We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Esperanza Solar a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Esperanza, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
It was around 2018, I was working at one of the crystal stores in Miami and I loved it so much. The shop sold handmade crystal jewelry and I would always gravitate towards it, in particular the bracelets. I’d try them on but they never quite fit my wrist the way I’d wish they would. I would think to myself how cool it would be if someone would make adjustable jewelry for smaller wrists until one day I had the thought that that someone could be me. I brushed off the thought because I believed I didn’t own a creative bone in my body. Flash forward to 2020, a week before the world began to shut down I went into a craft store and decided I’d make a birthday present for my mom. After I made the first bracelet, I just stared at it in awe and I just KNEW in that moment that feeling of fulfillment and creative freedom was something I wanted to continue pursuing in my life.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
The ways I discipline myself in my craft is by continuously studying, researching, practicing, and learning to be okay with momentary failures that will eventually propel me into more experience.
I offer handmade crystal, resin, wire wrapped and beaded jewelry. What I feel sets me apart is the intention I put behind every piece—every piece is delicately put together through color therapy and/or stone compatibility giving the piece a deeper, personal meaning.
Two things I am most proud would be all of the amazing people that have helped, encouraged and supported me along the way. Without them the journey wouldn’t be as wonderful. And the second would be is that I allow myself to actually be creative. I rest when I need to and create when I feel called to.
What I would love to share with whoever reads this article is that my jewelry is inclusive to all humans, all genders and all walks of life. I know jewelry is mainly marketed to feminine people but that’s not something I resonate. I believe jewelry is a cool and fun accessory to play around with and feel confident, powerful and even protected in and I want to extend those positive feelings with those that feel guided to my art.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My goal is to extend to further audiences. I want to be peoples “jewelry plug” or their go-to jewelry designer for whatever they need on their journey. Whether it be for a party favor, their bridesmaids or groomsmen, spiritual and energetic protection, something they want to manifest more of into their life, or just for their everyday wear. I want people to wear my creations and feel something that feels good and personal to them. That is my main goal that continues to drive me and ignites fires of creativity within me.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Truthfully, building an audience on social media can be extremely hard and tedious to do, especially as a small business or just starting new. In my personal experience, the way I’ve slowly built an audience and built amazing connections is by actually participating in markets that were curated for artists. I’ve met a lot of clients and even made friends along the way through meeting people in person. And that’s my secret on how to make friends online, ironically enough.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.solaresgems.com
- Instagram: @solaresgems