwork is heavily influenced by mythological creatures, cryptozoology, and etymology. I also am adjacent to my local street art scene and take examples from their work. I feel that people need constant access to artwork, so I try to keep my work reasonably priced, I print open editions, and I love to trade work with other printers.
While I am teaching I focus on easy to understand, DIY style print techniques that anyone can access with affordable supplies and materials. I have a very relaxed and casual teaching presence, so that anyone of any skill level feels welcome to sit at the table. I feel very strongly about arts education being available at affordable costs to my community, and I work with many different groups to provide printmaking instruction around the city.

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

I really love that I am able to have so many different aspects to my career. I never grow bored of what I am doing, because I have built a community and career out of different industries that keep me thriving. I wouldn’t be able to sit still in front of a screen all day, or in an office setting. I rarely have a day where I am not having a good time at my jobs, which is a very lucky thing to have.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Although I learned a lot about management skills through my work at the salon, and working other small admin jobs, I owe a lot of my business knowledge to a local fellowship. The ABQ Arts Hub hosts a cohort for emerging and mid-career artists that teaches classes in business skills like taxes for creatives, grant writing, business planning and communication skills. I think that I had all the pieces of where I wanted to go with my arts business but couldn’t put them together in a way that worked, until I had been a part of this group. They truly helped me focus my ideas and helped me find my way back towards arts education, which had been my plan while in college.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ayemurs.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ayemurs
• Other: https://cara.app/ayemurs